*The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer
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Table of Contents
Taanis Bechoros
- When: When Pesach falls on Sunday, and Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, then the fast is preceded to Thursday.
- If the fast of the first born is pushed up to Thursday, may the firstborn eat before Bedikas Chametz? When Pesach falls on Sunday and the fast of the first born is pushed up to Thursday the 13th, which is Erev Bedikas Chametz, the firstborns who are fasting face a dilemma regarding eating before the Bedika. The following is the ruling: If a Bechor who is fasting has many rooms to check, and it is difficult for him to continue fasting until its conclusion, then he may eat a little prior to performing the Bedika, as only an actual meal was forbidden to be eaten. Alternatively, he is to appoint an emissary to perform the Bedika while he eats.
- Who? If one is a firstborn male for either the mother or the father, he has to fast. This applies likewise to Levim and Kohanim. If one’s mother had a miscarriage prior to her firstborn then he still has to fast, unless his father has had a child from a previous woman. The custom is that the father fasts on behalf of his son, if his son is not yet old enough to fast on his own. If the father is also a firstborn then the mother should fast for her son unless it will bring her pain, or she joins a Siyum. First born females are not accustomed to fast.
- Siyum: One may eat if he hears a Siyum. One must fast until he hears one. One who is stringent not to make a siyum and does fast will be blessed.
- What is one to do if he has missed all the Siyumim?
- He must fast. Alternatively, he can learn Tractate Tamid and make a Siyum on it.
- Can one make a Siyum on Mishnayos?
- One can make a Siyum on one of the six Sedarim of Mishnayos. Likewise, one can make a Siyum on a single Misechta if he learns it in depths with one of the commentaries.
- Must a firstborn convert fast?
- This matter is disputed, and one may thus be lenient to snack if he is unable to hear a Siyum.
Bedikas Chametz
*This year, Bedikas Chametz takes place Thursday night, the 13th of Nissan.
Bedikas Chametz-Night of the 13th:
- Where: All the areas that are obligated to be cleaned are likewise required to be checked for Chametz, if the area was not yet checked on the previous nights.
- Sold areas: Areas of Chametz that will be sold to the gentile do not require Bedika.
- Building lobby: The residents of a condominium are to appoint a person to perform the Bedikah in the stairs and lobby of the building.
- Ten pieces of bread: Wrap 10 small pieces of hard bread within paper tape and scatter them throughout the areas that will be checked, making sure to take note of their whereabouts.
- When: Begin the Bedika immediately after nightfall on the night of the 13th, after Davening Maariv.
- Eating/Melacha: Do not perform Melacha, eat a meal, or learn Torah within a half hour before nightfall of the 13th until the Bedika is complete.
- Maariv: One should Daven Maariv before the Bedikah.
- Who: One’s male children who are above the age of 13, may be trusted to perform the Bedika. However, one should personally engage in at least some part of the Bedikah.
- How: One is to search with a small single [one wick] candle. It is also permitted to use a flashlight or other form of electric light for the Bedika.
- Blessing: Before one begins to check for the Chametz one says the blessing of “Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haolam Asher Kidishanu Bemitzvosav Vetzivanu Al Biur Chametz.”
- Talking: Once the Bedikah has begun, one may not talk of unrelated matters, although it is permitted to talk of matters that relate to the Bedika.
- Bittul: After the Bedika recite the Bittul of Kol Chamia Vechamira. Make sure to recite it in a language that you understand.
- Guarding Chametz: Prior to the Bedika place all Chametz that one still owns in a guarded area from children and animals. During the Bedika guard all found Chametz from animals and children. After the Bedika place all the found Chametz in a guarded area.
- Packing the found Chametz: After the search, one places the bag, together with the feather and any remnant of the candle, in a wooden spoon. All this is then wrapped in paper (except for the spoon handle which remains uncovered), and bound several times with string, which is then knotted. This is then thrown in the fire the next day by Biur Chametz.
- Matzos: Check your Matzah for Kefulos. Remove a 2cm. circumference from the Kefula area and place it together with the Chametz.
