Eve of Passover on Shabbat
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Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in t ...
, when the Eve of Passover (
Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
: ערב פסח, ''Erev Pesach'') falls on Shabbat, special
laws Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...
regarding the preparation for
Passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month of Aviv, or spring. ...
are observed.


Fast of the Firstborn

When the Eve of Passover falls on Shabbat, the Fast of the Firstborn customarily takes place on the preceding Thursday, instead of the day before (Friday). This is because it is forbidden to fast on Shabbat (except when it coincides with
Yom Kippur Yom Kippur (; he, יוֹם כִּפּוּר, , , ) is the holiest day in Judaism and Samaritanism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, the first month of the Hebrew calendar. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day' ...
), and it is preferable not to fast on Friday. There is some debate over whether a "
siyum A ''siyum'' ( he, סיום) ("completion"), in Judaism, occasionally spelled siyyum, is the completion of any established unit of Torah study. The most common units are a single volume of the Talmud, or of Mishnah, but there are other units of lea ...
" on such a Thursday would be enough to remove the requirement of fasting, or if it would only move the requirement to fast to Friday.


Search for ''chametz''

Normally, the search for '' chametz'' (
leavened Bread is a staple food prepared from a dough of flour (usually wheat) and water, usually by baking. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cultures' diet. It is one of the oldest human-made f ...
bread) occurs on the night of the 14th of Nisan, which is one night before the start of Passover. When this night is a Friday, the search for ''chametz'' takes place one night earlier (on the 13th), since use of a candle and the act of burning ''chametz'' are forbidden on Shabbat. The ''chametz'' is then burned on Friday morning. It is normally forbidden to eat before conducting the search for ''chametz'', which is carried out by the firstborn. This firstborn may be fatigued or uncomfortable due to having just observed the
Fast of the Firstborn Fast of the Firstborn ( he, תענית בכורות, ''Ta'anit B'khorot'' or , ''Ta'anit B'khorim'') is a unique fast day in Judaism which usually falls on the day before Passover (i.e., the fourteenth day of Nisan, a month in the Jewish calenda ...
. According to the '' Mateh Moshe'' and '' Mahari"l'', a firstborn who is fatigued or uncomfortable from the fast may eat some food before the search, or another person may be appointed to perform the search on behalf of the firstborn. After completing the search, we recite the first kol chamira, a text found in any haggadah or Passover prayer book. We recite this passage to nullify any chametz that may not have been found. Chametz to be eaten on Friday and Shabbos is stored in a safe place, where it will not get mixed with the Pesach foods.


The Shabbos meals

The first of the three meals is consumed on Friday evening, as usual. On Saturday morning, morning services at synagogue are held earlier than usual in most communities. Following services, a second meal is held; it is a proper practice to divide this meal into two (reciting
Birkat Hamazon Birkat Hamazon ( he, בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוׂן, The Blessing of the Food), known in English as the Grace After Meals ( yi, ; translit. ''bentschen'' or "to bless", Yinglish: Bentsching), is a set of Hebrew blessings that Jewish ...
, pausing and starting a new meal again) because according to some opinions one fulfills Shalosh Seudot in this manner. One should not eat the challah over the Pesach utensils and tablecloths. One should prepare the exact amount you need for the members of your household, in order to avoid being stuck with leftovers. It is best for to serve small rolls, as they leave fewer crumbs, and to eat over a tissue or napkin, which can be flushed down the toilet when done. After finishing the challah, any leftover chametz should be disposed of by crumbling them over the toilet and flushing it. When done, the second kol chamira is recited. For those who are concerned about having chametz around, there is also the option of eating kosher for Passover egg matzos or cooked matzos (which may be preferable for those with braces). Consult your rabbi to know how much of it must be consumed. Chametz may not be eaten after the fourth
halachic hour Relative hour (Hebrew singular: / ; plural: / ), sometimes called halachic hour, seasonal hour and variable hour, is a term used in Rabbinic Judaism, rabbinic Jewish law that assigns 12 hours to each day and 12 hours to each night, all throughou ...
on Shabbos morning. Consult a Jewish calendar for the exact time in your area. One may not eat Passover matzos this entire day. We eat the meal early in the morning, so that the challah is finished at the proper time. For those who used egg matzos or cooked matzos, consult your rabbi if you can eat this later in the day. Many people utilize the long Shabbos afternoon as an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the text and translation of the Haggadah in advance of the Seder. It is also a good idea to take a nap, but one may not verbally express that they are taking a nap in preparation of the Seder, as doing so would be considered preparing from the Sabbath for after the Sabbath.


