What to Remember on Friday to Prepare for Leil HaSeder Motzei Shabbos

This year, Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos. Are there any specific halachot I need to be aware of when preparing for Leil HaSeder on Friday, considering there are things that I won't be able to do Motzei Shabbos/first night of Yom Tov?

Thank you for your question.

Yes, there are certain things one should prepare before Shabbos specifically for Leil HaSeder. Here's what they are:

Zeroa:
One should roast the zeroa on Friday, as on Motzei Shabbos it would be problematic. Since we do not eat from the zeroah and we may not perform a melacha on Yom Tov if we will not benefit from it on Yom Tov itself, therefore it is advisable to prepare it before Yom Tov. If one forgot to do so, then one may roast the zeroa on Leil HaSeder and then eat it the next day on Yom Tov , since we do not eat the zeroa on Leil HaSeder.

The Egg and the Charoses:
One should cook and then roast the eggs on Friday. If one forgot, then one may cook them on Motzei Shabbos and make sure to eat them either on Leil HaSeder or the next day (on Yom Tov morning), as we only avoid eating roasted meat or chicken on Leil HaSeder, but other foods like roasted eggs may be eaten on Leil HaSeder.
Similarly, with the charoses, one should prepare it on Friday. However, one may add the wine into the charoses on Motzei Shabbos, as there is no prohibition of ‘Lisha’ on Yom Tov, and there is also no issue of coloring with regard to food (אין צביעה באוכלין).

Salt Water:
One should prepare the salt water before Shabbos. If one forgot to do so, then one may prepare it on Motzei Shabbos, however one should make sure that the quantity of water is the majority and only a minority amount of salt.

Preparing the Table for Yom Tov on Shabbos:
One may only prepare the table and chairs after Tzeit HaKochavim (Motzei Shabbos), as one may not prepare the table or even place the chairs for seating for Yom Tov on Shabbos. One should first daven Maariv and include in his Shemoneh Esrei “Va'todieinu,” or one should say after Tzeit HaKochavim “ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לקודש” - "Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh LeKodesh." It would still be forbidden to eat until after Kiddush (as brought in the Mishneh Berurah, Siman 299, Seif Katan 36). Similarly, one may not perform any melachot that is permitted to do on Yom Tov, before one has said Havdalah.

Machzor:
Even if one lives in a place that has a kosher eiruv, one may either bring the Pesach machzor to shul on Friday, Erev Shabbos, or after Tzeit HaKochavim on Motzei Shabbos. The reason for this is that one is not allowed to bring the Pesach machzor with him on for Pesach. If one decides to take the Pesach machzor on Shabbos to shul (in a place that has a kosher eiruv), then one should use it on Shabbos, when arriving at the shul.

Melaveh Malka:
Since this year Leil HaSeder is also Motzei Shabbos, there are those who say that one should add a dish in honor of Melaveh Malka. However, HaGaon HaRav Fried, Shlita, writes that in practice one does not need to do so.

Shevii Shel Pesach - Lighting Candles:
Also, the last days of Yom Tov fall on Shabbos; therefore, one should be careful to light the Shabbos/Yom Tov candles while it is still day like on every Erev Shabbos, and say "להדליק נר של שבת ושל יום טוב" - "Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbos VeShel Yom Tov." One does not recite the bracha “Shehecheyanu,” and then one should say “Mizmor Shir Leyom HaShabbos…”

Shalom Aleichem:
The accepted custom is to sing Shalom Aleichem on Friday night, Shevii Shel Pesach. However, some have the custom not to do so.

NOTE: Regarding Biur Chametz, when and how to do so, please see our site “Shabbos Erev Pesach – Biur Chametz.”

Wishing you a Chag Kasher VeSameach.

Azamroh Lishmecho Moadim Peasach