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Home , Chametz, Havdalah, Kiddush, Sabbath food preparation, Seudah shlishit, Shabbat

Guide to Erev Pesach on 5781 ~ 2021

This year, 5781/2021, Pesach begins on night. With Erev Pesach falling on Shabbat, we will have some more pre-Pesach planning than usual. I hope you will find these guidelines helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.

~ Ken Brodkin

Question 1: When do we search for ? This year, we search for Chametz on Thursday night, March 25, after 8:15 pm. Before searching, we recite the Bracha of "Al Biur Chometz". Following the search, we say the paragraph of "Kol Chamira". Both these sections may be found in the Artscroll ( Sephard) on pg. 700.

The blessing marks the beginning of our destruction of Chametz; the "Kol Chamira" paragraph (the first of the two printed in the Siddur) annuls our ownership of any Chametz which has escaped our notice.

Question 2: When do we burn our Chometz? So as not to create any confusion, we burn our Chametz on , March 26, at the normal time that we would on a regular Erev Pesach—before 12:10 pm. We do not recite any blessing or “Kol Chamira” at that time.

Question 3: When do we recite "Kol Chamira" annulling our ownership of Chametz? We do not recite the second "Kol Chamira" when burning our Chametz on Friday. We recite the first "Kol Chamira" when we search for Chametz on Thursday night. We recite the second “Kol Chamira” on Shabbat morning, before 12:10 pm, on pg. 700.

Question 4: When do the first-born sons fast? This year, the fast is observed on Thursday, March 25. Attending a celebration exempts one from . at Kesser on that Thursday morning will take place at 7:00 am, and it will be followed by a Siyum. All first born adult males are encouraged to attend the Siyum.

Question 5: What food items should be served at the ? To avoid any possible KFP (Kosher for Pesach) issues, all Chametz products and utensils should be put away by the time the Chametz is burned on Friday. There should be no Chametz served at the Shabbat meals. These meals should be 100% Kosher for (with the sole exception of the HaMotzi rolls, see below). The Shabbat meals should be prepared using Pesach utensils.

Although the meals are KFP, since this Shabbat is also Erev Pesach, no Matzah products should be served at the Shabbat meals. Note: it is advantageous to use disposable tablecloths and utensils, given that non-Pesach items will used for “HaMotzi.”

Question 6: If one cannot serve Chametz or Matzah at the Shabbat meals, what should be used for Hamotzi (breaking the bread)? Use small, fresh soft rolls (to produce as few crumbs as possible), that can be consumed without leaving anything left-over. Eat the rolls carefully over tissues or napkins, so that any remaining crumbs can be wrapped in the tissues and flushed or shaken out of the napkins and flushed.

Care should be taken that no Pesach utensils be brought to the table until after the Challah has been consumed, and the crumbs have been discarded. Once the Challah has been eaten, and the crumbs discarded, the meal can continue.

The Challah can only be eaten until the time that Chametz may be eaten, 11:10 am. We will need to nullify our Chometz by reciting the second "Kol Chamira" on Shabbat morning, before 12:10 pm. Davening at Kesser Israel on Shabbos morning will take place at 8:00 am to make sure everyone has enough time to eat their Hamotzi rolls before 11:10 am.

Question 7: How do we eat this Shabbat? Option A: The morning meal can be split into two parts. After the first part, recite and take a break (go for a short walk, learn, etc.). Then return, wash for Hamotzi, and eat another meal with Challah rolls or egg Matzah, finshing the rolls before 11:10 am. According to some, this fulfills one's "third-meal" obligation. (Note: one will really have to keep an eye on the clock to pull all of this off before 11:10 am.)

Option B: Just eat one lunch meal, consuming the required Hamotzi segment before 11:10 am. Later in the afternoon, one should eat some meat, fish, fruits, etc.—and no Hamotzi—for Seudah Shlishit. If one chooses this option, one should eat moderately at Seudah Shlishit, to facilitate eating the Matzah at the Seder with a hearty appetite.

Question 8: May we make any preparations on Shabbat for the Seder? One may not prepare on Shabbat for events occurring after Shabbat. After Shabbat is over at 8:18 pm, one may start preparing for the Seder.

Before beginning the preparations, one who did not recite should say this abbreviated version of , in Hebrew or English: “Baruch HaMavdil Bein Kodesh leKodesh” (Blessed is the One who distinguishes between one type of sanctity and another). The full Havdalah is recited during at the Seder (see Question 10). (Likewise, one may not prepare for the second Seder on night until after 8:19 pm.)

Question 9: How does one light candles for Pesach night? Prepare by lighting a candle on Friday afternoon that can burn for longer than 24 hours. We wait to light Yom Tov candles on the first night of Pesach until Shabbat is over at 8:18 pm. We use the pre-existing flame that was lit on Friday to light our Yom Tov candles. We also light candles from an existing flame on the second night of Yom Tov (Sunday evening), after the first day of Pesach has ended at 8:19 pm.

Note: If the candle one lit on Friday cannot stay lit until Sunday night, then on Saturday night after Shabbat, another 24-hour candle that will last until Sunday night should be lit.

Question 10: How does one recite Havdalah on the first night of Pesach? The special Havdalah is printed in most Haggadas and is recited as part of Kiddush at the Seder, before the "Shehechiyanu". The Yom Tov candles double as the Havdalah candle. The two candles do not need to be held together.

Dates / Times to Remember -- Pesach 5781 / 2021 Taanis Bechoros: Thursday, March 25, Shacharit at 7:00 am followed by a Siyum Bedikat Chometz: Thursday night, March 25 after 8:15 pm Burning of Chametz: Friday, March 26th before 12:10 pm. : Friday, March 26, 7:13 pm Chametz may be eaten until: 11:10 am on Shabbat, March 27 Chametz must be flushed and annulled by: 12:10 pm on Shabbat, March 27 Candle Lighting (1st night of Yom Tov), and Seder preparations: on Saturday, March 27, after 8:18 pm Candle Lighting (2nd night of Yom Tov), and Seder preparations: on Sunday, March 28, after 8:19 pm