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Erev Pesach on Shabbat
Alvin Stern
This year, as happens on an irregular basis, Erev Pesach falls on Shabbat.
This presents several problems that need to be considered and adjustments made
in our normal preparation for the Passover Holiday.
First, the search for Chametz (Bedikat Chametz), which usually takes place
24 hours before the First Seder, would occur on Friday night – obviously,
we cannot search for crumbs with a lighted candle and clean them up on Shabbat!
So, this ceremonial cleaning takes place this year on Thursday night. Normally,
we put aside what we find and any Chametz we don’t plan to use early
the next morning and then burn all that remains in the Biyur Chametz (burning
of Chametz) ritual early on the morning of the eve of the holiday – again,
that would be on Shabbat this year, and clearly we cannot kindle a fire on
Shabbat. So, this year, we will put things aside Thursday night and do the
burning on Friday morning.
Normally, there is a Siyum B’chorim for the first born on the morning
of Erev Pesach. This study session and feast replaces a day of fasting to commemorate
the slaying of the Egyptian first born males. Since this would also take place
on Shabbat, and with the sole exception of Yom Kippur we are forbidden to fast
on Shabbat, this Siyum is moved to Thursday. It should be noted that Yom Kippur
never falls on Friday or Sunday to avoid desecrating the Shabbat in the breaking
of the fast or the preparation for it; similarly the only Fast Day that can
fall on a Friday is the one for Erev Pesach and that is generally not observed
by fasting but rather by attending the Siyum.
Now we have one more concern – since we have removed and burned all
Chametz by Friday morning and Pesach won’t start until after Shabbat
ends – what do we do for meals on Friday and especially the Shabbat dinner
on Friday night? Our Chametz dishes must be put away before Shabbat, since
switching would certainly be defined as work! We may not eat matza until the
seder – so what about HaMotzi Friday night? The solution is to use our
Pesach dishes and cook Pesach foods on Friday for Shabbat, but to set a table
in the corner with the loaves of challah. We make Kiddush using Pesach wine
and wine glasses; then make HaMotzi in the corner with the challahs; break
them by hand and eat the challah in the corner. Then enjoy the Pesach-style
meal (made without matza) and if we want more challah during the meal, go back
to the corner table – making sure not to make crumbs on the floor! We
may eat the challah until the usual time for last Chametz on Shabbat morning
and now have one more problem – we have a table in the corner with challah
crumbs on it! What to do? There are several options – 1) fold up the
cloth with all the crumbs and put it with the stored chametz dishes – this
works if you don’t have mice or bugs who might find these crumbs! Or
2) take the cloth to the toilet, shake it out, and flush away the crumbs, then
put the cloth with the stored dishes until after Pesach.
The nice feature of Erev Pesach falling on Shabbat, is that all the preparations
for the Seder are done on Friday or after Shabbat ends, and therefore Shabbat
is a well-deserved day of rest – allowing all to sit at the Seder table
in a relaxed state. Best wishes to all for a Zissen Pesach! |