- Garbage: Remove Chametz garbage and place it in a public area for all. Don’t leave it in a building garbage.
- Shul: The Gabaiy is to perform Bedikas Chametz in Shul with a blessing. This applies even if the Chametz of the Shul will be sold in Mechiras Chametz.
Erev Shabbos 13th Nissan
Friday – Erev Shabbos:
- Biur Chametz: Friday preferably before midday! When the day of the 14th falls on Shabbos, Biur Chametz is preceded to Erev Shabbos which is the 13th. One is to burn all of his Chametz, with exception to two meals worth of Chametz foods which will be eaten on Shabbos [and any other Chametz one plans to still eat on Friday]. From the letter of the law, one may wait to destroy the Chametz until right before Shabbos begins, although it is proper to destroy it prior to midday. Some Poskim rule that one is to burn the Chametz prior to the start of the 6th hour just like every year. Practically, according to Admur one may even initially burn the Chametz any time prior to midday.]
- Bittul-Kol Chamira: Not performed on Friday! When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, the second Bittul which is normally said after Biur Chametz, is delayed until Shabbos, after one has completed his eating of Chametz.
- Yehi Ratzon of Biur Chametz: Friday after Biur Chametz! The Yehi Ratzon which is normally recited by Biur Chametz, is recited as usual on Friday, after the burning of the Chametz. Nonetheless, some are accustomed to say it on Shabbos after the Bittul.
- Mechiras Chametz: Lechatchila: By early Friday morning. Bedieved: Until Shabbos begins. Technically, one can still sell his Chametz to a Gentile throughout the day of erev Shabbos. However, being that the rabbis who perform the sale usually do it earlier in the day even when the 13th falls on Erev Shabbos, therefore everyone should make sure to do Mechiras Chametz prior to Erev Pesach, and at the very least by the early hours of morning, so the Rabbi receives the signed power of attorney document which authorizes him to sell his Chametz on his behalf, prior to the sale acquisition taking place. Nonetheless, there are Rabbanim and Badatzim who explicitly stipulate with the Gentile that any power of attorney documents that are received after the sale will be included in the sale until the start of Shabbos, and therefore if for whatever reason one has still not done Mechiras Chametz, or knows of somebody who has still not done so, he should call up a Rabbi who sells Chametz and ask him if a person who did not sign on the power of attorney document can still be added to the sale. This applies until the start of Shabbos.
- Kashering: Friday, until the start of Shabbos. Some write that initially all the Kashering should be done prior to the 5th hour on Erev Shabbos, as is the case by other years.
- Eating Chametz: May eat until Sof Zeman Achilas Chametz by Shabbos day! When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, it is permitted to eat Chametz on Friday and Shabbos night and morning until the 5th hour of the day on Shabbos the 14th of Nissan. Thus, one is to use Challah for Lechem Mishneh on Friday night and Shabbos morning, prior to the 5th hour.
- Lechem Mishneh: One is to arrange on Erev Shabbos to have enough Lechem Mishneh for both the Friday night and Shabbos morning meals.
- Melacha on Erev Shabbos: Majority of Poskim rule it is permitted to perform Melacha past Chatzos of Erev Shabbos, just like every Erev Shabbos. One may thus cut his nails and get a haircut throughout the day of Erev Shabbos. Some Poskim, however, question whether Melacha may be performed after midday on Erev Shabbos. Practically, the custom is to be lenient, although one who is stringent is blessed.
- Cooking Chametz for Shabbos: One may not cook Chametz foods for Shabbos being that one is unable to wash the pots on Shabbos from the Chametz that is stuck to them. [This applies even if one performs Mechiras Chametz. Nonetheless, if one has a Kosher Eiruv in his community, one may cook Chametz in the pots and then place the content before Shabbos into disposable pans which will be discarded to the outside on Shabbos before the 6th hour. The pots are to be cleaned on Erev Shabbos. Alternatively, one is to initially cook everything in disposable baking pans. Practically, the widespread custom is to simply cook everything in Pesach vessels, and not eat cooked Chametz on this Shabbos. This is especially necessary if there is no Eiruv in one’s community and one has no ability of discarding his Chametz leftovers.]
