Study of the Halachos of Pesach
Parsha Pages | June 16, 2024
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Study of the Halachos of Pesach

Parsha Pages | June 27, 2025

שואלין דורשין בהלכות הפסח

Bemidbar 9,4 And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.

The importance of studying the Halachos within the 30 days before Pesach is mentioned by Chaza”l in Peaschin 6a. It is highlighted by the Mishna Berurah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 429 seif katan 1), who writes that the source for the 30-day study period is actually found in the Torah itself.

  1. Rav Chaim Kanievsky writes (Shoneh Halachos 695:12) that before we start the Purim seudah, we should learn the halachos of Purim and, believe it or not, Pesach! Rav Menachem Mendel of Vishiva brings an allusion to this from Parashas Nitzavim. The verse states, “mi’chotev eitzechah ad sho’ev maimechah” — that the laws of drawing water (mayim shelanu for matzah baking) must be studied from Purim, where the tree was prepared.
  2. Moshe Rabbeinu enacted that we must study the halachos of Pesach 30 days before it begins as well as on Pesach itself.
  3. A minority view (Ran and Rashba) has understood this to mean that if two students pose questions, one on Pesach laws and the other on another law, we answer the one on Pesach first, but there is no obligation to actually study the halachos 30 days before Pesach. This view has been rejected by the majority of poskim who rule that, indeed, we must actually study the halachos of Pesach — both 30 days before it begins as well as on Pesach itself (S.A. 429:1 and M.B. #2). There is even a view (Pnei Yehoshua Pesachim 6a “V’amar Rabbi Yehudah”) that the obligation of studying 30 days before the yom tov is actually a biblical requirement!
  4. The Mishnah Berurah also writes (436:32) that within the 30-day period before Pesach one must be careful that one does not leave chametz in a manner that it will not be cleaned easily.
  5. When one cleans out chametz within the 30-day period before Pesach one fulfills the mitzvah of “tashbisu,” removing chametz (M.B. 445:8). It therefore makes sense to do the cleaning within this time period as opposed to starting earlier because one gets a mitzvah. According to the Pnei Yehoshua, one would be fulfilling a Torah mitzvah. If, however, it will not be possible to fully clean within the 30 days, then one should start earlier.

What about other Yom Tovim?

Mishna Berurah that is it a disagreement among the Poskim if this concept applies to the other Yomim Tovim. (Obviously, one is obligated to learn the laws of the other Yomim Tovim in advance, but that might mean a short period prior to the Yom Tov.)

The Bais Yosef is of the opinion that only in regards to Peasch does one need to study its laws thirty days in advance. In anticipation of Sukkos and Shavuos the halachos are not so numerous and it is sufficient to prepare only minimally. For Sukkos only a day or two of preparation are needed and since there are no halachos unique to the day of Shavuos it is sufficient to study them on the day of Shavuos itself. Although there are many laws related to the building of a sukkah and the four species, nevertheless, since proper fulfillment of these mitzvos is easy, a sukkah only needs two walls and a little bit for the third and most times one can easily obtain a kosher set of the four species, it is unnecessary to study all of the halachos in depth so far in advance of the Yom Tov.

However, the Pnei Yehoshua implies from Tosfos (d.h. “Mai”) that this concept applies to the other Yomim Yovim. Thus, on Rosh Chodesh Ellul, one starts learning the laws of Rosh haShanah; on the 9th of Ellul, one starts learning the laws of Yom Kippur; on the 15th of Ellul one starts the laws of Sukkos; etc. The Pnei Yehoshua does ask that no seems to have this custom.

Maharsha (Sukkah 9b) mentions that Rashi implies this concept does apply to Sukkos. Further, the Pri Chadash and the Pri Megadim ask on the Bais Yosef from numerous sources that indicate this concept does apply to other Yomim Tovim.

The Bach questions that the main focus of the 30 days prior is to learn about the Korbanos that were to be brought (and which most were not familiar on a frequent basis). the reason thirty days are needed is to allow people to examine the animals to be used for the Korban Pesach for blemishes. That is necessary only for Pesach when every person will offer a korban in contrast to other Yomim Tovim where only communal korbanos are brought. Now that the Bais Mikdash is not available, this concept should not be applicable. Thus, it sufficient to start from the Shabbos prior to Pesach.

What about Purim and Chanuka?

