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Pesah – Verbally Designating Meat for Pesah

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 469) rules that one should not verbally declare regarding any animal or meat, "This is for Pesah." If one verbally designates an animal or meat for Pesah, it may appear as though he formally consecrates the animal as a Korban Pesah, and thus when he eats the meat, he will appear as eating sacrificial meat outside Jerusalem. Therefore, when one orders meat at the butcher, for example, he should say he is ordering meat "for Yom Tob," rather than saying "for Pesah." The Mishna Berura (commentary by Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) writes that this applies as well to one who instructs somebody to purchase meat for him for the holiday. He should instruct the person to purchase meat "for Yom Tob," and not "for Pesah." Likewise, one should not instruct somebody to roast meat for him "for Pesah," and should say instead "for Yom Tob."

This Halacha applies even to animals that are not suitable for the Korban Pesah, such as chicken. Even though a chicken cannot be offered as the paschal sacrifice, designating a chicken for Pesah may sound as though one designates its value for the Korban Pesah, and he intends to sell it and use the funds to purchase an animal for the sacrifice. Furthermore, according to some authorities, this applies even to fish. In short, one should avoid referring to any meat, poultry or fish as designated especially "for Pesah," and should instead refer to it as designated "for Yom Tob."

The Sefer Ha’roke’ah (Rabbi Elazar of Worms, Germany, 1176-1238), in Siman 283, writes that one should not say, "What an inconvenience Pesah is!" As we read in the Haggadah, it is the Rasha, the wicked son, who says about the Pesah observance, "Ma Ha’aboda Ha’zot Lachem" – "What is this labor to you?" The wicked people refer to Pesah as "labor," rather than a privilege. It is thus inappropriate to complain about the preparations for Pesah and speak of them as a burden or inconvenience.

Summary: When purchasing or ordering meat or fish for Yom Tob, or when speaking about its preparation, one should not verbally designate it "for Pesah," and should instead say that it is "for Yom Tob." It is inappropriate to complain about the extensive preparations required for Pesah and refer to them as a burden or inconvenience.

 


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