This year, erev Pesach falls on Shabbos. While our lack of familiarity with observing erev Pesach on Shabbos may catch us off guard and cause some confusion, with the proper planning and know-how it need not be a difficult Shabbos to keep. Indeed, it actually gives us an opportunity to be well-rested for the Seder and to be able to fulfill the mitzvos of Pesach in a more alert and dignified manner. In the following essay we will discuss some of the frequently asked questions that deal with the special halachos of erev Pesach which falls on Shabbos.

Question: Why do we burn and sell the chametz by the 6th hour on Friday morning when it is actually permitted to eat chametz until Shabbos morning?

Discussion: Although Friday is not really erev Pesach, in certain respects we act as if it really is erev Pesach. This is done in order to avoid confusion in subsequent years when erev Pesach does not fall on Shabbos. Thus any chametz which will not be consumed before Pesach is burned or sold1 no later than the time that would have been the deadline had this day truly been erev Pesach.2

Concerning other halachos, we do not treat Friday as erev Pesach. Thus:

• The paragraphs usually omitted from Shacharis on erev Pesach are recited on Friday.

• Kol Chamira, which is a statement that nullifies one’s chametz and is normally recited when the chametz is burned, is not recited this year on Friday. Instead, it is recited on Shabbos morning after the last remnants of chametz are gone.

• The special erev Pesach restrictions concerning taking a haircut and doing laundry after midday do not apply on Friday.3

• Dishes may be kashered until the onset of Shabbos.

Question: When should the maror and the other Seder items be prepared?

Discussion: All Seder preparations should be done on Friday, since it is prohibited to prepare anything4 for the Seder on Shabbos. While technically the preparations may be done after Shabbos ends and before the Seder begins, this is not a good idea since it unnecessarily delays an already late start for the Seder.5 Thus the horseradish, charoses, shank bone, roasted egg and salt water should all be prepared on Friday.6

The romaine lettuce should also be washed and checked on Friday. Care must be taken, however, not to leave the lettuce soaking in water, as lettuce that was soaked in water for twenty-four hours may no longer be used for maror.7

Question: How do we discard the chametz crumbs on Shabbos?

Discussion: Leftover crumbs on the table, dishes or floor should be swept,8 gathered together and then flushed down the toilet. Larger pieces of bread may be crumbled9 and then flushed.

If the Sanitation Department will not pick up the garbage before the time that one may no longer own chametz, do not place chametz in the trash cans or garbage bags which are left outside in order to be collected by the Sanitation Department.

If the floor needs to be swept, make sure that no chametz crumbs remain on the broom. Since it is extremely difficult to adequately clean a broom on Shabbos, it is advisable to clean the broom as much as possible and then put away the broom with the chametz items which have been sold to a non-Jew.

Question: Some people use chametz rolls for lechem mishneh on this Shabbos, and then serve the rest of the meal with kosher-for-Passover foods. Which dishes should be used during those meals?

Discussion: The recommended method is to use disposable (paper or plastic) dishes when any chametz is being eaten. After the chametz is gone, the rest of the meal may be served on Pesach dishes.

Question: In order to rid one’s teeth of chametz, is it permitted to brush them on Shabbos, with or without toothpaste?

Discussion: The consensus of contemporary poskim is that it is forbidden to use toothpaste on Shabbos.10 Their main concern is that applying toothpaste to the teeth or the brush could result in a transgression of the prohibited Shabbos Labor of Memareich, Smoothing.

Brushing without toothpaste is permitted,11 provided that the following conditions are met:

• Use a toothbrush that is designated for Shabbos use only.12 Some poskim require that the Shabbos toothbrush also look different from the weekday one, e.g., be of a different color or style.13

• Use a soft brush so as not to irritate the gums and cause bleeding. (People with gum disease who bleed whenever they brush their teeth may not use a toothbrush at all.)

• To avoid the prohibition of Sechitah, Squeezing, a dry toothbrush should be used. It is, however, permitted to rinse the mouth with cold water first and then use the toothbrush on the wet surface.14

• The toothbrush should not be rinsed off after it is used unless it is going to be used again this Shabbos.15

Question: Many people do not want to have any chametz in their home on Shabbos. Instead, they use egg matzah16 for lechem mishneh at both the Friday night and the Shabbos morning meals, and recite ha-motzi over the egg matzah. Is this permitted?

Discussion: Yes, it is.17 In fact, this is the preferred method for homes with little children who may scatter chametz crumbs around the house. This is also recommended for hotels, for large gatherings where Shabbos meals are being served, or for anyone who feels more secure with having no chametz in the house on Shabbos.

Although usually the proper blessing over egg matzah is mezonos, when egg matzah is eaten during a full-course meal and substitutes for bread, ha-motzi is recited.18 One should eat at least a k'zayis19 (about 1 fl. oz.) of egg matzah for each meal in addition to the other foods served at the meal.

One should finish eating the egg matzah before sof zeman achilas chametz, the time that chametz can no longer be eaten.20 The other foods served at the meal may be eaten later.

Question: When is seudah shelishis, the third Shabbos meal, eaten on this Shabbos?

Discussion: Scheduling the third meal on this Shabbos is difficult, since the third meal is supposed to be eaten after midday (chatzos). By then, however, we may no longer eat chametz, matzah or egg matzah. Thus, there is no perfect system for the third meal on this Shabbos.21 Instead, the poskim offer two options, neither of which is ideal:

• Divide the morning meal into two parts — i.e., wash, recite ha-motzi, eat a meal,22 recite Birkas ha-mazon, take a break (fifteen to thirty minutes),23 wash again, recite ha-motzi, eat a meal and recite Birkas ha-mazon. The chametz or egg matzah24 which is used for lechem mishneh at the second meal, seudah shelishis, must be consumed before sof zeman achilas chametz.

• Eat a meal consisting of “other foods,” such as cooked matzah meal25 balls (kneidelach26), meat, fish,27 fruit28 or a kosher-for-Passover cholent29 any time after one half hour past chatzos until the beginning of the tenth hour of the day. After that time, one is required to minimize his intake of food so as not to ruin his appetite for the Seder.

Since both of these options are halachically problematic, some people have the custom of following both procedures, i.e., they split the morning meal, and then eat a meal of “other foods” after one half hour past chatzos.

Points to remember...

• Although we do not eat matzah on this Shabbos, the matzos are not considered muktzeh, since it is permitted to feed small children matzah on erev Pesach.30 It is permitted, therefore, to use a matzah for lechem mishneh on this Shabbos.31 Care should be taken that no chametz crumbs attach themselves to the matzah.

• On Shabbos, it is advisable not to cast chametz crumbs to the winds even within an eiruv, as some poskim hold that this may be a violation of the Shabbos Labor of Zoreh, Winnowing.32

• The challos which are designated for lechem mishneh should be left in a safe place where children cannot reach them.33

• Before women begin to prepare for the Seder after Shabbos is over, they should recite Baruch ha-mavdil bein kodesh l'kodesh.34