The Halachot of Pesach that Fall on Motzei Shabbat

When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbat

This year, Pesach falls on Motsei Shabbat, a situation that poses several halachic issues which I will explain.

1. Bedikat chametz

Bedikat chametz by candlelight will be done on Thursday night, immediately after Maariv to check all the nooks and crannies for any chametz.

2. Bitul chametz

After the bedika. The head of the household verbally annuls any chametz that he may have overlooked and is careful not to include the chametz left over to be eaten on Friday and Shabbat.

3. The Burning of chametz

Leftover chametz must be burnt on Friday morning by 11:19 am in Jerusalem, even though the eating of chametz is permitted till Shabbat morning. The reason for burning the chametz is so that this important mitzvah will not be overlooked in future years.

4. Friday night

The Friday night meal is prepared and eaten with Pesach utensils. All chametz utensils must be put away before Shabbat. Special care must be taken when eating chametz so that it does not come into contact with the Pesach utensils. (It may be advisable to use pitta bread for “hamotzei” as it leaves fewer crumbs than a traditional “challa”)

5. Shabbat morning

The problem on Shabbat is that on the one hand, we have a mitzvah to eat three meals of bread, while on the other hand, eating chametz is prohibited after 10 am (In Jerusalem). This problem can be overcome in a number of ways:

i)                Eat two meals with chametz before 10 am. This will involve getting up early and having only a short break between one meal and the next. The table must be cleared and “birchat hamazon recited, followed by a short break (some say 15mins, others 30mins while some say that it is sufficient to take a walk around the block) before continuing with the second meal of the morning. This option enables one to have three meals of “hamotzei” as with any other Shabbat and is mentioned by the Mishna Berura and recommended by the Gra.

ii)              An alternative is to have one meal with bread before 10 am, and to eat meat, fish or even fruits for seudat shelishit later on in the day, taking care to finish eating before 15:52 (In Jerusalem) to have an appetite for the seder. The Rama mentions this option.

iii)            For those who are accustomed to eating “matzah Ashira” on Pesach (sweet matzot usually made from fruit juice or wine mixed with flour), they may be used for seudat shelishit at the normal time.

6. Leftovers

Any chametz left over after the Shabbat morning meal must be disposed of by 11:19 am and verbally annulled. One way to dispose of the chametz is to mix it with detergent to make it inedible even for a dog, and to throw it out with the garbage.

7. Preparation for the seder

On Shabbat, we do not do any preparations for after Shabbat, even when the next day is Pesach, and therefore all preparations for the seder may only be done after Shabbat (19:44 in Jerusalem). This includes lighting candles for Yom Tov, and therefore a 24 hour candle should be lit before Shabbat in order to light Yom Tov candles.

8. Havdalah

Havdalah is made during kiddush of the seder, using the candles lit in honor of Yom Tov.