This year we have a unique opportunity to experience Pesach in a different way than most years. Being that the 14th of Nissan, (otherwise known as Erev Pesach) coincides with Shabbos, there are numerous halachos and minhagim which differ from other years. It is imperative that we familiarize ourselves with these uncommon halachos in order to ensure that we observe the holiday properly.

Below is a brief compendium of laws for this special situation. I have purposely composed these issues in a concise form to help bring them to your attention. Please feel welcome to contact me with any questions or considerations you may have. Finally, I would like to remind everyone about the importance of assisting the needy with their Pesach preparations. I am in the process of collecting “Ma’os Chittim” from our congregation for well-deserving individuals. I urge you to take part in this long-standing law and custom.

This year Shabbos Ha'Gadol and Erev Pesach fall on the same day, Saturday, April 23. Since the primary obligation of the Rabbi is to review the basic halachos during his d'rosha, the discourse is not delivered on this Shabbos. The Rabbi will discuss all the special concerns that relate to this year on Shabbos, April 16 at 6:30pm. Both men and women are urged, if not obligated to attend to ensure that all preparations will be in accordance with halacha. Baby-sitting wll be available and a special Shalosh Se'udos to accommodate the families will be offered. The traditional Shabbos Ha'Gadol D'rosha will also be delivered on Shabbos Ha'Gadol, Erev Pesach, April 23 following Mincha. (See Aruch Ha'Shulchan Orach Chaim 430:5).

Normally, the first born from the father or the mother are required to fast on Erev Pesach. This year, the custom is to fast on Thursday April 21. The siyum which is in lieu of the fast will be held on Thursday morning following Shacharis at 6:30am.

Usually, the search for chometz is conducted on the evening leading into the 14th of Nissan. The burning of Chometz is then performed the next morning on Erev Pesach. This year, the search is performed Thursday evening, April 21 at 8:59pm, with a brocha. After the search, all remaining chometz to be used that night, in the morning and on Shabbos or whether it will be sold or burned must be placed in a secure location.

Following the search, one is required to nullify the chometz by reciting “kol chamira,” as in other years.

• Usually, the Psalms Mizmor L’todah and La'me'natze'ach are omitted on Erev Pesach. However, being that Friday is not Erev Pesach, both are said.
• This year, because it is forbidden to burn the Chometz on Shabbos, it is instead burned on Friday morning. It is preferable to burn the chometz during the 5th hour of the morning to avoid confusion in future years. Therefore, any chometz found, which is not needed for Friday and Shabbos and is not being sold to a gentile must be burned by 12:10pm. Normally, the second nullification is said after the burning of the chometz. This year, however, the second “kol chamira” is recited on Shabbos Morning instead. (See V The Shabbos Meals)
• The chometz sold to a gentile must be done normally before the sixth hour of Erev Pesach. This year, the chometz will be sold on Friday morning before the sixth hour (approximately 11:15am).
• Although it is permissible to buy chometz the entire Friday, it is advisable to buy and prepare only what is needed in order to ensure there will be no remaining chometz after 12:10pm on Shabbos day.
• Usually, on Erev Pesach after mid-day, we are proscribed from engaging in various forms of work (similar to what is restricted on Chol HaMoed). This year, as Erev Pesach coincides with Shabbos, it goes without saying that no work will be performed. The question is - does this restriction extend to Friday afternoon as well? Although an argument could be made to indeed extend the prohibition, the halacha conforms with the lenient view that the entire Friday afternoon is available for all forms of work.
• Finally, as the sun sets on Friday evening, all Pesach preparations must come to completion. All koshering, lining, taping and weekday cleaning should be finished. In simple terms - the house is now ready for Pesach as if tonight would be the first Seder. However, tonight is not yet Pesach - and we still have three Shabbos meals to partake of - with Lechem Mishneh, Ha'Motzi and Bircas Ha'Mazone. How do we negotiate around this? As the saying goes - "Now the fun starts!!" For more details - keep reading.

On a typical year, when Erev Pesach falls out on a weekday, there are no halachic obligations to partake of a set meal. The only requirements are to refrain from chometz after the fourth hour of the morning (approximately 11:00am, DST) and destroy the chometz by the end of the fifth hour (approximately 12:00pm, DST). Once this is accomplished, one may snack liberally until the tenth hour of the day (approximately 5:00pm, DST) providing matzah and baked products containing matzah are not indulged the entire day until the Seder. (The reason being that we differentiate between this matzah and the mitzvah of eating matzah at the Seder. Some have the custom of abstaining from matzah from the beginning of Rosh Chodesh Nissan.)

This year, we are confronted with a predicament. Being that Erev Pesach coincides with Shabbos, we find ourselves obligated to partake of three set meals, one at night, followed by another in the morning and finally a third in the afternoon.

It is very important to remember, as mentioned above, that once Shabbos arrives, Friday evening at 7:59pm, all preparations must be completed. The question becomes how do we fulfill our obligation to make Ha'Motzi on “lechem mishneh” (two whole loaves of bread) and at the same time maintain the chometz-free environment that we have prepared?

