• As is always the case in halacha, there are divergent opinions among Poskim. In the following summary, I have presented a set of practical recommendations based on mainstream positions. Individuals should consult with their local Rabbis for specific direction.
• The times listed in this summary are sho’os zemanios, and they must be converted into standard times of the day. I have not done that because the times vary from city to city. Once again, one should consult with the local Rabbi.
1. Ta’anis Bechorim (fast of the firstborn) occurs on Thursday, April 17. The traditional siyum will be Thursday morning after davening.
2. Bedikas Chometz is performed Thursday evening. A bracha is recited before the bedika, and bitul chametz (kol chamira) is recited after the bedika.
3. Although chometz can be eaten until Shabbos morning, all chometz remaining after the bedika should be placed in a secure and designated area. Chometz should be eaten with care, and all crumbs must be swept and discarded.
4. Biur Chometz (burning the chometz) is done Friday morning before the end of the 5th hour (If one forgets, it can be burned until Shabbos.) Bitul Chametz (kol chamira) is not recited at this time.
5. Chometz is sold Friday morning before the end of the 5th hour. Please appoint your Rabbi as your agent beforehand.
6. Utensils can be kashered for Pesach all day Friday.
7. The challah used for hamotzi on Shabbos should be eaten at a non-Pesach table, or over the floor. It is best to eat over a wooden or tile floor, which can be swept. (Carpets may not be swept on Shabbos.) When finished, the tablecloth must be shaken out and put away with the chometz utensils. The floor should be swept and the broom should be shaken over a toilet.
8. One may eat chometz on Shabbos morning until the end of the 4th hour.
9. Chometz must be removed from one’s property by Shabbos morning, the end of the 5th hour. Crumbs and small pieces of challah should be flushed down the toilet. Chometz in garbage bags must be removed from garbage pails and placed off one’s property on the side of the curb before the end of the 5th hour.
10. After cleaning up all chometz, bitul chometz (kol chamira) is recited before the end of the 5th hour Shabbos morning.
11. After the end of the 5th hour, chometz is muktzah and may not be moved. If by any chance chometz remains in the house, it must be covered and burned on chol hamoed (Monday evening).
12. Regular matzoh (as opposed to egg matzoh) should not be eaten the entire Shabbos. Either challah or egg matzoh may be used for the Shabbos meal at night and in the morning. According to Ashkenazic custom, egg matzoh should not be eaten later than the end of the 4th hour Shabbos morning. In addition, egg matzoh should not be eaten on Pesach plates or tablecloths. However, egg matzoh is not chometz and may be kept in the home.
13. At least a k’beitzah (volume of an egg) of bread or egg matzoh must be eaten at each meal.
14. One may eat challah outside in the yard and the remainder of the meal indoors, or the challah may be eaten indoors in one area and the meal completed in another area. If the two areas are not in sight of one another, kiddush and birkas hamazon must be recited where the challah was eaten.
15. It is preferable to eat three Shabbos meals with bread. Therefore, the morning meal should be divided into two parts. One should make kiddush, hamotzi, eat one course and recite birchas hamazon. After a distinct interruption (such as taking a walk or learning) one washes again for hamotzi and completes the third meal. The morning meals must be completed by the end of the 4th hour.
16. For a variety of reasons, it is preferable to cook and eat the Shabbos meal in Pesach utensils. Obviously, with the exception of the challah, the food would be kosher for Pesach.
17. After eating challah or egg matzoh, one should wash his hands and rinse his mouth in a bathroom sink before eating the remainder of the meal with Pesach utensils. One may also use a dry toothbrush without water.
18. After six and one-half hours (mincha gedolah) one should eat meat, fish or fruit to fulfill the mitzvah of shalosh seudos, since it is a matter of dispute if shalosh seudos can be fulfilled in the morning. However, one should not eat a large meal that would diminish his appetite at the Seder.
19. During Shabbos, matzoh and baked foods containing matzoh, such as Pesach cake and cookies may not be eaten. Those who eat gebrukts may eat knaidlach (which are cooked in liquid) the entire Shabbos until the end of the 9th hour.
20. Preparations for the Seder may not be done on Shabbos. Even setting the table for the Seder is not permissible.
21. It is permissible to sleep on Shabbos to be more alert for the Seder, but one should not say that this is the purpose of his sleeping.
22. The zeroah (shank bone) and roasted egg should be prepared before Shabbos. If one forgot, they may be prepared Motzei Shabbos provided that they are eaten on Sunday during the daytime (they cannot be eaten at the seder since we do not eat roasted food at the seder). One cannot prepare a zeroah or roasted egg on Motzei Shabbos for the second Seder. Rather, a second set is prepared Sunday night and eaten Monday.
23. Charoses should be prepared before Shabbos. If one forgot, it may be prepared on Motzei Shabbos, but the grinding and chopping must be done with a shinui (done in a different manner than usual, such as the grater being turned upside down, or the pieces allowed to fall on a table rather than a plate). One may not prepare Motzei Shabbos for the second Seder.
24. Some rabbinic authorities recommend grating horseradish before Shabbos, and storing it in a sealed container. The Vilna Gaon on the other hand required its preparation on Motzei Shabbos. The grating must be done with a shinui (see 23 above). One may only prepare enough for that Seder.
25. It is preferable to prepare salt water before Shabbos, but if not, it can be made Motzei Shabbos.