Chapter 10. The Laws of Erev Pesach That Falls on Shabbat

[The upcoming years in which Erev Pesach will fall on Shabbat are: 5785, 5805, 5808, 5812, 5832]. For the laws of Yaknehaz in these years, see the laws of Yaknehaz].

The Shabbat HaGadol Sermon
1. The Shabbat HaGadol sermon is delivered on the Shabbat adjacent to Pesach; and in a year when Pesach begins on Motzaei Shabbat, the sermon is delivered on the preceding Shabbat, which falls on the 7th of Nisan [1] .

Advancing the Fast of the Firstborn
2. When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbat, the fast is advanced and the firstborn fast on Thursday, the 12th of Nisan [2] .

Tasting Food Before Bedikat Chametz
3. One who finds it difficult to search for chametz on Thursday night (the night of the 13th) without eating may taste some food before the search [3] .

Shacharit on Friday (13 Nisan)
4. On Friday, Shacharit is recited as usual, and “Mizmor LeTodah” and “LaMenatzeach” are said. Although in a regular year the Maharil wrote [4] that one should pray Shacharit early on Erev Pesach in order to have time to eat before the end of the time when eating chametz is permitted, when Pesach begins on Motzaei Shabbat this law applies only on Shabbat and not on Friday, since on Friday it is permitted to eat chametz throughout the entire day.

Destroying Chametz on Friday
5. Even in a year when the 14th falls on Shabbat, so that the principal time of the prohibition of chametz and its destruction is on Shabbat, it is proper to destroy the chametz on Friday by the end of the usual time for destroying chametz, as in other years, so that people should not come to err in another year. One should destroy all the chametz in his possession and leave only the chametz that he wishes to eat on Shabbat [5] .

The text of the nullification should not be said at the time of burning, as in other years, but should be said on Shabbat before the end of the time for destroying chametz [6]. Regarding the manner of destroying chametz on Shabbat, the 14th, see below.

Work on Friday
6. It is permitted to do work, launder, and take a haircut on this Friday, since it is not the actual Erev Pesach; therefore the laws of laundering, haircuts, and the prohibition of work are like those of any other Friday [7] .

Eating Matzah on Friday
7. Those who are accustomed every year to eat matzah until Erev Pesach may also, in a year when Pesach begins on Motzaei Shabbat, eat matzah on Friday and on Friday night.

Preparing the Zeroa Before Shabbat
8. The zeroa for the Seder night should be roasted on Friday. If one forgot to roast it on Friday, he may roast it on the Seder night only if he will eat it the next day, after the Seder night [on Yom Tov]; however, on the Seder night one may not eat the zeroa, because roasted meat is not eaten on the Seder night [8] .

Preparing the Egg and Charoset Before Shabbat
9. The egg should be cooked and roasted on Friday. If one forgot, he should cook and roast it on the Seder night, and it should be eaten on the Seder night or the next day on Yom Tov [for the rule that roasted foods are not eaten on the Seder night applies only to meat and not to other foods]. The charoset should likewise be prepared on Friday, but the wine may be added even on the Seder night, since kneading is permitted on Yom Tov and there is no prohibition of coloring foods [9] .

Wearing Yom Tov Clothing
10. Yom Tov clothing should be put on before Shabbat, and it is also possible to put it on during Shabbat itself while it is still daytime, if one is concerned that wearing it before Shabbat may cause it to become soiled with chametz.

Immersion in Honor of Shabbat and Yom Tov
11. Immersion on Friday is effective also for Yom Tov. If one immerses on Shabbat afternoon, there is no prohibition of preparation involved.

Destroying Chametz on Shabbat — Erev Pesach
12. Many have the custom at the Friday-night and Shabbat-morning meals to eat pitas, which do not leave crumbs, and to eat on a disposable tablecloth; afterward they shake the crumbs from the tablecloth into the toilet or bathtub, and then eat the remaining dishes with disposable utensils (or Pesach utensils) [10] .

The Shabbat Meals
13. Ideally, one should manage to eat two meals on Shabbat morning. Therefore, one should pray early, eat the Shabbat meal early, recite Birkat HaMazon around 8:30, then spend half an hour learning or taking a walk, and afterward wash his hands and eat another meal [the third meal], which should be completed before the end of the time for eating chametz. Members of the Sephardic communities do not follow this practice; rather, they eat one meal. Likewise, one who finds it difficult to divide the meal in two may suffice with one morning meal, and in the afternoon he should pray Minchah Gedolah and eat an additional [third] meal of meat, fish, or fruit until the tenth hour. If he did not manage to eat by the tenth hour, he should eat a little meat, fish, or fruit after the tenth hour, but should not fill himself with them. It is also permitted to eat a little vegetables and eggs, but he should not eat grain foods, such as a matzah dish, even a small amount [11] .

Additional Ways to Destroy Chametz on Shabbat
14. Chametz that remains on disposable plates, on the tablecloth, and the like: if they are crumbs that can be shaken into the toilet or bathtub, one should do so; since they are completely washed away, this constitutes destruction according to all opinions. One may also throw them [in a place where there is an eruv on which one may rely] into a public garbage bin, but it is forbidden to throw them into the building’s garbage bin except in one of the following ways: if there is not a kezayit in any individual piece, it is enough to pour a spoiling substance over the chametz [for with crumbs smaller than a kezayit it is sufficient that they become soiled in order to be considered destroyed [12] ; and if they contain a kezayit, they must be rendered unfit even for a dog to eat [13] .

