Hayom Yom

Even one who is, G‑d forbid, orphaned from his father, declares before beginning the ma nishtana, "tateh ich vell ba dir freggen feer kashess" ("Father, I am going to ask you four questions"). In a similar vein, even one whose mother and father are, G‑d forbid, no longer alive, nonetheless says in birkat hamazon (grace after meals) "May the Merciful One bless my father my teacher, etc., my mother my teacher, etc." (p. 93).

Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.

However, on the first evening of Pesach, called leil shimurim, the "protected evening," we say only the first paragraph of sh'ma (p.119) and the closing b'racha, hamapil (p. 123).

גם מי שאין לו אב, ר"ל [רחמנא לצלן], אומר לפני מה נשתנה "טאטע איך וועל בא דיר פרעגען פיר קשיות", וסמוכות לזה, שגם מי שאין לו אב ואם, ר"ל [רחמנא לצלן], צ"ל [צריך לומר] בברכת המזון: הרחמן הוא יברך את אבי מורי כו' אמי מורתי כו'.