Selected
Halachot of Erev Pesach Adapted and excerpted from a previously published essay by Rabbi Herschel Billet, Moreh D’Asrah Young Israel of Woodmere. These selections are not meant to be the final arbiter. If you have any questions, please consult a competent halachic authority. Provided by the Orthodox Union's Department of Synagogue Services. Fast
of the firstborn males:
Since one is prohibited to fast on Shabbat, the
firstborn should fast on Thursday. The 12th of Nisan. The fast is
not held on Friday to avoid entering Shabbat feeling uncomfortable because
of the fast. Immediately following the fast on Thursday evening, those
firstborn responsible for searching for “chametz”
who are able to make the search without eating should do so. If not, they
should either have a light bite of fruit or other food of which people do
not usually make a meal, or they should appoint others to make the search
for them so they may eat a regular meal. Those firstborn who exempt
themselves from the fast by participating in a “seudat mitzvah” are not
exempt from the prohibition against eating before the search for “chametz”. The
Search For Chametz: The
search for chametz takes place on Thursday night (the eve of the 13th
of Nisan) at the exact time and under the exact same circumstances it
normally takes place on the eve of the 14th of Nisan in other
years. One starts the search immediately with nightfall (“tzayt Hakochavim”-
appearance of the stars) on Thursday night. The blessing for the search is
recited as well as the text for voiding the chametz (“bitul chametz”)
which follows. The chametz should then be placed in a safe place until the
appropriate time for burning it the next day. DESTRUCTION
OF THE CHAMETZ (“BI’UR CHAMETZ”):
It is preferred that one burn the chametz on Friday before midday (“chatzot”)
as one normally does on erev Pesach in other years. One should not void the
chametz after the destruction of the chametz since he will still be eating
chametz for the rest of Friday and during part of Shabbat. The final voiding
of chametz (“bitul”) should take place on Shabbat, erev Pesach. FOOD
FOR SHABBAT: One
should leave enough bread for two meals on Shabbat. Those who wish to follow
the opinion, which states that if necessary one can eat the third Shabbat
meal before midday should leave enough bread for three meals. There should
be enough whole loaves or rolls to have “lechem mishnah” for two or
three meals. One may also leave bread for eating on Friday after the time of
“bi’ur chametz”. If desired, one may burn all the bread on Friday in
order to avoid possible errors on Shabbat. In that case, one should prepare
egg matzah (“matzah ashirah”) for the “lechem mishnah” to be eaten
at the Shabbat meals which take place before the time when chametz becomes
prohibited. COOKING FOR SHABBAT1.
One may prepare food for Shabbat in pots used for chametz. One should
be careful, however, not to prepare chametz food which will stick to the pot
and which will be hard to remove without scrubbing on Shabbat. 2.
It is therefore advisable to prepare non-chametz food in pots used
for Pesach. One should remove this food with a new serving utensil
and then transfer the food to a chametz pot for serving. 3.
Some authorities are strict in their application of the law (“machmir”)
and say that one should be careful not to pour hot liquids from a Pesach pot
in which they were cooked (“kli rishon”) directly into a chametz pot. 4.
If one wishes to follow the opinion stated above regarding total
removal of all chametz on Friday then one should cook all the meals in
Pesach pots and use only Pesach dishes since there is no longer any chametz
left in the house. THE
SHABBAT MEALS AND THE “TWO LOAVES” (“Lechem Mishna”)
1.
Each of the three meals that one is required to eat on Shabbat should
begin with two whole loaves of bread (“lechem mishnah”). The third
Shabbat meal cannot be eaten before the time for “mincha gedolah” which
is 6.5 hours (“sha’ot zemaniyot”) into the day. This poses the following problems when erev Pesach occurs on
Shabbat: (a)
What does one use for “lechem mishnah” for the first two meals? (b)
How does one fulfill the mitzvah of eating the third Shabbat meal
without bread, for it is forbidden to eat chametz after four hours (“sha’ot
zemaniyot”) into the day of erev Pesach? 2.
One may use bread for “lechem mishnah” and general consumption on
Friday night and Shabbat morning provided that the morning meal is eaten and
finished before the end of the first four hours of the day (“sha’ot
zemaniyot”). Therefore, one should rise early on such a Shabbat and pray
with an early minyan. The service should be conducted with dignity, and
conclude early enough to eat the second Shabbat meal before the time when
the chametz is prohibited. 3.
