Tonight is the second night of Passover, the annual commemoration of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from the bondage of Ancient Egypt. As you might know, the focal point of the Passover celebration is the seder, or feast, which is preceded by certain rituals.

Here are six Passover safety tips from the New York Board of Rabbis. We hope this list will accomplish two purposes:

• Ensuring the safety of those of you who will be preparing for and partaking in a seder; and
• Teaching the members of SafetyXChange who are not familiar with Passover something about the holiday.

1. Don’t Let Kids Near Boiling Water when Getting Ready to Clean for Passover

Explanation: When the Jewish slaves fled Egypt, they didn’t have time to bake leavened bread, or chametz. So they took unleavened bread or matzoh, instead. During Passover, Jewish people eat only matzoh; and they’re instructed to use boiling water to clean their homes of chametz.

2. Be Aware that Oven Cleaners Can Cause Severe Burns

Explanation: Cleaning the oven is part of the ridding the home of chametz. It’s okay to use “Easy-Off” and other oven cleaners, even though such conveniences didn’t exist in biblical times.

3. Watch Out for Candles during Bedikat Chametz

Explanation: Bedikat chametz is the ritual use of a candle to search the home for traces of chametz, a process that, if done carelessly, could ignite drapes, sofas and tablecloths.

4. Be Extra Cautious when Burning Chametz

Explanation: When you gather up all the chametz in your home, you’re supposed to burn it. The rabbis recommend keeping a close eye on kids, implementing a buddy system and refraining from using accelerants to intensify the flame. Sound advice.

5. Turn Pot Handles Inward to Keep Pots from Being Knocked Over

Explanation: This one is pretty self-evident. A lot of cooking is done to prepare for the seder. Much of it involves stewing and boiling items in large pots.

6. Keep Candles in the Center of the Table/Sideboard

Explanation: This one, too, is pretty easy to figure out. Various sets of candles are laid onto the seder table. The rabbis suggest putting them in the center of the table or sideboard so kids can’t reach them or pull them down.

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