#16: Erev Pesach on Shabbat (Part 6)

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. On Shabbat that falls on Erev Pesach, challah or bread may not be eaten after the beginning of the fifth halachic hour of the day, as in other years (Mishnah Berurah 444:4). In the New York area, this is approximately 10:10 a.m. (according to the opinion of the Magen Avraham) or 10:30 a.m. (according to the opinion of the Vilna Gaon). Therefore, davening is often scheduled much earlier than usual so that one can complete eating chametz at the Shabbat day meal before this time. Any remaining chametz should be disposed of before the end of the fifth halachic hour, which is approximately 11:30 a.m., by cutting it into pieces smaller than a k’zayit and flushing them down the toilet or disposing of them outside of one’s property (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 444:5 and Mishnah Berurah 444:21). The floor should also be swept at this time. One then recites the Bitul Chametz (declaration nullifying chametz) (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 444:6; Mishnah Berurah 444:22).
  2. Ashkenazim who use egg matzah instead of challah or bread for the Shabbat meals should also finish eating it by the latest time for chametz, since in a regular year, egg matzah may not be consumed by Ashkenazim after that time according to many poskim, except by children or the elderly (Rema, O.C. 462:1; Sha’ar Hatziun 444:1; Igrot Moshe, O.C. 1:155). Some are more lenient and permit egg matzah to be eaten until halachic midday (Noda Biyehudah, Kama, O.C. 21, explaining the Rama), or even until the tenth halachic hour (Aruch Hashulchan, O.C. 444). Sephardim, who permit the consumption of egg matzah on Pesach, may eat egg matzah as part of Seudah Shelishit until the tenth hour (approximately 4 p.m). However, as mentioned last week, many Sephardic poskim rule that mezonot should always be recited on egg matzah even when using it as the mainstay of the meal, unless one eats more than approximately 240 grams of egg matzah (Chazon Ovadia, Pesach, p.264; Yalkut Yosef, O.C. 168:10; Ma’amar Mordechai, Moadim, ch.10).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.