(Courtesy of OU) The Orthodox Union, the umbrella group for Orthodox Jewry and leading certifier of kosher products, has released its OU Guide to Passover, the annual publication that provides comprehensive guidance about kosher-for-Passover products. This year’s edition, which is available in both PDF and online database formats, features close to 30,000 kosher-for-Passover products and charts on ingredient substitutions, halachic times for Passover, required portion sizes at the seder and Sefirat HaOmer. Passover this year will be celebrated from sundown Saturday, March 27, through Sunday, April 4.

The guide also includes articles on spices and instructions on holiday preparation and how to celebrate Erev Pesach on Shabbat HaGadol (which will take place this year on March 26-27) and the impact of shemittah on the diaspora, which will affect the next two Passovers.

The database, as well as the 118-page PDF, can be accessed from computers, tablets and mobile devices at www.oupassover.org.

“The annual guide has become the benchmark resource for Jewish families as they prepare for Passover,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane. “OU Kosher continues to provide a wonderful and much needed community service by preparing this guide and building up the resources available to kosher consumers each year.”

“It is very rewarding for the entire staff to hear the wonderful feedback we get from kosher consumers who rely on this guide, each as they go through their holiday preparations. We have paid particularly close attention to digitizing the guide over the past few years to make it available on their smart devices as they shop,” added OU Kosher Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Moshe Elefant, who oversaw the creation of the guide.