Pesach Halachic Digest 5785
An Overview Of The Laws of Pesach
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ב"ה
Halachic Digest Pesach 5785
ערב פסח שחל בשבת
Compiled by Rabbi Yoseph Y. Vigler
לע"נ הרב יצחק בן הרב אליעזר צירקינד ע"ה - ח"י אדר תשע"ב
All times are for Brooklyn NY
GENERAL OUTLINE OF UNIQUE HALACHOS THIS YEAR
The Shabbos haGadol drasha is one Shabbos earlier
The fast of the Firstborn (or siyum masechta) is 2 days earlier on Thursday 12 Nissan
Bedikas Chometz is one night earlier, on Thursday night 13 Nissan
Burning of chometz takes place one day earlier, on Friday morning 13 Nissan. But if you were delayed, you can burn the chometz all day Friday.
Bitul chometz is not recited when burning the chometz
After biur chometz, we leave over challos only, just enough for the Seudos of Shabbos
The sale of Chometz takes place one day earlier, on Friday 13 Nissan
On Shabbos morning we daven early, to finish eating the challos of the Seudah before the zman of issur chometz
The actual meals of Shabbos should be Pesach’dik (other than the challos)
Bitul chometz is recited twice, once after bedikas chometz and the second time after eating the challos on Shabhbos morning
Any leftover chometz should be flushed down the toilet on Shabbos before the zman of biur chometz.
You cannot eat neither chometz nor matzah for seudah shlishis on Shabbos afternoon, only fruits.
The Simanim of the Seder should be prepared from Erev Shabbos.
No preparations for the Seder may begin on Shabbos itself
SECTION I - PREPARATIONS FOR PESACH
Simchas Yom Tov
The first preparation for Pesach is to ensure that others have what they need for Yom Tov. It is more important to ensure others have what they need for Yom Tov before taking care of ourselves. Even though the traditional Ma’os Chitin fund was originally established for Matzah only, it was expanded in later generations to include all needs for Yom Tov. We should look out for others to ensure everyone has the ability to make the seder and everything they need for Yom Tov. If you know someone who needs please let us know
If you would like to donate Maos Chittin - www.MYEF.org/Donate
Please don’t forget your Jewish co-workers, clients and other business contacts. Ensure they have Shmurah Matzah to fulfill the Mitzvah properly. The Jew you know is YOUR responsibility. You may be their only link to authentic Judaism. And this year when you are not meeting them in business or in the office, make sure to call them and ship them matzah. This year they are likely to be more spiritually sensitive. Order the MitzvahShare Matzah kit shipped - MitzvahShare@MayanYisroel.net
It is a mitzvah d’oraisa to make one’s wife and children joyous on Yom Tov by buying her an outfit or jewelry; and for the kids something exciting too.
The month of Nissan
Tachnun is omitted the entire month
During the first 12 days we recite the Nassi each day, and the finale on 13 Nissan
One should learn the halachos of Pesach thoroughly even if one has learned them previously,
Birkas Ilanos (Bracha on Trees)
When you see blossoming fruit trees for the first time during the month of Nissan, you bentch: ...שֶׁלֹּא חִסֵּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם. (Who has made nothing lacking in His world, and created in it goodly creatures and goodly trees to give mankind pleasure).
The bracha is said just once a year—the first time you see it. Some Poskim, including Eliyah Rabbah, maintain that if one did not say the bracha the first time, it can still be said when seeing
it the second time. Shulchan Aruch HaRav says that if one missed the opportunity the first time he saw it, he cannot say the bracha again during that year.The bracha ought to be said specifically during the month of Nissan. However, there are poskim who permit making the bracha after Nissan too.
The bracha may be recited on Shabbos and Yom Tov too.
The bracha should be said by both men and women.
Preferably, the bracha should be recited when seeing two trees at one time. But even if there is only one tree, you should still say the bracha.
The bracha should not be said on trees that grow fruits grafted from two species.
In the southern hemisphere, where seasons are the opposite and trees blossom during Elul and Tishrei, the bracha can be said at that time.
Chometz
The Arizal states, “One who is scrupulous regarding even the minutest quantity of chametz on Pesach is guaranteed not to sin the entire year.” He possibly refers to immunity from inadvertent sins; there is no doubt that every individual retains freedom of choice.
Kashering dishes
Many people kasher even brand new dishes because they are often made with non kosher fats. It is only a chumra, because those fats actually have a blemished taste
If you do not have dedicated utensils for Pesach and cannot get disposables, you may kasher your (metal) utensils for Pesach.
Utensils must be thoroughly cleaned and not used for twenty-four hours prior to kashering. If there are food particles left, hagala may not be done
The pot for kashering may be a chometz pot, as long as it is perfectly clean and was not used for chometz in the past 24 hours. And it may not be enamel-coated or earthenware.
Fill the pot with water, let it boil. Then drop a hot stone or hot piece of metal in, so the water overflows.
The water should then be poured out and the pot rinsed in cold water.
