5785 - The Rarest Year of Them All Part X
Erev Pesach Shechal B'Shabbos (Part 2)
As detailed in previous installments in our series, our current year, 5785, is not only a rare one, but calendarically speaking, actually the hands-downrarest of them all. 5785 is classified as a HaSh”A year in our calendars. This abbreviation is referring to Rosh Hashana falling out on Thursday (hei), both months of Cheshvan and Kislev being shalem (shin - 30 day months instead of possibly 29; these are the only months that can switch off in our set calendar), and Pesach falling out on Sunday (aleph).
A HaSh”A year is the rarest of years, and out of the 14 possibilities in Tur’s 247-year calendar cycle, this year type occurs on average only once in about 30.19 years (approximately 3.3 percent of the time). Indeed, at times there are 71 years (!) in between HaSh”A years. The last time this year type occurred was 31 years ago in 5754 / 1994. The next time will be 20 years hence in 5805 / 2044. The next several times after that are slated to be 27 years further, in 5832 / 2071 and then a 51 year gap in 5883 / 2122.
The reasons and rules governing the whys and whens this transpires are too complicated for this discussion; suffice to say that when the Mishnah Berurah discusses these issues he writes “ain kan makom l’ha’arich,” that this is not the place to expound in detail, which is certainly good enough for this author.
Obviously, such a rare calendar year will contain many rare occurrences. This series sets out to detail many of them. As we get nearer to the actual events, we will perhaps discuss them in greater detail. Let’s continue on our journey through our unique year.
Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos
Our previous installment discussed some the inherent issues related to Pesach preparations this year with our rare Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos. In this feature we will discuss the most complicated one. As mentioned previously, it is forbidden to eat Matzah on Erev Pesach. But this year, Erev Pesach is Shabbos, thus creating a real dilemma: What are we to do about our Shabbos Seudos? How are we to have our Shabbosseudos on this special day if both chometz and Matzah are forbidden for most of Shabbos day?
There are several options available; however, each comes with their own set of complications. It is important to note that on this unique day, there is no possible way to fulfill every requirement lechatchilla. It is incumbent upon us to do the best we can based on our own circumstances.
Matzah?
As mentioned previously, the Yerushalmi, and codified as halacha, forbids eating Matzah on Erev Pesach. Tosafos explains that this is referring to any Matzah with which one may potentially fulfill his Leil Seder Matzah obligation, as eating such Matzah a day early is akin to jumping the gun. This is aside from the common minhag, which seems to follow those who are machmir not to eat Matzah already from Rosh Chodesh Nissan. So it seems that eating Matzah is not the way to go onErev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos.
Chometz Seudos
One potential solution is to only leave over a small amount of (hopefully not crumbly) chometz for the Seudos (such as using pita for Lechem Mishneh), daven earlier than usual, perhaps K’Vasikin (HaNeitz) and immediately start the Shabbos Seudah afterwards. This is because according to all, the chometz has to be finished before Sof Zman Achillas Chometz on Shabbos, which is not very late in the day.
It is worthwhile to note that even when going this chometz route, it is recommended to actually have the entire Seudah Pesachdik, using only a small amount of chometz, eaten separately on/with disposables – so it can be easily disposed of and cleaned up. Some prefer that the chometz portion of the Seudah be eaten on an adjacent porch or stairwell. This should ensure that there will be no issues or mix-ups with the chometz and Pesach dishes or foods.
Split Seudos
Optimally, if at all possible, many Poskim maintain that one should try to split the seudos in order to fulfill eating Seudah Shlishis as well, with a real Hamotzi. This entails very close timing as well as a sufficient break (and perhaps a walk) between the two seudos, and making sure to finish all chometz before Sof Zman Achillas Chometz.
Either way, afterwards, one must get rid of the rest of the chometz, brush off and clean up any chometz crumbs, rinsing and cleaning off hands and mouths, and reciting ‘Kol Chamira’ – all before Sof Zman Sereifas Chometz. One can continue his seudah afterwards with Pesachdik foods. Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin advised that however one decides to have chometzdik seudos, this Shabbos it should be served on disposables, thus enabling a much faster and easier cleaning up process.
Egg Matzah
The Shulchan Aruch writes that on Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos, an ideal method for the Shabbos Seudos is by utilizing Matzah Ashira, “enriched Matzah,” a.k.a. Egg Matzah. This is referring to Matzah that has been produced utilizing a fruit juice instead of water in its manufacture. (“Egg Matzah” is indeed somewhat of a misnomer, as although it contains egg, the fruit juice inside is usually apple cider/juice or grape juice/wine.)