Tosfos (Megilah 4a d.h. “Mai”) states this concept does not apply to Purim. The Kuntras Chasdei Avos says it does not apply to Chanukah since Purim is already called a Yom Tov and Divrei Kabbalah and this concept does not apply, even more so for Chanakah which is definitely instituted from Chaza”l.

What is the reason Poskim in our times are not strict about this concept?

The Bach states that now the communities are dispersed and only come together the Shabbos prior to Pesach, it is now proper to being the discussion of the laws at that time.

The Shulchan haRav states that now that the laws are available to all via print (and nowadays the internet) the obligation is on the individual to review and become fluent in the laws of Pesach according to the person’s abilities.

Are learning the general laws of Yom Tov included in this concept?

This question seems to mirror the discussion about whether the concept applies to Pesach (and Sukkos) since their laws are many, and not to Shavuos, where the specific laws are a small amount. If one were to include the general laws of Yom Tov, then even Shavuos has a connected to a large amount of laws.

This question was brought to Rabbi Aurbach. He responded that one cannot the concept of learning 30 by only learning the general laws of Yom Tov. However, learning the laws of the specific Yom Tov and learning the general laws certainly fit within this concept.

Story

R ’ Elimelech of Lizhensk was partaking of a meal with the Rav of a small town when he realized that the Rav wasn’t eating. After repeated inquiries, the Rav admitted that he was indeed fasting. When asked why, he explained that he fasted to beseech Hashem to protect his townspeople from sin. To this R’ Elimelech replied that the way for a Rav to protect his flock is not through fasting, but by a thorough study of the entire Shulchan Aruch. R’ Elimelech continued to explain that it was for the same reason that he recommended that the Rav must learn Hilchos Pesach very carefully. People tend to think that Pesach generates so many halachic questions because of its complicated and unusually strict laws.

While that is certainly true, there is yet another reason for this phenomenon. That is because the many Poskim and Geonim who wrote commentaries on Hilchos Pesach complained in Heaven that nobody studied their commentaries because they were all busy cleaning.

This is why HaShem causes so many halachahic questions to arise, specifically in the area of hilchos Pesach, so that they be learned properly and not forgotten. For that reason, the Rav’s studying of all halachos properly would be the best protection for his flock.

שואלין דורשין בהלכות הפסח

Bemidbar 9,4 And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.

The importance of studying the Halachos within the 30 days before Pesach is mentioned by Chaza”l in Peaschin 6a. It is highlighted by the Mishna Berurah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 429 seif katan 1), who writes that the source for the 30-day study period is actually found in the Torah itself.

  1. Rav Chaim Kanievsky writes (Shoneh Halachos 695:12) that before we start the Purim seudah, we should learn the halachos of Purim and, believe it or not, Pesach! Rav Menachem Mendel of Vishiva brings an allusion to this from Parashas Nitzavim. The verse states, “mi’chotev eitzechah ad sho’ev maimechah” — that the laws of drawing water (mayim shelanu for matzah baking) must be studied from Purim, where the tree was prepared.
  2. Moshe Rabbeinu enacted that we must study the halachos of Pesach 30 days before it begins as well as on Pesach itself.
  3. A minority view (Ran and Rashba) has understood this to mean that if two students pose questions, one on Pesach laws and the other on another law, we answer the one on Pesach first, but there is no obligation to actually study the halachos 30 days before Pesach. This view has been rejected by the majority of poskim who rule that, indeed, we must actually study the halachos of Pesach — both 30 days before it begins as well as on Pesach itself (S.A. 429:1 and M.B. #2). There is even a view (Pnei Yehoshua Pesachim 6a “V’amar Rabbi Yehudah”) that the obligation of studying 30 days before the yom tov is actually a biblical requirement!
  4. The Mishnah Berurah also writes (436:32) that within the 30-day period before Pesach one must be careful that one does not leave chametz in a manner that it will not be cleaned easily.
  5. When one cleans out chametz within the 30-day period before Pesach one fulfills the mitzvah of “tashbisu,” removing chametz (M.B. 445:8). It therefore makes sense to do the cleaning within this time period as opposed to starting earlier because one gets a mitzvah. According to the Pnei Yehoshua, one would be fulfilling a Torah mitzvah. If, however, it will not be possible to fully clean within the 30 days, then one should start earlier.

What about other Yom Tovim?