The pot should be filled again and the water brought to a boil.
Utensils can now be immersed in the boiling water.
Items should only be put into the pot when the water is boiling, and taken out with special gloves or metal strainer when it is boiling.
If the water ceases to boil, wait until it begins again.
The pot should be big enough to allow all surfaces of the utensil to be touched by the water; each object should be dropped into the pot in such a way that it will not touch the sides of the pot.
After immersion, it should be rinsed in cold water.
When kashering utensils in a pot, do not put in too many utensils, to ensure that there is enough room for the bubbling water to cover each utensil.
Kashering may be done all day on Friday
Kashering Countertops
Countertops should either be kashered or covered for Pesach. If covering, make sure to use a material that will not easily rip.
If kashering, first scrub the countertop clean. Then leave it for 24 hours without anything hot being placed on it.
If small particles of food are trapped in grooves, the countertop cannot be kashered and should instead be covered.
Kashering is done by pouring boiling water on the countertop.
Either use a pot that is kosher for Pesach or a chometz pot that was not used for 24 hours.
Pour the pot of boiling water over the entire area of the counter and make sure there is a continuous flow of water from the pot to the surface.
A large counter may be kashered in stages. First pour the boiling water on one portion of the counter and then repeat the process for the next portion.
It is preferable to use a hot stone as well. Heat up the stone on the fire until it is hot. As you pour the boiling water on the counter, take the stone and use it to cause the water to boil again as it hits the counter.
Make sure that the stone is used over the entire area of the counter
If you are covering the countertop and not kashering, take care to clean it thoroughly and not place on it hot pots on Pesach lest it rip
Kashering Sinks
Sink faucets should be Kashered and covered or changed. Open the hot water faucet and simultaneously pour hot water on it.
Any grooves should be scraped from chometz particles
Stainless steel sinks can be Kashered. Boil water in a pot as above and pour it on the sink. Go around the entire perimeter of the sink, including the walls, with a heated stone as above, so that the water sizzles as it lands. The stone will need to be heated more than once as it cools down.
Porcelain / enamel sinks cannot be kashered. They must be cleaned well and lined. Some are machmir to leave the sink unused 24 hours, then pour boiling water over the porcelain / enamel sink 3 times. Then line it. Or use a sink insert
Note - it you are lining it you may not pour hot water in it since it may tear
Bleach should be poured down the sink drain
Kashering the rest of the kitchen
Garbage bins should be thoroughly cleaned with bleach.
Tables must be cleaned: Table leaves should be opened, and the supports and the leaves carefully cleaned. Then, cover the table.
High chairs must be cleaned well and the tray fully covered - or dedicate a Pesach tray.
Refrigerators must be thoroughly cleaned and the shelves lined.
Cookbooks and bentchers etc. should be put away with the Chometz
Vacuum cleaners, mops and brooms must be cleaned. The old vacuum bag should be discarded.
Computers, home phones and cell phones should be cleaned thoroughly. Any grooves must be cleaned with a cloth with cleansing agent so that any actual chometz be rendered useless. Even so, one should be careful not to place the cell phone during Pesach next to any food and not to use the phone whilst eating.
Microwaves should not be kashered
Kashering Stove tops
Gas Cooktop With Grates: The easiest way is to put the grates in a self-cleaning oven and run the self-clean cycle. If your oven is not self-cleaning, cover the stovetop with a new blech and turn on the burners to high, for 15 minutes; this will create enough heat for kashering. Note - having all 4 burners on at once when using aluminum foil can cause damage, and even break the oven.
Electric Cooktop With Coils: The electric coils get red-hot and are self-kashering each time they are turned on.
The flat part in between the grates should be kashered by pouring boiling water over it. It should then be covered because food could fall there
Glass cooktops should best be avoided on Pesach. Rather purchase a portable electric stovetop for Pesach. Some place items such as a few coins between the cooktop and the pot so that the pot does not rest directly on the surface when cooking. This is indeed a solution - However, if soup or gravy from the pot were to spill under the pot, this would be problematic.
Ovens
Self cleaning ovens are the best form of kashering by running a self cleaning cycle
In a conventional oven, whether gas or electric, remove baked-on grease with oven-cleaner. Check hidden areas including corners, door edges, the area behind the flame burners, and the grooves of the rack shelves. If stubborn spots remain after using a caustic type of oven cleaner thoroughly to clean the oven, the remaining spots may be disregarded. Once the oven and racks have been cleaned, they may be kashered by turning the oven to broil, or the highest setting for 40 minutes. This is libun kal. In a gas oven, the broil setting will allow the flame to burn continuously. In a conventional electric oven, the highest setting (550°F) kashers the oven. Only libun kal is required for the oven racks, since it is usual to cook food in a pan and not directly on the racks themselves.
Medicines and cosmetics
Purell and hand soap in America are not made from chometz alcohol, only kitniyos, and are therefore permissible to use
Ointments etc that are medically necessary, yet contain chometz ingredients may be used on Pesach since this chometz is not fit to be eaten by a dog (ראוי לאכילת כלב).
