Peninei Halakha

Search
Close this search box.
Peninei Halakha > Pesah > 14 – When Erev Pesaḥ Falls on Shabbat

14 – When Erev Pesaḥ Falls on Shabbat

01. Bi’ur Ḥametz and Shabbat Meals

When the 14th of Nisan coincides with Shabbat, bedikat ḥametz is performed with a berakha on the night of the 13th, Thursday night, because it is impossible to seek and eliminate ḥametz on Shabbat. After the search, the ḥametz is nullified like in any other year, and on the following day, Friday, it is burned. It is best to burn it by the sixth seasonal hour of the day so that no one gets mixed up on other years (SA 444:1-2). Ḥametz that will be eaten during the first two Shabbat meals is carefully set aside.

If it were permissible to eat matza on Erev Pesaḥ, we would presumably use matza at our Shabbat meals in order to avoid the problem of ḥametz. However, since it is forbidden to eat matza on Erev Pesaḥ so that it is appetizing to us at the Seder (see above, 13:6), we must save ḥametz for the first two Shabbat meals. In order to avoid problems with ḥametz foods, many people cook kosher-for-Pesaḥ foods for that Shabbat. They make kiddush and eat bread with spreads or salads in a room where people will not eat during Pesaḥ. After eating bread, they clean their hands and brush off their clothes, then eat the rest of the meal in the kosher-for-Pesaḥ dining room.

The first Shabbat meal is eaten on Friday night, and the second on Shabbat morning. It must be completed by the end of the fourth seasonal hour, at which time ḥametz becomes forbidden (as printed in many calendars; see above, 3:6). Shabbat morning prayers must begin and end early so that the meal can be completed in time.

After the second meal, all remaining ḥametz must be gathered from the plates and tablecloth. Since it may not be burned on Shabbat, it is a good idea to flush it down the toilet and thus completely destroy it. People generally plan their Shabbat meals wisely, so that it will be easy to gather up the leftover ḥametz and dispose of it. After this, the ḥametz must be nullified; the bitul must be recited by the end of the fifth hour of the day. After the meal, one should brush his teeth well (above, 11:12).

Se’uda shlishit, the third Shabbat meal, presents a problem: It is forbidden to eat ḥametz after the fourth hour of the day, and matza is forbidden the entire day. As a result, the obligation to eat a third meal is met by eating meat and fish or various fruits (SA 444:1). One may also eat matza balls, and according to many authorities, one may eat whole matzot that have been thoroughly cooked. One must avoid eating excessively during the third meal so that the matza of Seder night remains appetizing. There are other suggestions for those who wish to destroy all of their ḥametz before Shabbat, as explained in the notes.[1]


[1]. Egg matza or matza ashira is made out of flour that was kneaded with fruit juice, which does not become ḥametz. The Sephardic custom is to permit eating it on Pesaḥ, while the Ashkenazic custom is to forbid (see above, 8:1). According to all customs, matza ashira may be used for the first two Shabbat meals, before the end of the fourth hour, although to fulfill the requirements of the Shabbat meal, one must be kovei’a se’uda (“establish a meal”). That is, one must eat the volume of four eggs (ke-beitzim) of egg matza and, with the rest of the meal, become fully satisfied. This will change the berakhot on egg matza from “mezonot” and “Al Ha-miḥya” to “ha-motzi” and “Birkat Ha-mazon” (see Peninei Halakha: Berakhot 6:4). If matza ashira was baked with a reliable process (see above, 13:7), Sephardim may use it for se’uda shlishit, but it should be eaten by the end of the ninth seasonal hour of the day, about three hours before sunset. According to Ashkenazic custom, matza ashira may not be eaten after the fourth hour of the day (SHT and Igrot Moshe, in contrast to AHS, which permits eating it on Erev Pesaḥ, until the beginning of the holiday).

Cooked matza: Another option is to cook a whole matza. According to most opinions, one may eat cooked matza on Erev Pesaḥ, since it has been fundamentally altered and one would not fulfill the mitzva of eating matza on Seder night with such matza. Because it constitutes at least a kezayit, its berakhot are still “ha-motzi” and “Birkat Ha-mazon” and consequently one may use it to fulfill the obligation to eat three Shabbat meals. This is the ruling of MB 471:20 and SHT 19 ad loc., AHS 444:5, and Yeḥaveh Da’at 1:91 n. 10. SHT 471:20 mentions in the name of SAH and Ḥayei Adam that frying is the same as cooking, and that Pri Megadim equivocates. On the other hand, MA 444:2 says in Maharil’s name that he never saw anyone adopt the practice of eating cooked matza at se’uda shlishit, and Gra implies that it may not be eaten on Erev Pesaḥ. Those who wish to follow the majority ruling and fulfill their obligation with cooked matza may do so (see SHT 444:1 and above 13:7). MB 444:8 raises the idea of splitting the second meal into two, but this is not ideal, as se’uda shlishit should be eaten after midday (SA 291:2; Peninei Halakha: Shabbat 7:2).

02. Additional Laws

Ta’anit Bekhorot is moved forward to Thursday, the twelfth of Nisan (SA and Rema 470:2). As mentioned (above, 13:5), the custom nowadays is to arrange a siyum instead of fasting.

So as not to delay the start of the Seder, one should prepare the needs of the Seder on Friday: cooking the meal, preparing the ḥaroset, maror, and shank bone, and then freezing or refrigerating them. They should not be taken out of the refrigerator until after Shabbat, as it is forbidden to prepare on Shabbat for Yom Tov. Likewise, one may not set the Seder table on Shabbat. Rather, it should be set immediately upon the conclusion of Shabbat. If Seder dishes and foods were not prepared before Shabbat, they must be prepared after Shabbat.

Two sets of candles should be set up before Shabbat: one for Shabbat and one for Yom Tov, as it is forbidden to stick candles on candlesticks with melted wax on Yom Tov. If one did not prepare them in advance, he may wedge them into the candlesticks without melting them in place (Peninei Halakha: Festivals 2:2).

Chapter Contents