In the month of Nisan, Tahanun is not recited in the morning and afternoon prayers. The reason is that most days of the month are festive: During the first twelve days, the twelve tribal princes brought their offerings for the dedication of the Tabernacle in the wilderness (see below). On the day before Passover, as on the day before all festivals, there is no Tahanun in any case. This is followed by the days of Passover itself. Thus, as most days of Nisan are celebratory, it was decided that Tahanun should be omitted throughout the entire month.

As described in the Torah (Exodus 40:17; Numbers 7:1), the building of the Tabernacle was completed on the first day of the month of Nisan. On the day that it was erected, the princes of the twelve tribes began bringing their inaugural offerings, one prince each day. Therefore, some have the custom to read on every day, from the first until the twelfth of Nisan, the verses describing the offerings of the prince of that day. These verses appear in Numbers, chapter 7. Some have the custom to continue on the thirteenth of Nisan with a passage from Parashat Behaalotekha (Numbers 8:1–4), which immediately follows the description of the princes’ offerings.

In most of the communities that follow this practice, the verses about the princes’ offerings are read from a printed Humash or prayer book, but there are some who take out a Torah scroll from the ark and read the verses from it, albeit without calling anyone up to the Torah and without reciting the blessings.

Some have the custom of reciting a special prayer every day after reading the portion of the princes: “May it be Your will...that if I am Your servant from the tribe of such and such that I have read in Your Torah, etc.” This prayer can be found in some prayer books.

Since the spring season begins in Nisan, with the renewal of nature and the flourishing of many trees, the Sages instituted a blessing over the beauty and pleasure of this flowering.

One who goes out during the month of Nisan and sees fruit trees that are blossoming recites:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has withheld nothing from His world, and has created in it beautiful creatures and trees for human beings to enjoy.” Some add other verses and prayers, which appear in many prayer books.

The obligation to recite this blessing applies only if and when one happens to see fruit trees blooming, but due to our fondness for the blessing, and because according to mystical sources this blessing is associated with a broader process of revival and renewal, one should make an active effort to seek out blossoming fruit trees in order to recite this blessing.

The custom is to recite the blessing only when one sees at least two blossoming fruit trees near one another. It is recited only on the first occasion that one sees the trees and the flowers. If one saw blossoming trees in the month of Nisan and for some reason (such as forgetfulness, lack of knowledge, etc.) neglected to recite the blessing, he may recite it the next time he sees them. One should try to say the blessing in the month of Nisan, as afterward the flowers fall off most trees. One who did not recite it during Nisan but sees fruit trees blooming in the following month (pomegranate trees, for example, bloom for a longer period), may still recite the blessing.

Due to the extraordinary expenses associated with the festival of Passover, it is customary to give extra charity as the festival approaches. This charity is traditionally called kimha depis’ha, which is Aramaic for “Passover flour,” or ma’ot hittin, “money for wheat.” In the past, it was accepted in Jewish communities that the rabbi and the community leadership would impose a certain sum on each family to donate for this important cause. Nowadays there is no one who has the authority to force others to donate money, but there are many individuals and charitable organizations who ensure that every Jewish family can celebrate the festival of Passover with dignity, and it is proper to donate for this purpose as much money as one can afford.

Further reading: For more on caring for the poor before festivals, see A Concise Guide to the Sages, p. 242.

The Shabbat preceding Passover is referred to as Shabbat HaGadol, “the great Shabbat.” The main reason given for this name is that it recalls a great miracle that took place on this Shabbat before the first Passover, a few days before the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. As related by the sources, the children of Israel were commanded by Moses to prepare lambs in their homes, to be used for the Passover offering. Thus, in every Jewish home there was a lamb. At the time, sheep were considered sacred by the Egyptians, and naturally they would consider the Israelites’ conduct as being blatantly contemptuous of their deity. A great miracle occurred, as not only did they not harm the Israelites, but when the Egyptians heard from them that in a few days God was going to strike the Egyptian firstborns and take Israel out of Egypt, the firstborns of Egypt rushed to Pharaoh and his ministers, demanding the immediate release of the Israelites, and when they refused, they waged a civil war against them that caused many deaths in Egypt.

Another reason for the name Shabbat HaGadol is that on this Shabbat the “great one” of the community, the rabbi of the city or the community, delivers a special public sermon. This address usually focuses on the many halakhic aspects of the approaching festival of Passover.

Many have the custom of reading a section of the Passover haggada on this Shabbat, from the passage beginning: “We were slaves” until the words “to atone for our souls.”