However, ointments made on Pesach itself from chometz are not permissible.
Ointments that are solely alcohol may not be used.
All medicines may be ingested if one is in danger.
For a regular illness, it is definitely proper to avoid anything with chometz ingredients, or to remove the chometz capsule before taking the pill. But if one must, one may take any tasteless pills even if not kosher lePesach
If you must take such a pill, it is best to wrap it up in a tissue and swallow. But if you have no other choice, you may take the medicine as is.
Medicines with kitniyos ingredients are permissible even for Ashkenazim.
Cosmetics (mouthwash, toothpaste) are available kosher for Pesach. If you can’t obtain kosher lePesach, any toothpaste may be used - because one does not swallow the toothpaste.
Kitniyos and other Chumros
Kitniyos are any type of seed that when planted, produces seeds like it e.g. rice, beans, peas, corn, legumes
Tomatoes and cucumbers are not kitniyos.
Ashkenazim are forbidden to eat kitniyos but they need not be sold with the chometz.
Coffee beans are permissible.
Quinoa should be avoided
If a baby depends on formula with kitniyos, you may feed him. But make sure it does not contain any actual chometz. (E.g. rice milk could potentially contain chometz ingredients). Designate a specific bottle for the formula and do not wash it in the regular Pesach kitchen sink.
Different kehilos accepted various other chumros and each should keep to their minhag e.g. not eating garlic or radish.
Selling chometz
Do not wait until the last minute to sell your chometz. Chometz may be sold by the Rov any time before Erev Pesach.
Usually, if you will be on Pesach in a more eastern time zone you have an issue selling the chometz through the Rov in a western time zone, since he sells the chometz when it is already prohibited in your time zone. This year there is no problem since chometz is permissible until Shabbos morning and the Rov is selling the chometz a day early. However on motzei Pesach it would be proper to wait until Pesach it out in your Rov’s time zone and he buys your chometz back from the goy
If you are traveling to a more western time zone for Pesach, inform the Rov. You don’t want him (lechtachila) to make the transaction with the goy on Motzei Pesach in his time zone when it is still Pesach in your western time zone. Some Rabbonim resolve this by allowing the transaction with the goy to take effect a little later for those in a later time zone.
Areas in the house that were sold to the goy should be clearly marked.
On Pesach, it is best not to enter a room sold to the goy, unless absolutely necessary.
The sale is real, so you can’t sell crumbs of chometz that may be in your car for example, to avoid checking your car. If you won’t be using your car on Pesach, you may sell the entire car though.
According to the Shulchan HaRav we sell actual utensils to the non-Jew (and there is no need to toivel them after)
This year chometz is permissible all day Friday. Therefore it is best if the Rov sells the chometz later in the day because once he has sold the chometz one should not be in the area that was sold.
If no one will be in your home or car the entire Pesach you may simply sell the entire house or car. You should only do this if you have no intention of being at home at all during Pesach. If you need to be in the house, do not sell the areas you need access to, or do not sell the car if you need to use it
Retainers, fillings and braces
One who has braces, retainers, fillings or false teeth should clean them well 24 hours before the last zman of eating chometz ie by 10:43am on Friday and refrain from eating hot or sharp Chometz thereafter, and at least ensure that cold chometz not get stuck.
At the zman issur Chometz on Shabbos Erev Pesach, rinse your mouth with hot water (as warm as you usually have hot coffee). For teeth retainers, also pour hot water on them (Not boiling water as this may ruin them).
Section II - THE DAYS LEADING UP TO PESACH
Shabbos Parshas Vayikra, 7 Nissan
The minhag is for the Rov to give a Shabbos Hagadol drasha of Halachos and agados for Pesach. This year it should be given the Shabbos before to give time ahead of Pesach.
On Motzei Shabbos we recite Vihi Noam because we have a full six day workweek
Thursday 12 Nissan
First born males usually fast on Erev Pesach. Since Erev Pesach is Shabbos and we don’t want to schedule a fast, lechatchila, for Erev Shabbos either, therefore, the fast this year is early, on Thursday.
In order to avoid the need to fast, Siyumim should be prepared beforehand. One may make a siyum on a short masechta like Tamid etc. There are also particularly short masechtos printed in Gemoros after Avoda Zara.
Those who make a siyum to supersede the fast, do so today, and all firstborns who participate may eat at the seudas mitzvah afterward,
One may make a siyum on a masechata in Yerushalami, or on a full seder in Mishnayos, but not on one masechta. If one has no choice then one may make a Siyum on a masechta of Mishnayos too as long as it was learned with a Commentary
Hearing a Siyum over the phone or zoom does not fulfil the mitzvah since the mitzvah is to participate in a seudah. So start learning a masechta!
If a firstborn forgot to fast or hear a Siyum on Thursday, he should fast, bedieved, (or hear a siyum) on Friday. Note: Only community fasts are not scheduled on Fridays but this fast is only for individuals (the firstborns)
All firstborns need to fast (or hear a Siyum) - even if only a firstborn to the father or mother.
