WHEN PESAH BEGINS ON A SATURDAY NIGHT

In 2008, Pesah begins on a Saturday night. (The last time that that happened was 2005, and the next time will be 2021) The coincidence of Shabbat and Erev Pesah necessitates certain changes in the preparations for Pesah.

1. The “Fast” of the First-born (Taanit B’khor) occurs on Thursday.

2. One must complete one's Pesah house-cleaning by Thursday night, and the formal search for leaven (b’dikat hametz) takes place a nightfall on Thursday. The formula for the nullification of unseen hametz is recited at this time.

3. The burning of hametz is done on Friday morning, and the sale of hametz takes effect at this time. While one may technically retain possession of hametz all day Friday, and into Saturday morning, it is customary to complete the removal by Friday morning in order to maintain the routine of performing biur hametz in the morning. One does not, however, recite the formula for the nullification of all hametz, seen or unseen, at this time, because one may retain a small amount of bread for use at the first two Shabbat meals (see below).

4. In arranging one's meals for Shabbat which coincides with Erev Pesah, one must keep in mind the following factors:

(a) One is required to eat three meals on the Shabbat: Friday night, Saturday noon, and Saturday afternoon. Normally, these meals must include bread, and indeed, two complete loaves (lehem mishneh) should be on the table at each of the meals.

(b) One is forbidden to eat hametz after "four hours" on the day before Pesah.

(c) One is forbidden to eat matzah on Erev Pesah. In the Talmud Yerushalmi, Pesahim 10:1, we read "Someone who eats matzah on Erev Pesah is like one who sleeps with his fiancee in her father's house." The idea is that when we eat the matzah at the seder, in fulfillment of the Divine commandment, we should recognize that this matzah is something special. Indeed, some people have the practice of not eating matzah at all from the beginning of the month of Nisan, and some do not eat matzah after Purim.

There are two main approaches to this situation:

(a) One may use hametz for the first two Shabbat meals, using disposable plates and utensils. One must completely dispose of any left over food, and one must finish one’s meal by the time at which the eating of hametz is forbidden. (11:08 a.m. on April 19, 2008).

(b) One may eat pesachdik food with Pesah utensils. The requirement of eating bread is met by using Pesah rolls or egg matzah. (The usual b'rakha for those foods is Amezonot and not Ahamotzi, but, when they are eaten as part of a complete meal, one says Ahamotzi for them.)

I recommend the second option.

5. The formula for the nullification of all hametz is recited before "five hours" (12:29 p.m. EDT on April 19, 2008).

7. No preparations for the seder may be done on Shabbat, from 20 minutes before sundown on Friday night until 40 minutes after sundown on Saturday night. Whatever can be prepared in advance should be made on Friday (or before, if the stove and refrigerator or freezer have been made pesachdik) and the final preparations are made on Saturday night itself.

8. Since no light may be kindled on Shabbat, and since, on the Festival, fire may only be transferred and not started anew, one should light a fire (like a yahrzeit candle) before the beginning of Shabbat, which will burn all day, and which can be used for havdalah and lighting the Yom Tov candles on Saturday night. (One should also keep a light burning with which to light the Yom Tov candles Sunday night).

Although dealing with Erev Pesah on Shabbat is complicated, one positive side effect of the situation is that, since all preparations are completed a day early, one may relax on Shabbat and usher in the holiday refreshed.