Chapter 9. The Laws of Pesach That Falls on Shabbat

Alef  The salt water for dipping the karpas should be prepared before the festival begins. If one forgot and did not prepare it beforehand: if he has vinegar, he should dip the karpas in vinegar; and if he has no vinegar, he may prepare only the amount of salt water needed for the Seder, and should prepare it in such a way that the salt placed in the water is less than two thirds of the amount of water1  .

Preparing the charoset

The charoset should be prepared before the festival begins. If one forgot and did not prepare it beforehand, there is concern for the Shabbat prohibition of grinding when cutting the fruits from which the charoset is made; therefore, he should cut only into somewhat large pieces, with a knife only, and do so close to the meal, for in this manner it is not included in the melachah of grinding2 . Likewise, he should make a change in preparing the charoset: he should not make it as he does every year, as a thick mixture in memory of the mortar, but rather as a soft mixture by adding a large amount of wine until it becomes liquid. He should also make a change by putting in the wine before adding the fruit. In addition, he should alter the usual method of preparation by mixing the paste once lengthwise and removing the spoon, then crosswise and again removing the spoon, and so on several times until it is mixed3 .

Preparing chrein

Gimel Those who are accustomed to take horseradish for the mitzvah of maror should prepare it before the festival begins and cover it until the time of conducting the Seder. If one forgot and did not prepare it beforehand, he should cut it into large pieces close to the meal, so as not to come to the melachah of grinding4 . 

Washing lettuce leaves

Dalet Those who are accustomed to take lettuce leaves for the mitzvah of maror should check the leaves for worms before the festival begins. If they forgot and did not check them, they should check them on Shabbat against the light. If one finds insects or worms, he should be careful not to wash the leaf, but rather remove them together with a little of the leaf itself5  . 

Roasting the zeroa

Heh The zeroa should be roasted before the festival begins. If one forgot, he should take it as it is (cooked, without roasting).

The laws of lighting Shabbat candles on Pesach

Candles should be lit on Friday afternoon, and the blessing should be recited: “to light the candle of Shabbat and Yom Tov” [even those who follow the opinions that on every Yom Tov one should light at night before the meal—in a year when Pesach falls on Shabbat, one should light before Shabbat].

Some women have the custom to recite “Shehecheyanu” at the time of candle lighting, and some have the custom to hear or say “Shehecheyanu” during Kiddush.

Those who have the custom to recite “Shehecheyanu” at the time of candle lighting: if they recite Kiddush themselves, they do not say “Shehecheyanu” in Kiddush. However, if they hear Kiddush from their husband or from others, there is room to question whether they may answer amen after the blessing of “Shehecheyanu” and drink from the cup. The basis of the question is whether, since they have already fulfilled their obligation of “Shehecheyanu,” answering amen is considered an interruption, so that they would need to recite a blessing over drinking from the cup, like the law of one who interrupts between the blessing of the person reciting Kiddush and drinking; or whether this is not considered an interruption. In practice, it appears that they should answer  “amen” [especially since in the blessing of “Shehecheyanu” in Kiddush, one has in mind all the mitzvot of the night].

Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv

There are different customs regarding the recitation of “Lechu Neranenah” and “Lecha Dodi” on this Shabbat. The common custom is not to say “Lechu Neranenah” and “Lecha Dodi,” but to say “Mizmor Shir LeYom HaShabbat.” “Bameh Madlikin” is not said. One should be prompt to pray Ma’ariv on time. After the chazzan’s repetition, “Vayechulu” is recited6 [and the blessing of Me’ein Sheva is not recited7 ], and afterward it is customary to recite the complete Hallel [followed by the complete Kaddish].

'Shalom Aleichem' and Shabbat songs

Regarding the recitation of “Shalom Aleichem” and the other Shabbat songs on the Seder night that falls on Shabbat, customs differ8 , and each person should follow the custom of his forefathers; the common custom is not to say them.

Kiddush (Kadesh)

In addition to having intent to fulfill the mitzvah of Yom Tov through Kiddush, one should have intent for the mitzvah of Shabbat Kiddush; see the note9 . The order of Kiddush is: Vayechulu, the blessing of Borei Pri HaGafen, the blessing of the sanctification of the day [mentioning Shabbat], and the blessing of Shehecheyanu. See above for the details of these laws.

The order of Motzaei Shabbat after Pesach

“Vihi Noam” is not said, and “Veyiten Lecha” is said10 , and Havdalah is recited as usual on every Motzaei Shabbat, with a candle and spices [strictly speaking, one may recite “Borei Minei Besamim” over cloves, because in our times there is no concern of chametz in the alcohol they contain. One who is concerned about chametz in cloves should recite the blessing over hadassim].