A chosson in Sheva brachos does not need to fast
It is customary for a father to fast (or hear a Siyum) on behalf of his firstborn son when he is still under bar mitzvah and able to fast himself. (Even this year when the fast is early)
If the father is a firstborn himself and must fast for himself, it is customary to bring the mother some food from the Siyum. But there is no need to be stringent even if she did not participate
Thursday night Bedikas chometz
It is preferable to search and burn the chometz yourself but if necessary you may appoint an agent to search for your chometz.
It is proper to annul the chometz (bitul) yourself.
The correct time for bedika is immediately at tzeis 7:59pm. Since Chazal established a time for bedikas chometz, one should fulfil the obligation right away
This year, if you forgot to do bedika at night, you may do so all day Friday. But if you forgot on Friday too, you may not do bedika on Shabbos and would need to do the bedika on the first night of Yom Tov
If you are davening Maariv on your own, daven first, and immediately begin the search.
From tzeis till after the bedika, you may not eat or drink at all.
From half an hour before tzeis you may not eat more than a Kebaitza of mezonos or hamotzi, but you may eat fruits and drink. In extenuating circumstances, appoint a shliach who will do the bedika, freeing you to eat and drink. (Still, it is recommended you leave at least one room to partake in the bedika yourself too).
A shliach, appointed to check someone else’s chometz or chometz in shul, even if he has done his own bedika, should, if possible, not eat till after all his bedikos.
Any room or area Chometz may have been brought to, must be thoroughly cleaned and searched.
Practically, it is nearly impossible to check every necessary place on the night of Bedikas Chometz, especially in the kitchen, which is often already Pesachdik. One solution is to check with a candle or flashlight before lining shelves and cabinets, even if it is before the night of Bedikas Chometz. You can do this in closets, under heavy furniture, etc.
Note - any Bedika done before the night of Bedikas Chometz is without ten pieces and no Bracha.
There is no need to check the areas that you will include in the sale to the goy, they must be closed up or covered with tape. (שו”ת צמח צדק או”ח מז)
Set aside any chometz you still need before Pesach in a safe place before Bedikas chometz
Any crack in the wall or floor, into which a hand cannot fit, need not be checked even if you know there’s chometz there. Nullifying the chometz (bitul) after the search is sufficient.
Your car must also be searched for chometz (using a flashlight).
Once the bracha is recited, do not talk at all until the bedika begins, as this is a hefsek.
It is proper not to speak at all anything unrelated to the bedika until you complete the entire bedika and the bitul after. However, you may say אשר יצר if you go to the bathroom. And you may answer Amen and ברוך הוא וברוך שמו if someone else makes a bracha.
The Ten Pieces of Chometz
Before the search, hide ten pieces of hard chometz, wrapped in paper, around the house. Wrapping in aluminum foil is impractical because it won’t burn the next morning at biur chometz.
Remember where you put the pieces - If you don’t find all ten you’ll have to search until you do. It’s advisable for someone to write down the hiding places, so you will have a back-up.
The minhag is to use a beeswax candle, a feather (to sweep small crumbs into the bag), a spoon and a paper bag for Bedikas chometz.
All ten pieces together should total more than a kezayis since you are supposed to burn at least a kezayis according to some Poskim.
However, each of the ten pieces of chometz should individually be less than a kezayis in case you end up not finding one piece. This way, at least it would not be forbidden d’oraisa.
(Though you are supposed to get rid of all chometz, even less than a kezayis, some say the verbal bitul would suffice bedieved, even if you didn’t physically burn it).
If you don’t have any chometz pieces to hide you still do the bedika with a bracha
Bedika in the workplace
You need to check any place under your ownership, including your office or business. A Shliach may be appointed if necessary.
If you will not be in your workplace on Pesach you may sell it with your chometz.
The minhag is to recite only one bracha even for two locations e.g. your home and office.
However, if you or your shliach, who is checking your workplace, is not making a bedika on your own chometz, then you should make a bracha on the bedika at the office.
If you find it easier, you may do bedika in some of your locations (eg your office) on one of the nights before the 14th, with a candle (assuming you are not selling that office with the chometz). Take care that no chometz is brought in after the bedika.
After the bedika
After the search, extinguish the candle. Put the spoon, candle and feather into the bag with the chometz. The handle of the spoon should stick out of the bag. Make sure the bag is tightly closed and put away till the burning in the morning.
Nullify verbally all chometz you may not have found. This bitul should not be treated as a “prayer”: You should say it in English if you don’t understand the Aramaic original.
Erev Shabbos 13 Nissan
We say mizmor lesodah, It is only omitted if today were actually Erev Pesach
Those who usually bake matzos mitzvah on Erev Pesach afternoon bake them today
Chometz may be eaten all day, even after the burning
Work may be performed all day. Haircuts may be taken, clothing may be washed, nails may be cut and shoes polished. Utensils may be kashered all day
Burning of chometz
Chometz should optimally be burned in the morning before the zman of issur, 11:50am,, like every year, so as not to distinguish from one year to the other - even though this year the chometz is not forbidden until tomorrow morning Erev pesach
This year we do not recite כל חמירא at the burning of chometz, until tomorrow morning. Even if you said it now, repeat it again tomorrow
Ensure the chometz is burned to the point that it is not edible by a dog.
