As Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos this year, we do many things differently. Please see the step-by-step guidance below, beginning with Thursday morning. Please feel free to contact the Rabbi with any questions.
Thursday morning, April 10 – Ta’anis Bechoros (Fast of the First Born): This is normally observed on Erev Pesach. Because that day is Shabbos this year, the fast is pushed back to the preceding Thursday. If one attends a siyum on this day, one is exempt from fasting the rest of the day.
Thursday night, April 10 – Bedikas Chametz (Search for Chametz): Although this search is normally performed the night preceding the seder, we do not do it on Shabbos. It is therefore done on Thursday night, at approximately 7:45 pm. As in other years, we recite the standard brachah before the search and the bitul (nullification of the chametz) afterwards.
Friday morning, April 11 – Biur Chametz (Destruction of the Chametz): While this is normally done on the morning of Erev Pesach, as this year it is Shabbos, we must burn the chametz on the preceding day. The chametz should be burned before 11:28 am. THE BITUL IS NOT RECITED ON FRIDAY MORNING, as one may still eat and own chametz until Shabbos morning. Any chametz of which you plan to partake over Shabbos or sell to a non-Jew need not be destroyed.
Friday morning, April 11 – Mechiras Chametz (Sale of the Chametz): Any chametz which you will not be destroying on Friday morning and do not plan to use over Shabbos should be set aside in designated locations to be sold to a non-Jew. Those selling their chametz through Rabbi should plan to have their chametz put away by 5:00 pm.
Shabbos morning, April 12 – Latest Time for Eating Chametz is 10:25 am: Ideally one should eat all of the chametz remaining in the home that was not included in the sale. As one may not eat regular matzah today until the seder, one should make the Hamotzi for Shabbos lunch on chametz. For this reason, one should daven Shacharis early to allow sufficient time for the Hamotzi to be made.
Shabbos morning, April 12 – Disposal of Remaining Chametz by 11:28 am: As previously mentioned, the goal should be that all chametz remaining in one’s home after the burning midday on Friday should either have been eaten by 10:25 am Shabbos morning or have been set aside on Friday to be included in the sale of chametz to the non-Jew. Any remaining crumbs of chametz should be gathered and flushed down the toilet. If one has a significant amount of remaining chametz, it should be given to a non-Jew who will take it away and do with it as he/she pleases. Once someone has dealt with all remaining chametz, one should recite the Bitul Chametz (Destruction of Chametz) which is normally said when the chametz has been burned. All of this should take place before 11:28 am.
Shabbos afternoon, April 12 – Seudah Shlishis (The Third Meal): There is still a mitzvah to eat a third meal this Shabbos. As described earlier, we are prohibited from eating food for which we would make Hamotzi after 10:25 am. There are different possibilities for the third meal, including completing it before 10:25 am (one would need to create a sufficient gap between bensching of the first meal and washing for the second meal). A common approach is to have non-hamotzi foods for the third meal, such as meat, chicken, fish, or fruit. Regardless of the foods eaten, one should make sure to not eat so much that they will not have an appetite for the matzah at the seder.