Shabbos erev Pesach: Shabbos meals and biur chametz

Since this year Shabbos is Erev Pesach, when exactly do I burn the chametz, and am I allowed to eat challah during the meals?

Thank you for your question.

This year (תשפ"ה – 2025), as you mentioned, Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos. Therefore, one should do the biur chametz (burning of the chametz) on Friday at the same time as every year, since we do not change the time of biur chametz. This is to maintain consistency with every year, when there is a fixed time to burn the chametz, after which it would be forbidden to have any chametz in one's possession. Therefore, even though this year we keep in chametz in our possession even after Biur chametz, for the shabbos meals, we still adhere to the zman biur chametz like every year.

One should burn all the chametz that one has in his possession and only leave what one will need for the Seudat Shabbat. During the burning of the chametz, generally, we say Kol Chamira. However, this year we do not recite it during the burning of the chametz; we say it later on Shabbos, before "sof zeman biur chametz" (deadline for burning the Chametz).

Many prefer to have pitot for the hamotzi instead of the usual challah, as they leave fewer crumbs and are easier to handle. Therefore, one should eat the pitot over a table, which should be covered with a plastic disposable tablecloth. Then, one should either shake the crumbs out over the toilet or bathtub and then continue the meal using disposable (or Pesach) dishes.

If there are only crumbs, one should just flush them down the toilet or the drain of the bathtub, and that will be considered as biur chametz. Or, if one has a kosher eiruv, one may take the chametz to the public dustbin but not to the private dustbin of one's building. If that is not possible, then if the chametz is less than a kezayit (the size of a small matchbox), one should pour any substance that will destroy the chametz. If it is as large as a kezayit, then one should damage it in a way that it is not edible even for a dog.

Shabbos morning:

One should try to eat two meals Shabbos morning. Therefore, one should daven Shachris early in the morning and finish the first meal (Birkat Hamazon) before 8:30 and then have a break for a half-hour by either going out for a walk or learning.

After half an hour, one should wash again for the second meal and finish it before sof zman achilat chametz (the time one must end eating chametz).

The custom of the Sephardim is a little different; they eat only one meal Shabbos morning. Similarly, someone who finds it difficult to split the meal in two may be lenient and have only one meal. In the afternoon, he should daven Mincha Gedolah (early Mincha) and eat the second meal (fish or meat) before the halachic tenth hour.

If one wasn’t able to eat the second meal before the tenth hour, then one may eat fish and meat. If one doesn’t have meat or fish, then vegetables or eggs will suffice; however, one should not eat too much to become satisfied from it, since from the tenth hour, one may not satisfy oneself.

People who have the custom to eat cakes or kneidlach or a dish made with matzah may do so and eat it as Seudat Shlishit until the tenth hour; however, some are stringent and do not do so.

However, according to all opinions, one shouldn’t have a dish made of matzah, (even a small amount), after the tenth hour.

 Wishing you a Chug Kasher Ve'sameach

Azamroh Lishmecho Moadim Pesach