The first Seder Night this year falls on a Saturday Night. This is a relatively rare occurrence, this has only occurred three times in the past 24 years.

There are a number of differences in procedure to when Seder night falls on a weekday evening. There will be a shiur explaining all the laws of Pesach on Monday 18th April at 8.30pm at 7 Granby Close.

Fast of the First Born - This is usually observed on Erev Pesach, since we don't fast on Friday or Shabbat this is brought forward to the Thursday before Pesach.

Search for Chametz - This is usually observed on the evening before Pesach. Since we can't perform the search on Friday night it is brought forward to Thursday night.

Sale of Chametz - Not only are we not allowed to eat Chametz on Pesach, we are also forbidden to own it. Any Chametz that we are not going to dispose of before Pesach needs to be sold to a non-Jew before Pesach. The Rabbi usually performs this transaction on behalf of all those who have authorised him to act as their agent on Erev Pesach. Since this sale cannot take place on Shabbat it is performed on Friday.

Burning the Chametz - Again this usually takes place on Erev Pesach. Since we cannot burn the Chametz on Shabbat, this will take place on Friday. However we need to ensure that we retain three small challos for eating at the Friday Night and Shabbat Day meals. As part of this ceremony we normally recite a paragraph renouncing ownership of any Chametz that we may have overlooked. Since we will still be eating Challah on Friday Night and Shabbat morning this statement is not made until Shabbat morning.

Shabbat Meals - The change from chametz to Pesachdik foods, dishes etc. should be made on Friday. The Friday Night and Shabbat Morning Meals should be cooked in Pesachdik pans and eaten on Pesachdik plates. However we still need to make the Hamotzie and eat Challah on Friday Night and Shabbat Morning. Normally we would be allowed to use two Matzos instead of the Challah. But on Erev Pesach we are not allowed to eat matzoh, in order that the taste of matzoh should be fresh when we eat it at the Seder.
Therefore we should use two small Challah rolls, eat them over a paper plate and serviette away from the rest of our food and then dispose of the plate, serviette and any crumbs and wash our hands before continuing with our meal.
On Shabbat morning the latest time that we can eat Chametz is 10.41 am. Shachris on Shabbat morning will commence at the earlier than usual time of 9.00 am. Following Shachris there will be a kiddush and Hamotzie will be made over Challah. For people not attending Shul, Shachris should be davened privately at home and Kiddush should be recited and Hamotzie made over Challah before 10.41. The Shul service will continue with the Reading of the Torah at 10.45 am. After Shul a regular Shabbat meal should
be eaten without reciting Kiddush or making Hamotzi. Any crumbs of challah or left over pieces of bread should be disposed of by 11.45 am

Seder Preparations - All preparations for the Seder, cooking the food, preparing the Seder Plate etc. should be made on Friday. The Seder plate can be placed in the fridge covered with cling film. After Shabbat the food may be heated up and the Seder Plate uncovered ready for the Seder.

Yom Tov Candles - A light which will be still be burning after Shabbat should be lit on Friday afternoon to act as a pilot light from which the Yom Tov candles may be kindled after Shabbat.

Kiddush - Because Yom Tov immediately follows Shabbat, Havdolah is inserted into the Yom Tov Kiddush, This will be clearly marked in all Haggodahs.

If anybody has any further queries on this topic they may
contact Rabbi Pink
by phone or Fax on
0121 706 8736
or by email

rabbi@solihullshul.org