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Peninei Halakha > Pesah > 13 – The Laws and Customs of Erev Pesaḥ > 01. The Prohibition against Work (Melakha) on Erev Pesaḥ

01. The Prohibition against Work (Melakha) on Erev Pesaḥ

When the Temple stood, one who offered a sacrifice was prohibited from performing melakha (productive work) that day, as it was like a holiday for him, and it is inappropriate to perform melakha while one’s sacrifice is being offered up on the altar. The same applies to Erev Pesaḥ, a day on which Israel is obligated to offer the korban Pesaḥ (Paschal sacrifice), and which is consequently like a holiday for everyone. But since the time for offering the korban Pesaḥ does not begin until midday, the prohibition against melakha also does not begin until midday. Even after the destruction of the Temple, this enactment remained in effect, and it is forbidden do perform significant melakha after midday on the 14th of Nisan. Another reason for this custom is to prevent one from becoming preoccupied with work and forgetting to destroy his ḥametz and prepare matza, wine, and other necessities for the Seder night.

In some places, people adopted the stringent practice of refraining from melakha from the morning of the 14th of Nisan, and in such places this custom was binding. In practice, however, the prevailing practice everywhere is to do melakha until midday.

Indeed, the Sages instituted a ban on significant melakha every Erev Shabbat so that people would be free to prepare for Shabbat. However, the prohibition on Erev Pesaḥ is more severe, for while the Sages taught that whoever performs melakha on Erev Shabbat will see no sign of blessing from it, those who performed melakha on Erev Pesaḥ were actually excommunicated. In practice, the halakha is that melakha is forbidden on Erev Shabbat from the time of minḥa ketana (two and a half seasonal hours before sunset), while the prohibition on Erev Pesaḥ begins at midday.[1]


[1]. The “korban” reason is explained in y. Pesaḥim 4:1 and is the opinion of Tosafot, Rambam, and most poskim. Tosafot imply that this is a Torah prohibition, but according to Rambam and many other poskim, the prohibition is rabbinic. All agree that after the destruction of the Temple the prohibition is only rabbinic. The first reason is the primary one; therefore, if the first night of Pesaḥ coincides with Motza’ei Shabbat, one may work until minḥa ketana on Friday just like on a regular week, even though he burns the ḥametz and takes care of other Pesaḥ preparations on Friday (BHL 468:1; see also Ḥazon Ovadia vol. 2 p. 82 and Hilkhot Ḥag Be-ḥag 14:8). The prohibition against work on Friday afternoon is explained in Pesaḥim 50b, and the Rishonim are divided as to whether the prohibition refers to minḥa gedola (5.5 seasonal hours before sunset) or minḥa ketana (2.5 seasonal hours before sunset). Because this constitutes a doubt about a rabbinic law, halakha follows the lenient opinion (see SA 251:1 and MB ad loc.; Peninei Halakha: Shabbat 2:8).

See MB 468:12 and Kaf Ha-ḥayim 32 ad loc. regarding the modern-day custom regarding Erev Pesaḥ before midday. The fact that they wonder about the custom in Jerusalem makes it clear that there is no fixed custom to prohibit work, since where work is prohibited, it is also prohibited for guests, and certainly for the residents of the community. There are no communities nowadays that prohibit work on Erev Pesaḥ before midday.

However, according to SA 468:5 in the name of Rambam, even where there is no custom to prohibit work, only three types of craftsmen are permitted to begin working before midday: tailors, barbers, and launderers, since their work is done expressly for the holiday. For everyone else, if one began a task before the morning of the 14th and the work is necessary for Pesaḥ, he may work until midday, but if he did not begin before the morning of the 14th, he may not start. According to Rema, based on the opinion of most Rishonim, including Rashi, Raavad, Rosh, Ran, and others, the aforementioned distinction only applies where the custom is to refrain from work (like in Rema’s community), but where the custom is to permit work until midday (like in our communities), everything is permissible. This is the custom of the Ashkenazic communities. Even some Sephardic communities follow Rema; see Kaf Ha-ḥayim ad loc. 32. In any event, we follow the lenient view when there is uncertainty regarding a rabbinic law.

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Translated By:
Series Editor: Rabbi Elli Fischer

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Editor: Nechama Unterman