- Kitniyus for Shabbos: It is permitted for one to cook [in a Chametz pot] and eat Kitniyus both by Friday night and Shabbos day up until Sof Zeman Achilas Chametz by Shabbos morning. Thus, one may purchase kosher for Pesach Kitniyus foods to eat on Friday night and Shabbos day [Chumus, Tehina, etc]. There is no need to discard the leftovers in the toilet or to burn it so long as one is careful that no Chametz got into it.
- Preparations for the Seder on Erev Shabbos: One may not do any preparations for the Seder on Shabbos, and therefore the preparation must be performed on Erev Shabbos. These include the following:
- Roasting the Zeroa
- Cooking the egg
- Washing and checking the lettuce
- Dicing the Maror [horseradish]. The horseradish is to be ground on Erev Shabbos and kept in a sealed container.
- Making the Charoses: When Pesach falls on Motzei Shabbos the Charoses is to be made on Erev Shabbos. Alternatively, if one desires, he can grind it by hand on Motzei Shabbbos, which is Yom Tov, as there is no grinding prohibition involved in grinding these ingredients on Yom Tov.
- Salt water: Some Poskim rule it is permitted to make salt water on Yom Tov without restriction. Other Poskim, however rule that it contains the same restrictions as making salt water on Shabbos [see next]. Practically, one is to initially prepare the salt water before Yom Tov, and if one forgot to do so, then he is to make it on Yom Tov using a Shinuiy, such as to first put in the water and only then the salt. Although those who make it regularly have upon whom to rely.
Arrange the Shabbos clock before Shabbos for it to last until after the Seder:
Shabbos Hagadol
Shabbos Hagadol: [Chapter 1 Halacha 11]
- The Shabbos before Pesach is called Shabbos Hagadol, as on that Shabbos a great miracle occurred. On that Shabbos, the 10th of Nissan, was the day that Bnei Yisrael took a lamb for the Pesach offering, as is stated explicitly in the verse. When the first-born Egyptians saw this occurring on Shabbos, they gathered by Bnei Yisrael and asked for an explanation for their actions. They were then told by Bnei Yisrael that the lamb is going to be a sacrifice to G-d, which will kill the Egyptian first born. The first-born Egyptians proceeded to go to their fathers and to Pharaoh to request from them to release the Jewish people. When they were answered negatively, the first-born Egyptians resorted to making war with them and they killed many of them. This is the meaning of the verse “And Egypt was stricken by their first born.” This miracle was then set to be remembered for all generations on Shabbos [before Pesach], and they called it “The Great Shabbos”. Shabbos Hagadol was thus the beginning of the redemption and the miracles.
- The Haftorah on Shabbos Hagadol that falls on Erev Pesach: The custom in these provinces is that when Shabbos Hagadol falls on Erev Pesach the Haftorah of “Veareiva..” is read.
- When is the speech given if Shabbos Hagadol falls on Erev Pesach? When Erev Pesach falls on the Shabbos prior to Pesach, the speech is given on the previous Shabbos.
- Recite Avadim Hayinu after Mincha: The custom in these provinces is that [after] Mincha of Shabbos Hagadol, we recite “Avadim Hayinu” [until Lichaper Al Kol Avonoseinu], as Shabbos Hagadol was the beginning of the redemption and the miracles. This applies even if Shabbos Hagadol falls on Erev Pesach.
Shabbos - Erev Pesach
Shabbos-Friday night:
- The meal – Lechem Mishneh: One recites Lechem Mishneh over two whole loaves of bread, unless one of the valid non-Chametz alternatives are used.
- If one does not have two Challahs available for Lechem Mishneh, one may use a whole non-Muktzah Matzah to join for Lechem Mishneh.
- If one does not have even one whole Challah available, he cannot make Hamotzi on Matzah, as it is forbidden to be eaten. Rather, he is to fulfill his meal with other available foods.
