Chapter 9. The Laws of Erev Pesach

It is forbidden to eat matzah on Erev Pesach. Cooked matzah, kneidlach, and cookies kneaded with matzah meal are, according to the basic law, permitted until the tenth hour, though some are stringent about this1 .

From the tenth hour [half an hour before the time of minchah ketanah], it is forbidden to eat a cooked matzah dish even in a small amount, so that one will eat matzah with appetite. However, it is permitted to eat a little fruit, vegetables, potatoes, meat, fish, and eggs, but one should not fill his stomach with them2 .

A minor who does not understand what is told at night in the story of the Exodus from Egypt may be fed matzah [approximately up to age 5]3 .

Work on Erev Pesach after Midday

Alef It is forbidden to perform work on Erev Pesach after midday. When done for pay, even incomplete work is forbidden, even for the needs of Yom Tov; when done without pay, only complete work, such as sewing a garment, is forbidden4 .

Bet Although sewing is forbidden, repairing old clothing without pay is permitted as usual5 .

Gimel If one began work before midday, he must stop immediately at midday, even in the middle of the work.

Dalet  All forms of work are permitted through a non-Jew6 .

Heh All forms of work that are permitted on Chol HaMoed, such as preventing a loss or simple layman’s work for the needs of the festival, as well as communal needs, are also permitted on Erev Pesach after midday7 .

Vav It is forbidden to launder clothing and to take a haircut after midday; through a non-Jew it is permitted.8 

Zayin Ordinary ironing is permitted until the onset of the festival, even by a Jew. Professional ironing that creates creases is forbidden.

Chet One may cut the hair of one’s own head, since this is a deviation from the usual manner, but shaving the beard is forbidden even by oneself9 . Hair removal for a woman is permitted on the entire body, except for the hair of the head10 .

It is permitted to start a washing machine before midday, even if it will continue operating after midday.

Tet Ideally, one should cut nails before midday; if he forgot or did not manage to do so, he may cut them after midday11 .

Yod One should immerse in a mikveh on Erev Pesach after midday, and one may advance the immersion even to an hour before midday12 .

Candle Lighting

Yod-Alef There is a mitzvah to light Yom Tov candles13 . Some have the custom to light them on Erev Yom Tov, and some have the custom to light close to the festival meal; one who has no established custom should light on Erev Yom Tov14 .

Yod-Bet

There are women who have the custom to recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu at the time of candle lighting, and there are those who have the custom to hear or say Shehecheyanu during kiddush. One who has no established custom should hear or recite Shehecheyanu at the time of kiddush15 .

Those who have the custom to recite Shehecheyanu at the time of candle lighting: if they make kiddush themselves, they do not say Shehecheyanu in kiddush; and if they hear kiddush from the husband or from others, if they do not drink from the cup they should answer amen to the blessing of Shehecheyanu. If they do drink, there is room to question whether they may answer amen after the blessing of Shehecheyanu and drink from the cup. The basis of the doubt is that since they have already fulfilled their obligation of Shehecheyanu, answering amen may be considered an interruption in kiddush, in which case she would need to recite a blessing over drinking from the cup, as is the law for one who interrupts between the blessing of the one making kiddush and drinking; or perhaps answering amen is not considered an interruption. In practice, it appears that they should answer amen [especially since in the Shehecheyanu blessing of kiddush one has in mind all the mitzvot of the night]16 .