If one does not wish to use bread on Shabbat and has removed all
chametz from the house before Shabbat, then he can use egg matzah (“matzah
ashira”) for the first two Shabbat meals provided that the second meal is
finished before the time when the chametz becomes prohibited. Although
“matzah ashirah” is not chametz, it is our custom not to eat it during
that time period when we may not eat chametz. 4.
It is forbidden to eat regular matzah on erev Pesach. Therefore
matzah cannot be eaten at the Shabbat meals. On Friday night, it is
conceivable that one may use matzah since the prohibition against eating
matzah is not probably dependent on daytime and not a 24-hour period. Yet,
we are stricter and include Friday night in the prohibition. 5.
There are several opinions as to what one may do for the third
Shabbat meal. a.
Those whose custom it is to eat “matzah ashirah” on Pesach
(contrary to the opinion of the Ramah – Rabbi Moshe Isserles) may use
“matzah ashirah” for the “lechem mishnah” of the third meal provided
that they conclude the meal before the end of 9 hours into the day (“sha’ot
zamanyiot”). b.
One may use cooked matzahs for they are not included in the
prohibition against eating matzah on erev Pesach. The prohibition
encompasses only, baked matzah which can be used at the seder. Here too, one
must finish the third meal before the end of 9 hours into the day (“sha’ot
zamaniyot”). c.
Bread can be used for the third meal in the following manner:
Immediately after the morning prayers, one washes, recites the “beracha”
over “lechem mishnah” and eats the proper “shi’ur” for “birkat
hamazon”. He then recited the “birkat hamazon”. He has thus eaten the
second Shabbat meal. After waiting a short while, he commences the whole
procedure again, this time eating a whole meal. This is his third Shabbat
meal. This third meal must be finished before the end of the fourth hours
into the day. In this manner, one fulfills the mitzvah of the three Shabbat
meals “bedi’avad” since only some authorities allow the third meal to
be eaten in this manner. d.
The third meal may consist of fruit or fish or meat to the exclusion
of bread, for there are some authorities who state that these foods fulfill
the requirement for the third meal. These foods can be eaten after the
beginning of the 10th hour of the day provided that one partakes
of then in moderation. e.
According to some opinion, one can learn Torah instead of eating the
third meal. The Zohar states that particularly on this Shabbat, Rabbi Shimon
Bar Yochai would study Torah instead of eating the third Shabbat meal. 6.
Our custom is to follow suggestions #c or #d. Therefore, one should
either eat two meals before the end of the 4th hour (“sha’ot
zemaniyot”) or eat a third meal consisting of fruit, fish or meat. Destruction And Voiding The Chametz1.
If one ate chametz on Shabbat by using bread from the house by the
end of the fifth hour into the day (“sha’ot zemaniyot”). 2.
Methods of removal are as follows: a.
Any tiny crumbs that remain may be deposited on the floor in a place
where people regularly walk. It is preferable, however, to gather these
crumbs and place them in the garbage can, toilet or outside the door of the
house (provided there is no problem on “hotza’ah” – removal from one
domain to another). b.
Larger pieces of bread can be given to a non-Jew. One should be
careful not to ask the non-Jew directly to remove the chametz from the
house. One may not give the non-Jew more than one meal’s worth of chametz
at a time. c.
The chametz may also be fed to a dog or flushed down the toilet. d.
If non of the above were done, then the chametz must be covered and
placed in a safe, isolated spot in the house and burned after Yom Tov (“motza’ay
yom tov”) on Monday night. 3.
Once one is prohibited to derive any pleasure whatsoever from chametz
(the “isur hana’ah” begins in the sixth hour), then the chametz is
“muktzah” and a Jew can no longer move it from place to place. A
non-Jew, however, may remove it for him. 4.
One must void (“bitul”) the chametz at the proper time on
Shabbat, erev Pesach, regardless of whether or not there actually is any
chametz in the house. The “bitul” should be performed before the end of
the fifth hour into the day (“sha’ot zamaniyot”). Washing The Dishes And Other Food Utensils1.
If chametz food is cooked for Shabbat, one should be careful not to
prepare food which will stick to the pot and which would, therefore, have to
be scrubbed on Shabbat. If one was not careful about this, then it is
permissible to clean the pots but with minimal effort as possible. 2.
Other pots and dishes should be cleaned gently and put away. Even if
there is no chametz in them, they should be cleaned and put away.
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