Pouring alcohol on the chometz to burn easier defeats the purpose, since the mitzvah is to render it inedible through fire, whereas pouring alcohol on it renders it inedible before the fire reaches it.
Throw the wooden spoon and the paper bag used for the bedika into the fire, with the chometz.
Some also use the opportunity to burn the Lulav from Succos to use it in another mitzvah.
If you have no chometz, you should get hold of some, to fulfill the mitzvah of burning it.
עירוב חצירות
If you live in a shared building (eg two family home, apartment complex, neighbors on the block who share an eruv) you need to make an עירוב חצירות between the neighbors ie place bread in a shared location of one of the tenants. This should be renewed every year. Pesach is an opportune time as matzah can last a whole year.
Last year’s eruv matzah can be burned on erev Pesach.
The custom is to burn it or otherwise eliminate it on erev Pesach along with the chometz. The reason it cannot be used for this year’s eruv, is because the matzah has not been guarded throughout the year with the extreme care usually taken for items that are to be eaten on Pesach.
If one forgot it could be made by בין השמשות.
Considerations before Shabbos haGadol Erev Pesach
The issue we face this Shabbos is that we need to eat chometz challah, and yet be ready and in Pesach mode. It is proper to cook for Shabbos only food that is kosher lePesach. Any chometz should best be eaten in disposable dishes and outside so that no chometz on Shabbos mistakenly get mixed in with Pesach dishes
Leave only enough chometz that is likely to be eaten until Shabbos morning so that you don't need to find ways to get rid of excess chometz
If you are planning to eat the chometz challah on Shabbos elsewhere in the house or outside, you should light candles so that you can see them when you eat the chometz part of the seudah
Prepare toothpicks or floss to get rid of any chometz between the teeth on Shabbos morning
Leave a fire to light Yom Tov candles on Yom Tov after Shabbos and to cook from. ונשמרתם מאד - לנפשותיכם - If you leave a gas flame lit over Shabbos and Yom Tov, fire safety organizations recommend that a window near the fire be open at least 4 inches. Allow ventilation by opening another window on the other side. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be active.
Make sure “challah” was separated from all the matzah you have. If not, separate now
Roast the Zero’a, cook the egg, and potato for Karpas, before Shabbos
Check the lettuce for the seder. Each romaine leaf must be carefully checked, to remove tiny worms or insects. Lettuce should not remain in salt water over 18 minutes. To clean it well, discard outer leaves, wash each leaf under running water, soak it briefly in salted water, rinse well and check under the light. Dry thoroughly.
Shabbos haGadol Erev Pesach
The Shabbos before Pesach is called the great Shabbos because of the miracles that transpired on this Shabbos when the Yidden were in Mitzrayim that a civil war broke out amongst the Egyptians. It is a mitzvah to relate these miracles on this Shabbos
Because Shabbos hagadol is Erev Pesach, the haftara of וערבה is lained even by those who don’t usually lain it
It is best to eat chometz that does not make crumbs, like pita. Either eat on disposable dishes, or have the chometz part of the meal away, like outside. Then come in and eat the Kosher L’Pesach food. Bentching should be back in the location where you ate the challah.
From dawn today it is forbidden to eat matzah. In the thirty day period leading to Pesach it is only a custom not to eat but on Erev Pesach it is a prohibition
Since we need to have hamotzi at the Shabbos seudah, and we can’t have matzah all day, we daven Shachris early in the morning in time to be able to have chometz challos for the meal.
Chometz may not be eaten after Zman Issur 10:43am (or 10:20am acc to Magen Avrohom). The meal can continue with food that is permitted on Pesach.
All remaining chometz that was not eaten must be destroyed with bleach or the like, or flushed down the toilet, before 11:50am. Leaving it in the garbage on your property is not permissible.
Before 11:50am, after getting rid of the chometz recite כל חמירא that is usually recited at biur chometz, to nullify any chometz we have not have discovered
We refrain all day from eating any ingredients that form part of the charoses (or maror).
Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish etc, may be eaten all day. But from the tenth hour, 4:15pm, one should not fill oneself up so as to have an appetite for the seder
Hamotzi may not be eaten at Seudah Shlishis.
A child too young to relate to the basic story of Yetzias Mitzrayim may eat matzah during the day, and can even do so at the start of the Seder, after tzeis, before kiddush. A child who comprehends the story of yetzias mitzrayim should not eat matzah all day.
The Shabbos haGadol drasha should have been given last week
After Mincha we recite the Hagada from עבדים היינו until לכפר על כל עוונותינו as this is when the Geulah began.