Lechem Mishneh
15. Matzah may be joined for lechem mishneh even though it is forbidden to eat it on Erev Pesach. However, one who has special matzot for the Seder night should be concerned that it is forbidden to move them, since they are muktzeh due to monetary loss [14] .

Seudah Shelishit
16. Ideally, on Shabbat morning one should eat two meals, and in addition to this he should eat seudah shelishit after midday with meat and fish. Ideally, he should pray Minchah before the meal; if he has no meat or fish, he should eat fruit [15] .

When One Cannot Eat Bread
17. It is not possible to eat seudah shelishit with bread, since eating chametz is forbidden; nor is it possible to eat matzah, since eating matzah on Erev Pesach is forbidden. However, according to the basic law, it is permitted to eat cooked matzah, kneidlach, and cookies kneaded from matzah meal until the tenth hour [16] .

According to this view, one can fulfill seudah shelishit with the above until the tenth hour, though some are stringent in this matter.

A Matzah Dish
18. From the tenth hour onward it is forbidden to eat even a small amount of a matzah dish, so that one will eat matzah with appetite. It is permitted to eat a little fruit and vegetables, potatoes, meat, fish, and eggs, but one should not fill himself with them [17] .

Lighting Yom Tov Candles on Motzaei Shabbat
19. The Yom Tov candles should be lit only after nightfall, and before lighting the candles the woman must say: “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lekodesh” [18] .

Removing the Remnants of the Wick
20. Regarding removing the wick left from the Shabbat candles in order to prepare candles for Yom Tov: according to the basic law, it is permitted to remove the wick even by hand for the purpose of lighting the Yom Tov candles. The reason is that this does not involve the prohibition of muktzeh, since lighting a candle is considered a food-related need, and moving muktzeh for a food-related need is permitted. However, nowadays, when there is electric light, it is not so clear that this can be considered a food-related need; therefore, ideally, it is preferable to remove the wick with a spoon, fork, or the like. It is also possible to add oil and a new wick to the cups without removing the old wick [19] .

Melachah on Motzaei Shabbat — Yom Tov Night
21. Even after nightfall at the end of Shabbat, one may not perform labors that are permitted on Yom Tov until he says: “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lekodesh.” Eating is forbidden until after kiddush [20].

Setting the Table
22. It is forbidden to set the table and arrange the reclining chairs on Shabbat; this may be done only after Shabbat ends. If Ma’ariv was not prayed and “Vatodi’einu” was not recited, one should say after Shabbat ends, “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lekodesh,” and then preparations may be made for the Seder night. It is also permitted to perform food-preparation labors that are permitted [21] .

Carrying the Machzor
23. One should not bring the Pesach machzor on Shabbat from home to the synagogue; it should be brought before Shabbat or after Shabbat ends. If it is brought on Shabbat [in a place where there is an eruv], one must use it and read from it on Shabbat itself [22] .

Adding a Food at the Seder-Night Meal
24. Some say that one should add a specific food to the Seder-night meal for the sake of the melaveh malkah meal [23] , but this is not the accepted custom.

---

[1] Mishnah Berurah (siman 430, se’if katan 2).
[2] Shulchan Aruch (siman 470, se’if 2).
[3] Mishnah Berurah (there, se’if katan 6).
[4] Cited in Mishnah Berurah (siman 429, se’if katan 13).
[5] Shulchan Aruch (siman 444, se’ifim 1 and 2).
[6] Shulchan Aruch (there) and Mishnah Berurah (se’if katan 10).
[7] Shulchan Aruch (siman 251, se’if 1).
[8] Mishnah Berurah (siman 473, se’if katan 32).
[9] Shulchan Aruch (siman 506 and siman 504).
[10] Shulchan Aruch (siman 444, se’if 4).
[11] Shulchan Aruch (siman 444, se’if 1) and Mishnah Berurah (se’if katan 8).
[12] Mishnah Berurah (siman 442, se’if katan 33).
[13] Shulchan Aruch (siman 444, se’if 4).
[14] Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham, siman 444, se’if katan 1).
[15] Mishnah Berurah (siman 444, se’if katan 8).
[16] Shulchan Aruch (siman 471, se’ifim 1 and 2).
[17] Shulchan Aruch (there, se’if 1).
[18] Shulchan Aruch (siman 299, se’if 10) and Mishnah Berurah (se’if katan 36).
[19] Shulchan Aruch (siman 509, se’if 7) and Mishnah Berurah (siman 308, se’if katan 115).
[20] Mishnah Berurah (siman 299, se’if katan 36).
[21] Shulchan Aruch (siman 323, se’if 6).
[22] Mishnah Berurah (siman 667, se’if katan 5).
[23] As explained in Mishnah Berurah (siman 419, se’if katan 2) regarding Rosh Chodesh that falls on Shabbat.