Furthermore, even if we can avoid contaminating our homes from lingering chometz (as we shall soon mention), the second quandary becomes, how do we fulfill the mitzvah of shalosh se'udos? Bread can no longer be eaten after 10:50am. Matzah is forbidden until the seder; if so, how do we wash and recite HaMotzi?

There are various approaches taken to deal with these issues.

For the sake of simplicity and to avoid serious halachic concerns, it is advisable to only serve “Pesachdik” food over the entire Shabbos onto disposable utensils (plates, forks, spoons, etc.). This avoids the concern of leftover utensils with clinging chometz, dishwashing issues, as well as serving complications. The major concern is now focused on the requirement of “lechem mishneh” at each meal.

There are two basic solutions available:

a) The preferred approach is to serve the Pesachdik food on disposable utensils (plates, forks, spoons, etc.). This will avoid chometz, i.e. challah, coming into contact with Pesachdik utensils. It is preferable to serve the meal on a table which will not be needed for food use on Pesach. This helps alleviate cleaning concerns from chometz (challah) residue. Friday night, one should use challah rolls without leaving over any substantial amounts. Caution must be taken not to move chometz around the house as not to compromise the chometz-free status already achieved through the bedikah. On Shabbos morning, April 23rd, davening will begin quite early (7:00am) to allow sufficient time to complete the second meal by 10:50am.

The morning se'udah should preferably be divided; that is, after kiddush, one should wash, eat bread (and another hot or cold food if desired, e.g., gefilte fish) and then recite “benching.”

A brief interval should be made by leaving the table (take a short walk, study, etc.) and then return, to preferably wash again and make a HaMotzi on “lechem mishneh.” This will function as the third meal on Shabbos.

All eating of chometz must be completed by 10:50am Shabbos morning. The house should then be cleared of any remaining chometz by shaking out the challah crumbs into the toilet. It is important not to place the Shabbos candles on the table upon which chometz is eaten. The candles are muktzeh and thus would interfere with the shaking out of the tablecloth. After the tablecloth, dishes and cutlery have been cleared from chometz crumbs, they may be discarded. Then the second nullification of “Kol Chamira,” should be recited by 12:10pm.

Although technically by this time three meals with bread have been completed, one should in the afternoon still partake of other food (e.g., meat, fish, eggs). Those who eat “gebrukts” may eat cooked food made from matzah meal, until approximately 5:00pm. (Baked cakes from matzah meal are prohibited the entire day.)

The reason for snacking again in the afternoon is to ensure that shalosh se'udos is fulfilled in the best manner possible (i.e., with bread in the morning and also a snack in the afternoon).

b) Many people are uncomfortable with leaving any chometz in their home over Shabbos; they may for instance have small children who may move it from room to room. Some Poskim hold that an alternative to bread can be egg matzah. This type of matzah is unique in the sense that it is not considered real chometz and at the same time it is not real matzah. It is important to remember that according to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt'l "egg matzah" can only be eaten up until 10:50am Shabbos morning (the latest time for eating Chometz).

The identical procedure should be followed as in option (a) splitting the morning se'udah and snacking again in the afternoon. The advantage with egg matzah, however, is that one need not be overly concerned with the leftover crumbs, since they are not technically considered chometz. In either case, “Kol Chamira” must be recited by 12:10pm.

When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, certain Seder preparations must be completed before Shabbos in order to not violate the prohibitions of Shabbos and Yom Tov. Even activities that do not require “Melachos” cannot be performed on Shabbos if they are preparations for Yom Tov.

Secondly, it is very important to begin the Seder promptly upon returning home from shul on Motza'ei Shabbos, therefore it is laudable if all preparations are completed before Friday evening.

a) The shank bone and egg should be roasted before Shabbos. If one forgot to roast them, they may be prepared Motza'ei Shabbos with the intention to be eaten on Sunday.

b) If one intends to use ground horseradish for maror, some views suggest that it be prepared before Shabbos, and then covered and refrigerated. According to the Vilna Gaon, it is preferable to grind it on Motza'ei Shabbos with a slight deviation (e.g., the grater turned upside-down). If, on the other hand, lettuce or romaine lettuce is used, the leaves should be inspected before Shabbos, because of the tedious process involved.

c) The charoses should also be prepared before Shabbos. If one forgot, it may be prepared on Yom Tov with a deviation in the grinding process.

d) The salt water should be prepared before Shabbos. If one forgot, it may be prepared on Yom Tov.

The above is a basic outline of what is entailed when Erev Pesach fall on Shabbos. Each and every halachic consideration has not been included in this summary. For more information and questions that arise as a result of this unique situation, I cordially invite all of you to the Shabbos Ha'Gadol D'rosha, Part I which will take place on Shabbos, April 16, at 6:30pm.

Hope to see you there!