We do not say צדקתך at Mincha (the entire month of Nissan)
Daven mincha early enough to be able to say סדר קרבן פסח (printed in the siddur) before sunset, as if we are offering the Korban Pesach. ונשלמה פרים שפתינו - Reciting it should be regarded as if we offered the Korban.
If one didn’t say it before sunset, it should still be said later at night.
No preparations may be made for the Seder on Shabbos until motzei Shabbos (candle lighting time), 8:14pm and only after davening Maariv or reciting the words ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לקודש
There is no need to go to mikvah on Shabbos afternoon to prepare for Yom Tov
SECTION III - THE SEDER NIGHTS
First night of Pesach Leil Shabbos
The Seder should begin at night as early as possible to keep the children awake. Household members who don’t go to shul, should prepare the seder to be able to begin as soon as possible after maariv
Light candles after tzeis, after Maariv or after reciting ברוך המבדיל
We say “... להדליק נר של יום טוב ” and שהחיינו
The candles should be large enough to remain lit until after the Seder.
Women who said שהחיינו at candle lighting do not repeat it even if they recite kiddush themselves.
Recite ותודיענו during Maariv
Many shuls say a full Hallel at Maariv
If you forgot
If you forgot to do bedika on before Shabbos do it now before the seder
If you forgot to roast the zeroa, it may not be roasted on Yom Tov for those whose minhag it is not to eat it at all. Leave it on the seder plate as is
If you forgot to cook the egg, cook it now and make sure you eat it over the first day of Yom Tov
Roasted meat
Roasting: On both nights of the Seder we may not eat any roast chicken or meat as it resembles the Korban Pesach.
Meat that is cooked in its own juices, (ie in a pot without water or other liquid and it stews in the fluids that emerge from the heated meat itself, is not considered roasted meat. Nevertheless, it is prohibited since there is an issue of maris ayin, as an observer may conclude that it is muttar to eat roasted meat at a Seder.
Even meat that is first cooked in water and then roasted is assur because of maris ayin.
Setting up the קערה
We set up the קערה before the Seder. Those who wear a kittel, put it on before setting up the קערה.
We arrange three matzos and place a cloth between each.
On top of the matzos we put the simonei HaSeder: two cooked foods, the egg symbolizing the korban Chagiga and the neck bone symbolizing korban Pesach; מרור, כרפס, חרוסת, חזרת
The order of their arrangement varies by custom. The Ari Zal would make two segols.
The egg on top right, the neck bone top left, maror in the center under them
The כרפס on bottom right and the חרוסת bottom left with the חזרת bottom middle.
Make sure you check the matzos so that there is no halachic issue:
If a matzah is chipped, it cannot be used for לחם משנה
If the matzah is burnt it should not be used lechatchila, since it’s considered broken.
If one only has broken matzos, as long as they complete each other like a puzzle, it could be used.
Some say that if a matzah is broken, burn the edges in an oven and it becomes a Shlaimah
The Seder
We combine havdala and Kiddush together, known as יקנה”ז. We do not make a bracha on besamim. We do not look at the fingernails by the candle, we merely gaze at the Yom Tov candles, we do not bring the candles close.
Even when Erev Pesach is not on Shabbos, kiddush and the Seder must begin only after tzeis hakochavim., since the Korban Pesach had to be eaten at night, and matzah and maror too, as well as the four cups
Push yourself to drink 4 cups of wine. In extenuating circumstances, substitute with grape juice.
Women have the same obligation of four cups, matzah and maror, just like men.
Use a cup that can contain a minimum of a revi’is (4 oz; or 2.9 oz according to Reb Chaim No’oh).
For Kiddush year round, drinking a majority of a revi’is is sufficient. For the 4 cups, it is proper to drink the entire cup but bedieved you may suffice with the majority of a revi’is.
Rather use a smaller cup (that holds only a revi’is) and finish it completely than a larger cup that you won’t finish each time.
Some have the custom to have someone else pour the cup for Kiddush for them.
If one forgot to say שהחיינו the first night, it could be said whenever s/he remembers and the 2nd night’s bracha could be yotze the first night.
Reclining (הסיבה) to the left is a requirement for men. It is part of the mitzvah when eating the (a) drinking 4 cups, (b) eating matzah, (c) korech and (d) afikoman .
Women do not do הסיבה.
After washing hands at ורחץ, one may not speak until eating the כרפס although there is no bracha.
Maror includes both radish and lettuce (even if sweet, since part of the bitterness was the Mitzrim's initial kindness which only later evolved into bitterness.)
In the Bracha of אשר גאלנו, we reverse the order say מן הפסחים ומן הזבחים on motzei Shabbos
When the door is opened for שפוך חמתך, it is an opportune time to daven for one's spiritual needs
How big is a kezayis of Matzah?
The size of handmade Shmurah Matzah varies. The amounts below are based on the assumption of the maximum size of a normal shmurah matzah. However it is proper to actually measure the weight of the matzah beforehand:
The size of a kezayis d’oraisa is one third of a matzah:
1 oz. Note, this is measured in liquid. Converted into solid that is 0.6 oz = maximum a third of an average matzah to be sure.