- Fried Matzah: The custom is to use Chametz bread for the night and morning meals of Shabbos. Nevertheless, the following non-Chametz alternative is also available for Lechem Mishneh: Matzah which was fried before Shabbos and still retains a whole Kezayis remains Hamotzi. It may be eaten up until the 10th hour of the day on Erev Shabbos, although those who avoid eating this on Pesach due to Gebrochts, avoid eating it beginning from the 5th hour of the day. Practically, it is not customary to use fried Matzah for the Shabbos meals, even by Shalosh Seudos.
- How much bread to eat: Every person must eat at least a Kebeitza of bread, within two times Kdei Achilas Peras, as is the rule on every Shabbos.
- Being careful to guard the crumbs and may one eat the bread with other foods during the meal, and how should the Chametz be cleaned and discarded? Throughout the meal one should be careful that Chametz crumbs do not get spread throughout the house and past the area of the table.
- Good advice is to use a noncrumbly bread such as Pita for Lechem Mishneh, as well as for the rest of the bread of the meal.
- Flushing down toilet: The bread throughout the meal should be eaten over a napkin or precut paper towel which will then be wrapped up and flushed down the toilet, and it should not be dipped onto plates or any other item that will need to be cleaned from Chametz as a result.
- Discarding in outside public for all garbage: If one lives in an area with an Eiruv, then he can choose to use disposable cutlery and plates and tablecloth and eat his bread as usual, and at the end of the meal simply throw the entire tablecloth with all its contents in the garbage, and at the very least prior to the sixth hour of the day of Shabbos [Sof Zeman Biur Chametz] the garbage should be taken out to a public for all area, such as a public garbage dump. It should not be discarded in a building garbage which is designated only for certain people. Certainly, it does not suffice to place it in one’s personal garbage can outside his home, unless the garbage will be picked up by the city before the sixth hour of the day of Shabbos.
- See Halacha E for further details of cleaning the Chametz!
- Those who plan to eat bread only at the beginning of the meal: Those who desire to keep it safe and only eat the Chametz bread in the beginning of the meal over a napkin and then flush it down the toilet right away, and then eat only kosher for Pesach foods and no longer eat bread, must be careful to recite Birchas Hamazon after they are done eating the bread, prior to beginning the next course without bread, as meal foods are only exempt with the blessing of Hamotzi if bread will potentially still be eaten while they are served. After Birchas Hamazon when the other courses are served, a blessing must be recited individually over each food.
E. Shabbos Day:
- Early Shacharis: Shacharis on Shabbos must be Davened early, with enough time for people to come home and eat their Shabbos day meal before the 5th hour of the day, before Sof Zman Achilas Chametz. The chazan must be warned not to lengthen the davening.
- The time of the Shabbos day meal: All eating of Chametz must be completed by the start of the 5th hour of the day [Sof Zman Tefila]. Due to this, one who is using Chametz for Lechem Mishneh is to complete the entire meal before the 5th hour of the day.
- Alternatively, when the 5th hour of the day arrives, one is to stop his meal and recite Birchas Hamazon, and then eat the remainder of his food later on. [Thus, one can simply eat a Kibeitza of bread before the start of the 5th hour of the day, recite Birchas Hamazon, and then have a complete Kosher for Pesach meal later on.]
- One is not to continue the meal after the 5th hour even if he does not plan on eating anymore Chametz, as the foods eaten are no longer included in the blessing of Hamotzi once it is forbidden to eat Chametz, as explained above in D.
- The meal – Lechem Mishneh: One recites Lechem Mishneh over two whole loaves of bread for the Shabbos day meal, unless one of the valid non-Chametz alternatives are used. See Halacha D for full details of this matter!
- One who overslept: One who oversleeps on Shabbos morning and is unable to finish Shacharis with enough time to eat Chametz before the 5th hour of the day, cannot use Matzah for his Shabbos meal and thus forfeits his ability of Lechem Mishneh. Rather, he is to fulfill his meal with other available foods.
- How much bread to eat: See Halacha D!
- Being careful to guard the crumbs and may one eat the bread with other foods during the meal? See Halacha D!
- Those who plan to eat bread only at the beginning of the meal: See Halacha D!