He adds that one has until the tenth hour to eat it (a half hour before Mincha Ketana), as the Mishnah (Pesachim 99b) explains that one may only eat a “bread” type seudah up until this time on Erev Pesach. In the Shulchan Aruch’s opinion, one can fulfill his Seudah obligations lechatchilla in this manner. This is because only Matzah with which one may potentially fulfill his Leil Seder Matzah obligation is prohibited on Erev Pesach. Thus, Matzah Ashira, manufactured with fruit juice instead of water should be fine. Indeed, Tosafos and the Rosh both cite that Rabbeinu Tam ate Seudah Shlishis with Matzah Ashira on Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos, and this allowance is cited by the Tur and Rivash as well.
This is fine and dandy for Sefardim, who follow the rulings of the Shulchan Aruch and allow Matzah Ashira the whole Pesach as well. However, this shittah is not so simple for Ashkenazim, for a various reasons:
- The great codifier of Ashkenazic halachic practice, Rav Moshe Isserlis, a.k.a. the Rema, argues that “in our countries” we do not use Matzah Ashira, referencing Siman 462. In that location, the Rema states a general Ashkenazic aversion to Matzah Ashira’s consumption on Pesach (with a dispensation exclusively for the elderly, sick, or young children) due to several concerns, including that perhaps water may have gotten mixed in the dough and hence it may rise (chashash chimutz), and that it may get mixed up with regular Matzah.
- Several authorities understand the Rema to be ruling that the same way Matzah Ashira is prohibited on Pesach, it is also proscribed on Erev Pesach. The Vilna Gaon ruled this way as well. Accordingly, this would not prove a proper solution for Seudos on Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos.
- On the other hand, others cite the fact that the Rema does not seem to argue on the Shulchan Aruch the next time he presents his opinion, as his intrinsic allowance of Matzah Ashira for Erev Pesach. In fact, the Aruch Hashulchan maintains that the Rema simply meant it is not worth it to produce as we do not eat Matza Ashira the whole Pesach except in extenuating circumstances, for a sick or elderly person, who would go through the trouble of making only several Matzos Ashira just for Erev Pesach?
- Many understood the Rema as allowing Matzah Ashira on Erev Pesach, but since he was concerned about the possibility of it rising, he meant to qualify its usage akin to actual chometz. Some understanding as permitting Egg Matzah consumption up until Chatzos (halachic noon) as that is the Biblical cut-off point for chometz on Erev Pesach, and Matzah Ashira cannot be more than a Rabbinic prohibition.
- However, most understood the Rema to be ruling that as it is similar to chometz, one only has until Sof Zman Achillas Chometz to eat it, and otherwise treat it in the same manner as chometz.
Hence, time-wise, it does not practically help Ashkenazim too much to use Egg Matzah for their Shabbos Seudos instead of actual chometz, as the Egg Matzah must also be finished by Sof Zman Achillas Chometz.
An additional concern is that it is not clear what bracha one would make on Egg Matzah in this instance. Generally speaking, Egg Matzah is considered “Pas Haba’ah B’Kisnin,” whose bracha is Mezonos – unless one eats a large amount and is Koveya Seudah on it – when its bracha becomes Hamotzi. There is large debate whether using it for the Shabbos Seudah is sufficient for changing its bracha from Mezonos to Hamotzi, or if one has to eat a copious amount - shiur of four K’Beitzim specifically of the Egg Matzah for this purpose.
According to Rav Yisroel Pinchas Bodner’s Sefer K’Zayis Hashaleim, a K’Zayis of standard Machine Matzah (roughly 15 grams) equals 4/10ths of a Matzah. This would mean that if one would follow the shittah that mandates a shiur of four K’Beitzim specifically of the Egg Matzah, then one would need to eat almost 3-and-a-half full Egg Matzos at each Seudah to ensure that it is properly Hamotzi.
However, it seems that in this specific case most agree with the Magen Avraham’s opinion, that all of the food consumed as part of this Shabbos meal is included in the count of Keviyus Seudah. In the words of Rav Moshe Feinstein, “there is no greater Keviyus Seudah than a Shabbos Seudah.” Even so, it is recommended to at least eat one K’Beitzah - approximately one full Egg Matzah – since according to several Poskim, the brachah of Al Netillas Yadayim should only be recited over a shiur K’Beitzah or more.
However, as pointed out by Rav Ovadiah Yosef, this may not hold true for Seudah Shlishis, as Hamotzi is not technically mandated as it is regarding the other Seudos, and if so, Egg Matzah’s brachah may revert to Mezonos for this seudah.
Come what may, both Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Mordechai Gifter recommended using Egg Matzah for the Shabbos Erev Pesach Seudos. In the words of Rav Doniel Neustadt, noted author of the Halachah Discussion series, Egg Matzah “is the preferred method for homes with small children who may scatter chometz crumbs around the house. This is also recommended for hotels, for large gatherings where Shabbos meals are being served, or for anyone who feels more secure with having no actual chometz in the house on Shabbos.”
