Erev Pesach: Difference between revisions

# The Ashkenazi minhag is not to say Mizmor LeTodah on Erev [[Pesach]].<Ref>Rama 429:2, Nitai Gavriel (Pesach v. 2, p. 222) </ref> However, the Sephardic minhag is to say it even on Erev Pesach.<Ref>Yalkut Yosef 468:14</ref>

# There is no [[Tachanun]] on Erev Pesach just like the rest of the month of Nissan. <reF>S"A 429:1, Nitai Gavriel (Pesach v. 2, p. 222) </ref>

==Latest time to eat eat Chametz==

# From the beginning of the fifth hour (halachic hours) Chametz is forbidden to eat.<Ref>S”A 443:1 </ref>

# From the beginning of the sixth hour, one may not derive benefit from Chametz. <Ref>S”A 443:1 </ref>

==Eating Matzah before Pesach==

# One shouldn’t eat Matzah on Erev [[Pesach]] <ref> Rama 471:2 </ref> including the nighttime. <Ref>Magan Avraham 471:6. The Chok Yaakov 471:7 quotes the Shiyarei Knesset Hagedola that some have the custom to refrain from eating matza from rosh chodesh nissan. </ref>

# One should be strict not to have baked goods which include matzah meal such as [[Pesach]] cakes. <Ref>Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 8:117, Piskei Teshuvot 471:3. See Halichot Shlomo 8:4 who writes that it’s permissible if in the kneading the dough lost its form as bread. </ref>

# Some have the minhag not to eat Matzah from 30 days before [[Pesach]] <ref>Mishna Brurah 471:12, Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:155 </ref>, some have the minhag not to eat Matzah from the beginning of the month <ref>Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:155 says that such is the minhag of individuals </ref>and some have the minhag to eat it until Erev [[Pesach]]. <Ref>Orchot Chaim Safinka 471:5 </ref>

# One shouldn’t eat Matzah before [[Pesach]] which was made without intent for the mitzvah of eating Matzah. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 8:3, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=2115 Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com]</ref>

==Forbidden work on Erev Pesach==

#It is forbidden to do melacha on erev pesach after mid-day ([[Chatzot]]). <ref> Shulchan Aruch 468:1. Mishna Berura 468:1 says based on a Yerushalmi quoted by Tosafot Pesachim 50a "makom shenahagu" that the reason for this is that it is when we brought korban pesach and the day which you bring a korban is a yom tov and work is forbidden midirabanan, and this prohibition applies nowadays even though we don't have the korban. Rashi there gives a different reason that we want people to be free to prepare for the seder and get rid of their chametz. Pnei Yehoshua there explains that it is because the rabbis gave erev pesach the status of chol hamoed. Biur Halacha "mechatzot u'limala"  says that according to Tosafot's reason if [[Pesach]] falls out on erev shabbat, melacha is not prohibited until mincha. But he adds that for Rashi the prohibition would still apply even when [[Pesach]] falls out on erev shabbat it would still be forbidden after mid-day, but concludes that most poskim hold like tosafot so one doesn't need to be machmir. </ref>  

#It is also forbidden to get a haircut or a shave unless by a non-Jew <ref> Mishna Berura 468:5 </ref>, to sew new clothing <ref> Rama 468:2 </ref>, and to do laundry except by a non-jew after mid-day. <ref> Mishna Berura 468:7. Piskei Teshuvot 468:6 says that even for a Jew to use a washing machine is forbidden but says it is permitted to turn on the machine before mid-day even if it will do the washing afterwards. </ref> Preferably one should cut his nails <ref> Mishna Berura 468:5. Orchot Rabbeinu vol. 2 page 56 says this can be done without restrictions. </ref> and polish his shoes before mid-day. <ref> Yabia Omer 1:32, Shearim HaMitzuyanim BiHalacha 133:6, Shemirat Shabbat Kihilchita 42 note 173, Piskei Teshuvos 468:4. Piskei Teshuvot 468:18 says polishing shoes is not allowed after chatzot, as does the Kitzur HaShl"a quoted in Teshuvot Vihanhagot 1:301.  </ref> All of the leniencies that apply to chol hamoed in these cases apply to erev pesach also. <ref> Mishna Berura 468:7. Rambam Hilchot Yom Tov 8:18 says that on erev pesach after chatzot it is asur to do melacha midirabanan like chol hamoed and it is more lenient than chol hamoed.  </ref>  

#It is permissible to iron clothes,<ref> Orchot Rabbeinu vol. 2 page 56. Shemirat Shabbat Kihilchita 42 note 139 says ironing is also allowed on chol hamoed. </ref> sew buttons, or perform minor mending even in a skilled manner. <ref> Rama 468:2. Mishna Berura 468:8 writes that you can also do these things for others without pay. </ref>

===Before Chatzot===

#If the custom in the community is not to work before chatzot, then one should follow that custom. If the custom is to work, then one is permitted to work. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 468:3, Mishna Berura 468:12. </ref> Nowadays, the minhag is to work before chatzot. <ref> Chayei Adam 129:4, Aruch Hashulchan 468:5. </ref>