- Brushing one’s teeth: Prior to the start of the 5th hour of the day, one is to clean his mouth and teeth in a way permitted on Shabbos. One may use a toothbrush without water, or a toothbrush that does not have a problem of squeezing.
- One must be careful not to make himself bleed.
- One may use precut dental floss.
- One who has fillings is to swish hot water in his mouth. Dentures are to be removed and Koshered before Shabbos.
- Cleaning the leftover Chametz: All Chametz must be destroyed or removed from one’s home prior to the start of the 6th hour on Shabbos. The following are the details of this obligation:
- All leftover Chametz crumbs which are less than a Kezayis and have fallen onto the floor prior to the 6th hour of the day, onto areas that people walk, are considered destroyed and don’t have to be removed.
- If one’s area contains an Eiruv, one can throw the crumbs outside into a public for all area.
- One can flush the Chametz crumbs down the toilet.
- If one verified with the Rav who performed the sale that the sale includes all the Chametz one owns until the 6th hour on Shabbos then one can place the Chametz in the area sold to the gentile, if one performed Mechiras Chametz.
- Leftover large pieces of Chametz: If one’s area contains an Eiruv, one can throw the Chametz outside into a public for all area. Alternatively, one can break the Chametz to small pieces and flush it down the toilet. Alternatively, one can place the Chametz in the area sold to the gentile, if one performed Mechiras Chametz, and the sale includes all the Chametz one owns until the 6th hour on Shabbos. This matter should be verified through the Rav who performed the sale.
- Tablecloth and plates: The tablecloth needs to be shaken from any Chametz crumbs and discarded, as explained above. Likewise, the plates and all other eating utensils are to be cleaned from any visible Chametz using one’s fingers or napkin.
- The napkin used to clean the utensils is to be flushed down the toilet or thrown into a public area if there is an Eiruv.
- Disposable plates and utensils may be simply thrown into the garbage and discarded outside to a public for all area, in areas with an Eiruv. If, however, one does not have an Eiruv in his area, then one needs to clean even the disposable plates from any visible Chametz.
- To avoid the need to clean the utensils, it is advised to eat all the Chametz foods over napkins and then flush the napkin down the toilet.
- Bittul-Kol Chamira: When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, the second Bittul which is normally said after Biur Chametz, is delayed until Shabbos morning.
- It is said after completing the eating of Chametz on Shabbos morning, prior to the end of the 5th hour of the day.
- The Bittul is to be recited even if one has no more Chametz in his possession after the 5th hour.
- Chametz leftovers past the 6th hour of the day: If one finds Chametz in one’s home after the start of the 6th hour, or for whatever reason did not have time to finish cleaning the Chametz from the meal until the 6th hour, then he is to have a vessel placed over it until Motzei Yom Tov and it is then to be burnt [or placed in the area sold to the gentile if one performed Mechiras Chametz, and the sale includes even the leftover Chametz of Shabbos.]
- Preparations for the Seder: One may not do any preparations for the Seder on Shabbos, and therefore the preparation must be performed on Erev Shabbos. These include the following: 1) Roasting the Zeroa; 2) Cooking the egg; 3) Washing and checking the lettuce; 4) Dicing the Maror [horseradish]; 5) Making the Charoses; 6) Initially making salt water.
- Setting the table: The table may not be setup for the Seder until after Shabbos and the saying of Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Likodesh.
- Sleeping: It is permitted to go to sleep on Shabbos for the sake of being awake on the night of Seder. One may even say that he is going to sleep for the sake of having strength to be awake by the Seder. One however may not say “I am going to sleep today on Shabbos so I have strength to do Melacha, such as cooking, after Shabbos.”
- The Shalosh Seudos menu? For the third Shabbos meal, one is to eat meat and fish. If this is unavailable, one is to eat fruits and vegetable. Although one can technically fry/cook Matzah before Shabbos, and eat it for the third meal, practically, it is not customary to do so.
- In all cases, those who are accustomed to eat Matzah Ashira [i.e. Sephardim] or fried Matzah for the third meal, must be careful to complete their meal prior to the 10th hour of the day. However, meat, fish, and fruits and vegetables may be eaten even past the 10th hour of the day, in limited quantities.
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