On the other hand, the Egg Matzah solution is noticeably absent from the works of most Poskim in Eretz Yisrael, and even the Israeli Erev Pesach guides. In fact, it is difficult to even find Egg Matzah commercially sold in Israel, since the Rema essentially ruled it is off limits for Ashkenazim for all of Pesach. Hence, the Israeli preference for the chometz option served in small quantities on disposables, along with a Pesachdik Seudah.
Seudah Shlishis Sheilos
This leads us to our next question. How can we fulfill Seudah Shlishis? Sefardim, following the psak of the Shulchan Aruch, can and should daven Mincha Gedolah (early Mincha) and can have an Egg Matzah based Seudah Shlishis soon after – until the 10th hour of the day. But what are Ashkenazim to do? If they cannot eat Matzah Ashira at that time (as it already past Sof Zman Achillas Chometz, as well as Chatzos), is there a way to fulfill Seudah Shlishis in its (at least semi-) proper time?
The Rema writes that we should fulfill our afternoon Seudah Shlishis requirement with consuming other foods, such as fruit, or meat and fish - shehakol items, instead. As there is no way to be fulfill every inyan lechatchilla in this situation, including the optimal Hamotzi Seudah Shlishis after davening Mincha, many later Poskim advise eating Matzah balls (Kneidlach) Shabbos afternoon after an early Mincha, for at least a Mezonos Seudah Shlishis (more germane for those who are not makpid on Sheruya/Gebrokts).
This solution is due to the fact that one may not fulfill his Matzah obligation on Leil HaSeder with cooked Matzah. Hence Kneidlach, although made with Matzah Meal, are nonetheless permitted to be eaten on Erev Pesach up until the 10th hour, even for Ashkenazim. On this Shabbos Erev Pesach afternoon, when neither chometz nor Matzah can be eaten, this can become an optimal manner to fulfill the Seudah Shlishis obligation, even after Mincha Gedolah, according to many authorities.
No Seudah Shlishis?
There is an alternate view, that of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, that he would be Oseik B’Torah (learn Torah) in lieu of Seudah Shlishis on Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos. The Vilna Gaon writes that this shows that the Rashbi held that on this special day, as there is no full proper solution to fulfill Seudah Shlishis after Zman Mincha with bread, there is no proper solution for this dilemma. Noted Kabbalist and ancestor of the Chida, Rav Avraham Azulai writes that this is the optimal manner to have this “Seudah Shlishis” in this situation, to have this “seudah” with Divrei Torah instead.
The Aruch Hashulchan maintains that this proves that on this special Shabbos Erev Pesach there is no actual obligation to have a Seudah Shlishis. Just as when Yom Kippur occurs on Shabbos it pushes off all of the Mitzvos of Shabbos, and when Rosh Hashana, Sukkos, or Purim fall out on Shabbos (like this year), the respective Mitzvos of Shofar, Lulav, and Megillah get pushed off, so too when Erev Pesach occurs on Shabbos, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was Oseik B’Torah instead, as the Mitzvah of Seudah Shlishis got pushed off as well.
No Pesach Prep on Shabbos
An important reminder for this marathon Shabbos: as it is Shabbos that is immediately preceding Pesach, one may not perform any preparations on Shabbos for Yom Tov, and all Seder preparations may only begin from Tzeis Hakochavim (nightfall), after reciting“HaMavdil Bein Kodesh L’Kodesh,” either by itself or as part of “Vatode’ainu” in the Yom Tov Maariv Shemoneh Esrei at the time that Shabbos “is going away.”
Hence, after an early Mincha and an unusual Seudah Shlishis, there is not much else to do in the afternoon, except take a well-deserved nap.
After all this we’ll certainly need a breather. Not to worry, after this year, Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos is not slated to occur for another twenty years – in 5805 / 2045, so we should have plenty of time to unwind after this one.
Wishing all of our readers a Chag Kasher V’Samayach!
Our fascinating journey detailing the many remarkable facets of our rare year will IY”H be continued…
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch famously wrote that “the Jew’s catechism is his calendar.” It is this author’s wish that by showcasing the uniqueness of our calendar year and its rare minhagim, this series will help raise appreciation of them and our fascinating calendarical customs.
*This author wishes to thank R’ Yosef Yehuda Weber, author of ‘Understanding the Jewish Calendar,’ for being a fount of calendarical knowledge and for his assistance with this series.
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive guide, rather a brief summary to raise awareness of the issues. In any real case one should ask a competent Halachic authority.
L'iluy Nishmas the Rosh HaYeshiva - Rav Chonoh Menachem Mendel ben R' Yechezkel Shraga, Rav Yaakov Yeshaya ben R' Boruch Yehuda.
