Getting Rid of Chametz on Shabbos Erev Pesach

Ask the Rov: How do we do biur chametz with erev Pesach on Shabbos?

By Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin – Rov of Anash in Petach Tikvah

Erev Pesach that coincides with Shabbos presents various challenges, including the logistics of the Shabbos seudah. While one must wash on something other than Pesach matzah, chametz may not be eaten after the end of the fourth seasonal hour of erev Pesach, and it may not be in one’s possession past the fifth seasonal hour. (For halachic solutions for the Shabbos meal, see issue 611.)

The Mishna records a debate about the time for biur chametz in such a schedule. Rabbi Meir holds that all chametz must be destroyed before Shabbos, while the Chachomim say it may be gotten rid of at the regular time, on Shabbos. A beraisa records a view that all the chametz must be destroyed before Shabbos other than enough for the first two Shabbos meals. Shulchan Aruch rules that the primary mitzvah of biur chametz should be done on Friday, leaving over only enough for the seudos of Shabbos.¹

The chometz pieces should be burned on Friday before chatzos as every year so it won’t cause confusion in other years. You don’t nullify the chometz at that time since you still plan to eat challah at the Shabbos meals. However, the Rebbe would say the yehi ratzon.² Afterward, the custom is not to eat any chametz except what is left for the Shabbos meal.³ (For more on the status of chametz after this time, see issue 610).

On Shabbos morning, after eating challah, one must thoroughly clean out their mouth and teeth, while taking care not to cause bleeding. One must shake off the tablecloth, plates, clothes, towels, and anything else that may have crumbs.

Any leftover unsold chametz can’t just be left in the area with the sold chametz, since the chametz for the meal was presumably not part of the sale. Instead, it must be disposed of properly. The most practical method is to crumble the chametz into pieces smaller than a kezayis and flush them down the toilet. If they are placed in the garbage, one must pour bleach on them to render them inedible.⁴

If, for whatever reason, you are left with a piece larger than a kezayis, you must give them to a non-Jew as a gift. Although generally one giving a gift on Shabbos is only allowed for the purpose of Shabbos, it is also permitted for the sake of a mitzvah, and getting rid of the chametz is a mitzvah. You should not tell the non-Jew to take it outside to a halachic reshus horabim, since that is like making him your shliach to carry. Moreover, you can only give him an amount that he could technically eat in one sitting without taking it outside.⁵ However, to a karmelis one may give him more and tell him to take it.

After disposing of all the chametz, recite the bitul to nullify any remaining chametz of which you are aware or unaware.⁶

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From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash