Because Pesach begins on Saturday Night . . .

This year Pesach begins on Saturday night, April 7, coinciding with the conclusion of the Shabbat. This situation creates a number of interesting changes in the pre-Pesach schedule. While the Saturday night onset of the holiday presents a few challenges, they are by no means insurmountable, and they are by all means educational.

In a normal year, that is when Pesach does not begin on Saturday night, we participate in a number of special rituals, all taking place in the twenty four hour period prior to the first seder. For example, if the first seder is Wednesday night, then the following schedule occurs:

On Tuesday night, we do bedikat chametz, the search for leaven. On Wednesday morning, we hold a siyyum bekhorim, a completion of Talmud study, enabling first born children to be exempt from fasting on the day before Pesach. Also, on Wednesday morning, we conduct bi'ur chametz, the disposal of leaven, usually by burning.
All three of these rituals are impacted by the first seder occurring on Saturday night. The search for, and disposal of chametz both require activities which are forbidden on Shabbat, e.g. lighting fire. Fasting is forbidden on Shabbat (the only exception being Yom Kippur), and therefore the siyyum would also not take place on Shabbat.

When to fast, when to search, when to burn?

So here's what happens. The fast for the first born is moved to Thursday, April 5. Once we're moving a fast day from Shabbat, it makes no sense to move it to Friday, since the conclusion of the fast would then conflict with the onset of Shabbat. Therefore, the fast is moved to the preceding Thursday, and the siyyum will be held Thursday morning following the 7:00 a.m. Shacharit service.

The search for chametz is moved from Friday night to Thursday night. The search is to be held after sundown, at approximately 8:03 p.m. The burning of chametz takes place this year on Friday morning at approximately 12:30 p.m.

What to eat on Shabbat?

Now here's where things get even more interesting. At 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 6, our homes are ready for Pesach. But Pesach doesn't begin until Saturday night at 8:47 p.m., and we have a Shabbat to celebrate in the interim. Part of the Shabbat ritual is to eat challah or bread at meals on Friday night and Saturday. There's no bread left in the house. In theory we can say hamotzi over matza, but we're not allowed to eat matza prior to the seder. So how can we properly celebrate Shabbat, and say hamotzi, without either challah or matza?!

There are two strange, but nonetheless acceptable solutions:

  1. Though our homes are ready for Pesach prior to Shabbat, we are nonetheless permitted to eat chametz until Saturday morning at 11:25 a.m. Therefore one can set aside, albeit carefully, a small amount of chametz, e.g. challah rolls, to use for hamotzi on Friday night, and at a Saturday "lunch" which concludes before 11:25 a.m. Use paper plates for these meals and flush all the crumbs down the toilet.

  2. In place of bread or matza, one can use egg matza for hamotzi at the Shabbat meals. Egg matza is a strange item. It is matza made with fruit juice in place of water. It is not really matza, and therefore is not to be used at the seder, unless one needs it for health reasons. Therefore, eating egg matza on Friday night and Saturday is acceptable since it does not constitute eating matza before the seder. Also using egg matza instead of bread avoids the problem of dealing with chametz crumbs. You could even use your Pesach dishes for these meals, and you wouldn't need to worry about finishing lunch prior to 11:25 a.m. Although egg matza cannot normally be used for hamotzi, it is acceptable in this unique situation.
Yes, it's strange and confusing, but certainly educational. The Shabbat and holidays are not scheduled for our convenience, but rather to help us appreciate the wonder of God's creation and the miracles experienced in every generation. The unique circumstances of this year's calendar require us to creatively maintain the integrity of both Shabbat and Yom Tov, and the solutions offered do indeed serve that holy purpose.

An unusual Shabbat morning

Shul will be a little different on April 7. We will begin the morning service at the usual time of 9:00 a.m. However, we will break after Shacharit to hold a small seudah, or Shabbat meal, including kiddush, hamotzi and birkat hamazon. We will conclude this meal prior to 11:25 a.m. and then return to the sanctuary for the Torah service and Musaf. We hope that you will join us for this unique service, and that you will also participate in our Mincha service at 2:00 p.m. For those who remain at the synagogue, we will fill the time with study, conversation, fun and food (by this time, strictly kosher for Pesach, of course).

Although we may eat kosher for Pesach food after 11:25 a.m., all eating must conclude at 5:15 p.m., followed by a waiting period until the seder begins. Because of the seder, we will not hold a Maariv service at the synagogue on Saturday night. However, I do urge you to consider reciting the evening service in your homes. I will be delighted to give you guidance in this regard.

When to start the seder?

The seder is meant to be held when it is dark outside, to best help us appreciate the historical and spiritual experience of the Exodus. Therefore, our seder should not begin until approximately 8:47 p.m. I know this sounds like a late hour for people of all ages. But please try to remember that the seder is meant to be a night like no other. Many of us manage to stay up late for New Year's Eve, the Fourth of July, a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah party or other special celebration. All the more so can we alter our eating and sleeping schedule on the holiday which celebrates our gift of freedom.

So once again, here is the schedule of the events leading up to the first seder of Pesach this year:

Thursday, April 5

7:00 a.m. -- Shacharit service/siyyum b'khorim
8:03 p.m. -- Bedikat Chametz-Search for the Leaven

Friday, April 6

12:30 p.m. -- Bi'ur Chametz-Disposal of the Leaven

Saturday, April 7

9:00 a.m. -- Shacharit Service
10:00 a.m. -- Final Chametz Meal
11:25 p.m. -- Torah Service and Musaf
1:00 p.m. -- Hour of Study and Fun
2:00 p.m. -- Mincha Service
5:15 p.m. -- Last Food before Seder
8:47 p.m. -- First Seder Begins

Note-All times apply only to Metropolitan Detroit