Kezayis derabanan is a quarter of a matzah:
A kezayis derabanan is a third of a kebaitza (34 grams) = about 11 grams. Since matzahs are not all the same, we should regard this as max one quarter of a matzah.
How much Matzah do we need to eat?
One must eat a minimum of one kezayis of Matzah min haTorah
There are 3 times we eat matzah in the Seder, as follows
For Motzi Matzah,
If you do not have a ke’ara in front of you you need only eat one kezayis d’oraisa ie one third of a matzah.
If you have a Ke’ara in front of you, you need to eat two kezaysim, one from the top whole matzah and one from the middle broken matzah. Practically, these 2 kezaysim can be Rabbinic kezaysim ie two quarters = one half a matzah
B. For Korech, eat one kezayis derabanan = one quarter of a matzah
C. For Afikoman:
eat preferably two kezaysim derabanan ie half of one matzah
If you can’t, eat one kezayis derabanan ie a quarter of one matzah
Within how much time must the kezayis be eaten?
Within the time of כדי אכילת פרס ie
3 minutes according to Reb Moshe Feinstein
4 minutes according to Reb Chaim No'oh
Up to 6 minutes according to the Tzemach Tzedek.
In unique circumstances for someone who finds it difficult to eat so much in such a short period of time, consult a Rov as there are even more lenient opinions on the size and the length of time.
NOTE: The above shiurim apply equally to the second seder as they do to the first. Even though the second night is Rabbinic, the Rabbis enacted the same dinim for the second night as for the first.
Tefillas Tal from first day Mussaf
If you forgot to say Morid hatal but remembered before saying Hashem's name at the end of the bracha, go back to אתה גיבור. This applies even if you caught yourself immediately. If you already said Hashem’s Name, return to the beginning of Shmone Esrei.
If you remembered after Mussaf on the first day of Yom Tov that you forgot morid hatal, there is a dispute what to do. The best option is to listen to the chazzan and be יוצא. Otherwise, the Mishnah Berura says you should repeat Mussaf.
Any time you’re in doubt within 30 days if you said Morid haTal, consider it as if you forgot.
Sefiras HaOmer
Sefiras Ha’omer begins after Hallel on the second night of Pesach.
We stand while saying the Bracha and counting Sefira.
If you forgot to count at the end of Maariv but remember during the night, you may still count with a Bracha.
If you remember during the following day, count without a Bracha. Continue the following night to count with a Bracha
If you forgot entirely at night and by day, until the next night, continue Sefirah without a Bracha.
If you are uncertain whether or not you counted the night before, count with a Bracha.
If someone asks you after sunset, what the Sefirah count is, tell him what yesterday’s count was. If you tell him how much tonight is, you may not count with a Bracha that night.
We count Sefirah when it's fully night, not during twilight.
Second Seder
No preparations for the Seder or the second day of Yom Tov may be done before tzeis, 7:58pm.
Before starting any preparations for the Seder after tzeis, first say “Boruch Hamavdil bein Koidesh Lekoidesh”. You may then start preparations even before Maariv
Candle-lighting for the second night of Pesach is after 7:58pm, from a pre-existing flame. We say “...להדליק נר של יום טוב” and שהחיינו.
A guest at someone else’s seder, should light in her house either before she leaves or when she comes back home if possible. (But do not forget to light at the end of the Seder!).
Second Day Yom Tov
At the meal of the Second day we eat something special to commemorate Ester’s feast on this day, the same day Haman was hanged
If you find chometz on Pesach
If you discovered chometz on Pesach it must be burned.
If for whatever reason you did not sell your chometz, you do so with a Bracha “על ביעור חמץ” as long as it is at least a Kezayis (according to Shulchan Aruch haRav)”.
If you did sell all your chometz, and are burning on Pesach, a piece of chometz you discovered, even if it is a kezayis, you would not make a bracha since this chometz may have been incorporated into your sale.
If you found chometz on Shabbos and Yom Tov, it is muktzeh and may not be burned or even moved but should be covered till after Shabbos or Yom Tov. Some Poskim permit asking a Goy to flush it down the toilet.
If one sold, as most do, “all chometz he owns, wherever it is'' some hold that the chometz you found is actually already owned by the Goy. As such, you should hide it with the rest of the chometz. However, the accepted Minhag is to burn in all cases.
SECTION IV - CHOL HAMOED
Chol hamo'ed
The days of Chol Hamo’ed are known as מועד in the Torah as they are included in the mitzvah of yom tov to rejoice. Chol hamoed is also like yom tov with regard to doing מלאכה.
The main simcha of yom tov in the times of the beis hamikdash was eating the meat of the korban shlamim. Nowadays as well, there is a mitzvah to eat a כזית of meat each day. Meat is best, but bedieved, chicken is also considered meat..
Although there is no obligation to eat hamotzi, many say it is proper to eat matzah every day of Pesach.