Observing ''Seudah Shlishit''

''Seudah Shlishit'' is the third meal of Shabbat, usually eaten on Shabbat afternoon. Traditionally, two loaves of bread (''
challah Challah (, he, חַלָּה or ; plural: or ) is a special bread of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and major Jewish holidays (other than Passover). Ritually acceptable ch ...
'') are served with the three Shabbat meals, including ''Seudah Shlishit''. However, when the Eve of Passover falls on Shabbat, the restriction on consuming such ''chametz'' begins on Saturday morning. As such, it is a proper practice to divide the morning meal into two (reciting
Birkat Hamazon Birkat Hamazon ( he, בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוׂן, The Blessing of the Food), known in English as the Grace After Meals ( yi, ; translit. ''bentschen'' or "to bless", Yinglish: Bentsching), is a set of Hebrew blessings that Jewish ...
, pausing and starting a new meal again) because according to some opinions one fulfills Shalosh Seudot in this manner; however, most opinions assume that this doesn't work as Seudah Shelishit must be eaten in the afternoon, so many do not observe this practice. In the afternoon, one should eat meat, fish or fruit sometime in the afternoon. In some communities, egg matzah or cooked matzah is eaten at this meal. It is proper to refrain from eating too much so as to maintain an appetite for the matzah at the Seder. Preparations for the Seder, such as setting the table, washing the dishes, or making the salt water, may not be made until after Shabbos is over. Havdalah is inserted into the Kiddush at the Seder as it appears in a Haggadah.


Frequency

While the coincidence of the Eve of Passover and Shabbat can occur as often as three times in a decade, it is also possible for as many as 20 years to pass between two instances. The likelihood of the Eve of Passover occurring on Shabbat on any given year is 11.5%. During the 20th century, the Eve of Passover fell on Shabbat 12 times: in 1903, 1910, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1974, 1977, 1981, and 1994. In the 21st century, it has occurred four times: in 2001, 2005, 2008, and 2021. Future occurrences in the 21st century include 2025, 2045, 2048, 2052, 2072, 2075, 2079, and 2099.


Other holidays in the same year

For years in which the Eve of Passover falls on Shabbat, some other
Jewish holidays Jewish holidays, also known as Jewish festivals or ''Yamim Tovim'' ( he, ימים טובים, , Good Days, or singular , in transliterated Hebrew []), are holidays observed in Judaism and by JewsThis article focuses on practices of mainstre ...
are also observed irregularly. Purim, which comes earlier in the year, occurs on Friday (beginning Thursday night, and making Purim a three–day holiday in Jerusalem), the spring holiday of Shavuot occurs on Monday (beginning Sunday night - and outside of Israel also on Tuesday), Rosh Hashanah occurs on Tuesday and Wednesday (beginning Monday night), Sukkot and
Shemini Atzeret Shemini Atzeret (—"Eighth ay ofAssembly") is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei in the Land of Israel, and on the 22nd and 23rd outside the Land, usually coinciding with late September or earl ...
-
Simchat Torah Simchat Torah or Simhat Torah (, lit., "Rejoicing with/of the Torah", Ashkenazi: ''Simchas Torah'') is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simch ...
occur on Tuesday (beginning Monday night - and outside of Israel also on Wednesday), and
Yom Kippur Yom Kippur (; he, יוֹם כִּפּוּר, , , ) is the holiest day in Judaism and Samaritanism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, the first month of the Hebrew calendar. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day' ...
occurs on Thursday (beginning Wednesday night).


See also

* Days of week on Hebrew calendar


References


External links


Halachos of Erev Pesach Which Occurs on Shabbos by Rabbi J. David Bleich

Hebrew calendar

When Erev Pesaḥ Falls on Shabbat
in
Peninei Halakha Eliezer Melamed ( he, אליעזר מלמד, born 28 June 1961) is an Israeli Orthodox Zionist rabbi and the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Bracha, rabbi of the community Har Bracha, and author of the book series '' Peninei Halakha''. Biography ...
by
Eliezer Melamed Eliezer Melamed ( he, אליעזר מלמד, born 28 June 1961) is an Israeli Orthodox Zionist rabbi and the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Bracha, rabbi of the community Har Bracha, and author of the book series '' Peninei Halakha''. Biography ...
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