Shabbos Shacharis
Davening on Shabbos morning should start early to enable people to eat their Chometz before the Zman. One should remind the Chazzan not to shlepp the davening.
Shabbos Hagadol Piyutim
Some Kehillos have the custom or reciting Piyutim for Shabbos Hagadol in Chazoras Hashatz. When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, there are differing customs. Some Kehillos would say the Piyutim on the previous Shabbos (like the Drosho). In this case, some authorities write that the Piyutim should not be said in the Chazoras Hashatz, so that it would not constitute an interruption. Rather they should be included at the conclusion.
Other Poskim write that the Piyutim should be said as usual on the Shabbos of Erev Pesach. In such a case, one needs to be careful to ensure davening finishes in time for people to be able to still eat Chometz (see below). Others write that in such a year, Piyutim are not said at all.
The miracle of Shabbos Hagadol is still commemorated on the Shabbos of Erev Pesach.
Shabbos Hagadol Haftorah
There are different customs with regards to when the Haftorah of Shabbos Hagadol - Vearvah - is read. Many Kehillos read the Haftorah every year on Shabbos Hagadol, whether it is Erev Pesach or not.
The Levush explains that it is because the Haftorah refers to the arrival of Eliyahu Hanovi to announce the coming of Moshiach, just like Moshe announced the redemption of the Jewish people from Egypt.
Many Poskim rule that the Haftorah of Shabbos Hagadol is only recited when Shabbos Hagadol falls on Erev Pesach. This is the ruling of the Alter Rebbe.
The Alter Rebbe explains that it is because in the Haftorah we read “and they brought their Maaser to the storehouse”. On Erev Pesach of the 4th and 7th year of the Shemittah cycle, any Maaser that had not been given over the previous 3 years had to be removed from one’s house (Biur Maaser). According to some Rishonim, this was done on Erev Pesach.
The custom of the Vilna Gaon was to say the Haftorah of Vearvah every year except when Shabbos is Erev Pesach.
Hamotzi at the Shabbos meals
One is obligated to eat bread at the Shabbos meals at night and in the morning before the end of the 4th hour. The Shulchan Aruch writes that in this Kvius, after Bedikas Chometz, one leaves over enough Chometz for the 2 Shabbos meals.
This poses the dilemma that by this point our homes have been thoroughly cleaned for Pesach, the kitchen has been Kashered and changed-over and the Chometz has been sold. When eating bread, there are concerns of crumbs as well as what to do with any leftover Chometz after one has finished eating. This is especially so where one has young children.
Practically, one should buy the minimum required amount of Chometz for each person to be able to eat the K’beitza for each of the meals. Some suggest using Pita bread or the like which makes less crumbs than conventional Challahs.
The Hamotzi should be eaten outside or in a room that is going to be closed and ‘sold’ for Pesach. One should not walk around with the Chometz and parents should supervise the young children that they stay in one area. See below how any crumbs should be cleaned.
Kiddush must be recited in the place in which one is eating the Hamotzi (Makom Seuda). When using a Pesach Becher, one should take care to put the Becher away and not use it once the Chometz is being eaten.
The Shabbos meals
The Mitzvah of Oneg Shabbos still applies on this Shabbos and one should have proper meals, with warm foods as they would on any other Shabbos.
The Shulchan Aruch discusses scenarios where one cooks for Shabbos using Chometz Keilim and ingredients. In this case, one should not cook Chometz foods that stick to the pots, making them difficult to clean on Shabbos. Keilim must be well cleaned and put away before the end of the 5th hour.
The Acharonim also discuss how one can cook and serve Kitnios at the Shabbos meals (since the Issur of Kitnios only starts from the 5th hour). There is no problem of owning Kitnios on Pesach.
Since this creates a number of concerns, nowadays, we do not cook Chometz or use Chometz Keilim for this Shabbos. Instead all the food is cooked completely Pesachdig. It is also preferable (for Ashkenazim) not to cook Kitznios foods for this Shabbos.
After eating the Chometz (outside), everyone should shake-off any Chometz crumbs (including from their clothing and beard) before going inside. Before eating the Pesachdig meal, everyone should wash their hands and thoroughly rinse their mouths – especially if using Pesachdig cutlery etc. (as opposed to plasticware which may be preferable and more practical to use).
Other solutions for Hamotzi
On Erev Pesach it is Rabbinically forbidden to eat Matzah, so that the Matzah at the Seder will be eaten with an appetite. This prohibition begins from dawn (Amud Hashachar). Therefore, technically one could use Matzah for the Friday night meal. However, many have the custom to not eat Matzah for a number of weeks or full-month before Pesach.
The above concern only applies to Matzah that can be used to fulfil the Mitzvah of Matzah at the Seder – Lechem Oni made of flour and water. It does not apply to Matzah Ashira – Matzah that is made with fruit juice, wine, egg, oil etc, popularly referred to as ‘egg Matzos’.
Ashkenazim, following the ruling of the Ram”o, do not eat Matzah Ashira during Pesach, starting from the end of the 4th hour on Erev Pesach.
The Poskim discuss the permissibility of using Matzah Ashira for the Shabbos Seudos. The issue is that the Bracha of Matzah Ashira is Mezonos and for the Shabbos meals one must use bread that one recites Hamotzi over.
Some Poskim suggest that in situations where using Chometz will be difficult, one can use egg Matzos for the Hamotzi of the Shabbos meals. This relies on the opinion that when one is Kovea a Shabbos Seudah on such breads, they ‘become’ Hamotzi even if only eating a Kzayis. Others write that this should not be relied upon due the Shaalah of the Bracha.
If one is eats the shiur of Kvius Seudah (4 egg-volumes) of egg Matzos, one washes Netilas Yadaim and makes the Bracha Hamotzi and bentches according to all opinions.
