- Q. Rov Shlit’a. On a regular year there is a prohibition to do any kind of work after chatzos (midday) on Erev Pesach, does that apply also this year when Erev Pesach is on Shabbat and it is usually a permitted work that can be done then?
A. Indeed Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 468: 1) rules that one should not do any kind of work during Erev Pesach from chatzos onward, and if one did he would be placed in Cherem (usually understood similarly to being excommunicated from the Jewish Nation.
It includes even usually permitted work done for free. Poskim explain that the reason is since that was the time dedicated to the bringing of the Korban Pesach and it was instituted as a special Yom Tov. Mishna Berura (468: 1) explains that the prohibition remains and applies even in our days. He adds that it applies even if it isn’t a proper Melacha.
Yet, we find another two reasons. Biur Halacha (ibid) mentions firstly that it is due to the necessary dedication to the sacrificing of the Korban Pesach and that also one should not engage in work that may disturb those preparations.
Although when Erev Pesach coincides with Shabbos one would as is abstain from any prohibited work, still.
all preparations, even the ones that do not involve prohibited acts on Shabbos, if done for Yom Tov and the seder, they may not begin until Shabbos is over. Since it is usually prohibited to do any activities on Shabbos for after Shabbos. Therefore all arrangements for the seder should be done only before Shabbos or after it ended.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a
Important Numbers
