Preparation For The Seder

If Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, certain Seder preparations must be completed before Shabbos in order not to violate the prohibitions of Shabbos and Yom Tov. Even activities which do not involve melacha on Shabbos may not be performed for Yom Tov because preparation from Shabbos for Yom Tov is prohibited.

There is another reason why Seder preparations should be performed before Shabbos and not on the evening of the Seder—so that beginning the Seder should not be delayed. It should be started promptly upon returning home from Shul. Therefore, wherever feasible, the Seder table should be prepared before Shabbos.

Roasting the Z’roa and Egg

The shankbone (z’roa) must be roasted before Shabbos. The reason it should not be roasted on the Seder night is that on Yom Tov one may only roast food which will be eaten on (that day of) Yom Tov. Since the minhag is not to eat roasted meat on the night of the Seder, this roasting is not for the purpose of Yom Tov. However, if he forgot to roast it before Shabbos, he may roast it on Motzai’ai Shabbos if he intends to eat it on the first day of Yom Tov. Similarly, he may roast it Sunday night if he intends to eat it on the second day of Yom Tov.

Although the egg may either be roasted or cooked, the minhag is to roast it too. If one forgot to roast it before Shabbos, he may roast it on Motzai’ai Shabbos if he expects to eat it at the Seder or on Yom Tov by day.

Grinding the Horseradish

If one intends to use ground horseradish for Marror, some Poskim hold that it should be grated before Shabbos, covered (and refrigerated) until the Seder. According to the Vilna Gaon, however, the horseradish should not be grated until returning home from Shul on the night of the Seder and it should then be kept covered until beginning the Seder, when it should be spread on a plate to weaken its strength. When grating the horseradish on Yom Tov, a slight deviation should be used (e.g. turn the grater upside down or grate onto pieces of paper rather than onto a plate.

Selecting Leaves of Lettuce

If using lettuce or romaine lettuce for Marror, one should time consuming process. We have learned that beginning the preferable select the leaves and examine them before Yom Seder should not be delayed. The leaves may not be soaked in Tov, because examing the leaves for insects is a tedious and water over Shabbos.

Charoses

The Charoses, which is ground or chopped and then mixed with wine or vinegar*, should be prepared before Shabbos. If one forgot, he should prepare it on Yom Tov with a deviation in the grinding; no deviation is required in the mixing The wine may be added and it may be mixed normally. When preparing Charosis on Yom Tov, one should only prepare an amount sufficient for that Seder because preparation from one day of Yom Tov for the next is prohibited.

Note: It goes without saying that the vinegar must be suitable for Passover use. We have learned that vinegar is usually made from grain. Passover vinegar is prepared from other sources.

Prepare Salt Water

It is preferable to prepare the salt water before Shabbos. However, if it was not prepared before Shabbos it may be prepared on Yom Tov.

Much of this material was drawn from an important handbook on Pesach, Rabbi Shimon Eider’s Halachos of Pesach. This book is available in the David Evan Hirsch Library.

Home  |  About Us  |  Programs  |  Classes  |  Upcoming Events  |  Rabbi's Message  |  President's Message  |  Religious School  |  Sisterhood

 Minyan Times  |  Candle Lighting Times  |  Directions  |  Upcoming Holiday Information  |  Contact Us

Web design by Global Meridian Inc.

© 2007-2012  Congregation Anshe Sholom.  All rights reserved.

For questions or comments about this website contact webmaster