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Erev Pesach

Source: Halachipedia: Erev Pesach

Link: https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Erev_Pesach

Categories: Holidays, Pesach

Exported: 2025-12-30

Davening

  1. The Ashkenazi minhag is not to say Mizmor LeTodah on Erev Pesach.¹ However, the Sephardic minhag is to say it even on Erev Pesach.²
  2. There is no Tachanun on Erev Pesach just like the rest of the month of Nissan.³

Latest Time to Eat Chametz

  1. From the beginning of the fifth hour (halachic hours) Chametz is forbidden to eat.⁴
  2. One should brush his teeth before the prohibited time for chametz arrives.⁵

Latest time to remove one's Chametz

  1. From the beginning of the sixth hour, one may not derive benefit from Chametz.⁶

Eating Matzah before Pesach

  1. One shouldn’t eat Matzah on Erev Pesach⁷ including the nighttime.⁸
  2. One should be strict not to have baked goods which include matzah meal such as Pesach cakes.⁹ It is permissible to eat matzah in a cooked dish such as a matzah ball on Erev Pesach,¹⁰ however, some say that the minhag is to refrain.¹¹
  3. Some have the minhag not to eat Matzah from 30 days before Pesach,¹² some have the minhag not to eat Matzah from the beginning of the month¹³ and some have the minhag to eat it until Erev Pesach.¹⁴
  4. One shouldn’t eat Matzah before Pesach which was made without intent for the mitzvah of eating Matzah.¹⁵
  5. Regarding eating egg matzah see the next section.

Eating on Erev Pesach

  1. It is forbidden to eat Matzah on Erev Pesach as described above .
  2. It is forbidden to eat Chametz after the beginning of the 5th hour as described above
  3. It is forbidden to eat egg matzah after the 10th hour.¹⁶ There is a difference of opinions whether Ashkenazim who have a minhag not to have egg matzah all of Pesach may eat it on Erev Pesach.¹⁷
  4. Sephardim allow eating egg matzah on Erev Pesach,¹⁸ while some Ashkenazim forbid.¹⁹
  5. Although it is permitted to eat meat, fish, eggs, fruits, or vegetables even after the 10th hour one shouldn't fill oneself up.²⁰
  6. It is permitted to have cooked vegetables after the tenth hour, such as potatoes as long as one doesn't fill oneself up.²¹

Forbidden Work on Erev Pesach

Erev Pesach That Falls out on Shabbat

Links

References

¹: Rama 429:2, Nitei Gavriel (Pesach v. 2, p. 222)

²: Yalkut Yosef 468:14

³: Shulchan Aruch O.C. 429:1, Nitei Gavriel (Pesach v. 2, p. 222)

⁴: Shulchan Aruch O.C. 443:1

⁵: Chazon Ovadia part 1 page 63, Ben Ish Chai Parashat Tzav halacha 8, Kaf Hachayim 444:32, Yechave Daat 1:91:8.

⁶: Shulchan Aruch O.C. 443:1

⁷: Yerushalmi Pesachim 10:1, Rif Pesachim 16a, Tosfot Pesachim 99b s.v. lo yochal, Maharam Chalavah 99b, Rosh Pesachim 3:7, Ritva Pesachim 99b, Meiri Pesachim 99b, Rama 471:2. When does the prohibition to have matzah begin? Baal Hameor 15b writes that it begins from the 6th hour when chametz is forbidden, while the Ramban argues that it is all day. Ran 16a defends the Baal Hameor. Rosh agrees with Baal Hameor.

⁸: Magen 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.

⁹: Rama 471:2, Mishna Brurah 471:20, 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.

¹⁰: Shaar Hatziyun 471:16, Shevet Halevi 8:117

¹¹: Nitai Gavriel (Pesach v. 2, 44:10). Rabbi Dovid Heber writes that it is permissible to eat matza balls on Erev Pesach and does not write that there is any minhag otherwise.

¹²: Mishna Brurah 471:12, Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:155

¹³: Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:155 says that such is the minhag of individuals

¹⁴: Orchot Chaim Safinka 471:5

¹⁵: Halichot Shlomo 8:3, Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com. See however, Machasit Hashekel 471:5 who implies otherwise. Meiri Pesachim 99b is also lenient.

¹⁶: Tosfot Pesachim 99b, Rosh Pesachim 10:2, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 471:1. From the Gra 444:7 it seems that according to the Rambam and Zohar it is forbidden all day. Maharam Chalavah Pesachim 99b seems to agree.

¹⁷: See Rama 462:4. Pri Megadim E”A 444:2 thinks that the Rama holds that the minhag is not to have matzah ashira even on Erev Pesach. Aruch Hashulchan 444:5 permits having matzah ashira on Erev Pesach. Nitai Gavriel Pesach 2:44:7 cites both opinions. Igrot Moshe OC 1:155 allows matzah ashira until the fifth halachic hour.

¹⁸: Tosfot Pesachim 99b s.v. lo yochal, Rosh Pesachim 10:2, Ritva Pesachim 99b, Meiri Pesachim 99b, Tur and Shulchan Aruch O.C. 471:2. Magen Avraham 471:5 implies that matzah ashirah is flour made with fruit juice and sometimes even with water and can be eaten until the 10th hour on Erev Pesach. Mishna Brurah 471:10 agrees.

¹⁹: Nitai Gavriel (Pesach v. 2, 44:7).

²⁰: Rambam Chametz 6:12, Shulchan Aruch 471:1, Magen Avraham 471:2, Mishna Brurah 471:3

²¹: Magen Avraham 471:3 based on Tosfot Eruvin 55b s.v. kol forbids having cooked vegetables since they are more filling than raw vegetables. Chok Yaakov 471:3 questions this Magen Avraham while the Eliya Rabba defends him. Mishna Brurah 471:4 is lenient.