We drink a רביעית of wine every day. Some hold that women too should drink wine - or grape juice.
One should preferably wear yom tov clothing on chol hamo’ed.
The table should have a yom tov table cloth on
The default setting in halacha is that Chol hamoed has the same prohibitions as Yom Tov, for both men and women. Eg
laundering (except baby clothes), haircuts and nail cutting are forbidden.
writing, printing, taking professional pictures
buying things for after yom tov
fixing things around the house e.g. a broken chair etc
going to work
Exceptions permit certain forms of work eg -
Work necessary for the sake of Chol hamoed or Yom Tov - צורך המועד eg a trip for family enjoyment of chol hamoed
Financial loss (but not loss of profits) - דבר האבד eg going to work if you will lose your job or your existing clients
In case of tremendous need - צורך גדול - eg for a mitzvah, medical emergency, need for food, for the sake of a deceased person
The above forms of work are only permitted if you didn’t knowingly plan to push them off davka to chol hamo’ed.
Actions that are Rabbinically forbidden on yom tov eg. driving a car, are permitted on chol hamo’ed.
Asking a non Jew to do melacha which is forbidden to do on chol hamo’ed is forbidden, unless its for a mitzvah eg a goy may not build your house for you or fix your car if you may not do it yourself.
ותן ברכה
On Chol hamo’ed we start to say ותן ברכה in Shmoneh Esrei.
If you said ותן טל ומטר and realize your error before or after finishing the Bracha, begin again from ברך עלינו, [if you’re still saying Shemoneh Esrei].
If you realize you said ותן טל ומטר after finishing Shemoneh Esrei, (and you already said the second ,יהיו לרצון repeat the Shemoneh Esrei.
יעלה ויבוא
We say יעלה ויבוא in Shemoneh Esrei throughout Chol Hamoed.
If you forget יעלה ויבוא in Shemoneh Esrei on Chol Hamoed (or aren’t sure you said it) and haven’t said HaShem’s name at the end of the Bracha, say יעלה ויבוא and continue ותחזינה.
If you remember after HaShem’s name, but before מודים say יעלה ויבוא and continue with מודים
If you said מודים go back to רצה and continue through the rest of Shemoneh Esrei.
If you finished Shemoneh Esrei and didn’t say יעלה ויבוא, (and you already said the second יהיו לרצון), repeat Shemoneh Esrei.
If you forgot יעלה ויבוא at Shacharis and already davened Musaf, don’t repeat Shemoneh Esrei for Shacharis.
These halachos apply to Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv of Chol Hamoed.
יעלה ויבוא in Bentching
If you forget יעלה ויבוא in Bentching on Pesach and remember after בונה ברחמיו ירושלים אמן, say the Bracha in the Siddur for this situation.
If you remember after the word ‘Baruch’ of the fourth Bracha, on Yom Tov start Birkas HaMazon over; on Chol Hamoed don't repeat the Bentching.
שביעי ואחרון של פסח - SECTION V
Friday EREV YOM TOV
From 4:15pm (in NYC) (the tenth halachic hour of the day) do not sit down to a meal, in order not to ruin your appetite for the Yom Tov seudah tonight.
Yom Tov
We do NOT say shehecheyonu on Shvii shel Pesach nor on Achron shel Pesach, not at candle lighting nor in kiddush.
The Simcha of Shvii and Acharon Shel Pesach is greater than the rest of Pesach
Erev Shabbos Shvi’i shel Pesach
Candles must be lit before sunset only.
The bracha on candle lighting is להדליק נר של שבת ושל יום טוב
Motzei Shabbos Achron Shel Pesach
Light candles after tzeis, after Maariv or after reciting ברוך המבדיל
We say “... להדליק נר של יום טוב ” only
Recite ותודיענו during Maariv
We combine havdala and Kiddush together, known as יקנה”ז. We do not make a bracha on besamim. We do not look at the fingernails by the candle light, we merely gaze at the Yom Tov candles, we do not bring the candles close.
Sunday Achron shel Pesach
Yizkor is said in the morning
Eating Gebrochts
Those who are careful not to eat gebrochts all Pesach long are makpid to have gebrochts on Achron shel Pesach. (Unless you have a different family minhag)
Baal Shem Tov's Seudas Moshiach
The Baal Shem Tov named the third Seudah on Acharon Shel Pesach, Seudas Moshiach. Pesach is about the first Geulah. Achron shel Pesach is about the future and last Geulah. Hence the haftara is all about the wolf dwelling the lamb.
Motzei Yom Tov
We say Retze and yaale veyavo in bentching even if it is already after tzeis.
The minhag is to delay a while - an hour or so - after Maariv (or after המבדיל בין קודש לחול) before opening the Chometz that was sold to the goy, to allow the Rov and the guarantor (ערב קבלן) sufficient time to arrange the purchase back from the goy.
We recite a regular havdala.
בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להיגאל!
חג פסח כשר ושמח!
May we celebrate the ultimate Geulah this Pesach in Yerushalayim!