Mishna Berurah that is it a disagreement among the Poskim if this concept applies to the other Yomim Tovim. (Obviously, one is obligated to learn the laws of the other Yomim Tovim in advance, but that might mean a short period prior to the Yom Tov.)

The Bais Yosef is of the opinion that only in regards to Peasch does one need to study its laws thirty days in advance. In anticipation of Sukkos and Shavuos the halachos are not so numerous and it is sufficient to prepare only minimally. For Sukkos only a day or two of preparation are needed and since there are no halachos unique to the day of Shavuos it is sufficient to study them on the day of Shavuos itself. Although there are many laws related to the building of a sukkah and the four species, nevertheless, since proper fulfillment of these mitzvos is easy, a sukkah only needs two walls and a little bit for the third and most times one can easily obtain a kosher set of the four species, it is unnecessary to study all of the halachos in depth so far in advance of the Yom Tov.

However, the Pnei Yehoshua implies from Tosfos (d.h. “Mai”) that this concept applies to the other Yomim Yovim. Thus, on Rosh Chodesh Ellul, one starts learning the laws of Rosh haShanah; on the 9th of Ellul, one starts learning the laws of Yom Kippur; on the 15th of Ellul one starts the laws of Sukkos; etc. The Pnei Yehoshua does ask that no seems to have this custom.

Maharsha (Sukkah 9b) mentions that Rashi implies this concept does apply to Sukkos. Further, the Pri Chadash and the Pri Megadim ask on the Bais Yosef from numerous sources that indicate this concept does apply to other Yomim Tovim.

The Bach questions that the main focus of the 30 days prior is to learn about the Korbanos that were to be brought (and which most were not familiar on a frequent basis). the reason thirty days are needed is to allow people to examine the animals to be used for the Korban Pesach for blemishes. That is necessary only for Pesach when every person will offer a korban in contrast to other Yomim Tovim where only communal korbanos are brought. Now that the Bais Mikdash is not available, this concept should not be applicable. Thus, it sufficient to start from the Shabbos prior to Pesach.

What about Purim and Chanuka?

Tosfos (Megilah 4a d.h. “Mai”) states this concept does not apply to Purim. The Kuntras Chasdei Avos says it does not apply to Chanukah since Purim is already called a Yom Tov and Divrei Kabbalah and this concept does not apply, even more so for Chanakah which is definitely instituted from Chaza”l.

What is the reason Poskim in our times are not strict about this concept?

The Bach states that now the communities are dispersed and only come together the Shabbos prior to Pesach, it is now proper to being the discussion of the laws at that time.

The Shulchan haRav states that now that the laws are available to all via print (and nowadays the internet) the obligation is on the individual to review and become fluent in the laws of Pesach according to the person’s abilities.

Are learning the general laws of Yom Tov included in this concept?

This question seems to mirror the discussion about whether the concept applies to Pesach (and Sukkos) since their laws are many, and not to Shavuos, where the specific laws are a small amount. If one were to include the general laws of Yom Tov, then even Shavuos has a connected to a large amount of laws.

This question was brought to Rabbi Aurbach. He responded that one cannot the concept of learning 30 by only learning the general laws of Yom Tov. However, learning the laws of the specific Yom Tov and learning the general laws certainly fit within this concept.

Story

R ’ Elimelech of Lizhensk was partaking of a meal with the Rav of a small town when he realized that the Rav wasn’t eating. After repeated inquiries, the Rav admitted that he was indeed fasting. When asked why, he explained that he fasted to beseech Hashem to protect his townspeople from sin. To this R’ Elimelech replied that the way for a Rav to protect his flock is not through fasting, but by a thorough study of the entire Shulchan Aruch. R’ Elimelech continued to explain that it was for the same reason that he recommended that the Rav must learn Hilchos Pesach very carefully. People tend to think that Pesach generates so many halachic questions because of its complicated and unusually strict laws.

While that is certainly true, there is yet another reason for this phenomenon. That is because the many Poskim and Geonim who wrote commentaries on Hilchos Pesach complained in Heaven that nobody studied their commentaries because they were all busy cleaning.

This is why HaShem causes so many halachahic questions to arise, specifically in the area of hilchos Pesach, so that they be learned properly and not forgotten. For that reason, the Rav’s studying of all halachos properly would be the best protection for his flock.

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Parsha Pages | June 16, 2024