DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Honor Of
 Rabbi Mansour
"For all that he does for our community. May Hashem continue to give him the strength. "

Dedicated By
Jimmy Mishan

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 736 KB)
Ereb Pesah – Customs Regarding the Burning of Hametz; Refraining From Work on Ereb Pesah

There is a custom to use one’s Lulab and Arabot from the previous Sukkot to start or to fuel the fire with which one burns his Hametz on Ereb Pesah. Some also have the custom of using the wicks that had been used for the Hanukah candles. The idea underlying these customs is to "recycle" Misva articles for other Misvot, rather than simply discarding them.

Halacha forbids performing certain kinds of work after Hasot (midday as defined by Halacha) on Ereb Pesah. There are two reasons for this prohibition. First, during the time of the Bet Hamikdash, Ereb Pesah was the day of a sacrificial offering. Every Jew was part of a group that offered a Korban Pesah during the afternoon of Ereb Pesah. The Talmud says that on the day when a person brings a sacrifice, he observes that day as a festive occasion and must refrain from work. Therefore, Ereb Pesah was observed as a holiday of sorts for all Jews, since on that day every Jew would bring a sacrifice. Even though we cannot bring the Korban Pesach nowadays in the absence of the Bet Hamikdash, nevertheless, the original enactment designating Ereb Pesah as a quasi holiday remains in force. Secondly, the Sages forbade work in the afternoon of Ereb Pesah in order to ensure that one would properly focus on his preparations for Pesah, such as baking Masot, preparing one’s utensils, and so on. If work was allowed on Ereb Pesah, people would be preoccupied with work and would not give enough attention to the holiday preparations.

This prohibition applies to activities such as sewing, mending clothes, laundry and haircutting. One who wants to take a haircut on the afternoon of Ereb Pesah must go to a non-Jewish barber; he may not go to a Jewish barber, since it is forbidden for a Jew to cut somebody’s hair during the afternoon of Ereb Pesah. It is permissible to cut one’s own hair and to shave in the afternoon of Ereb Pesah. One may also polish his shoes and cut his nails.

This prohibition does not apply to business work, such as making telephone calls and arranging purchases and sales. This is permissible on the afternoon of Ereb Pesah, as this is not the kind of "work" that the Sages had in mind when they enacted this prohibition.

There are some places that observe a custom to extend this prohibition to the entire day of Ereb Pesah. Communities that have such a custom must follow this practice and refrain from the activities mentioned above even in the morning of Ereb Pesah. Our custom, however, is to refrain from work only in the afternoon.

Summary: There is a custom when kindling or fueling the fire for burning the Hametz to use items that had been used for other Misvot, such as the Arba Minim and the wicks from the Hanukah candles. One should refrain from activities such as sewing, laundry and haircutting during the afternoon of Ereb Pesah. One who wishes to take a haircut on the afternoon of Ereb Pesah must go to a non-Jewish barber. It is permissible to shave, polish shoes, cut nails and conduct business in the afternoon of Ereb Pesah.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Rules Pertaining to a Husband and Wife Eating Together During the Period of Nidda
Some Laws Relevant Under the Chupa At The Wedding Ceremony
Sitting On The Bed or Couch During The Time of Nidah
Marrying The Daughter of A Kohen
Sephardim Only Should Make 2 Blessings, Not 7, When Making Sheva Berachot Outside The Groom’s House During The Week Following A Wedding
A Heker Is Required When A Husband Is Eating Alone With His Wife While She Is Needah
Is It Permissible For A Yisrael To Marry The Daughter of A Kohen
A Special Prayer for Ereb Rosh Hodesh Sivan
Yehi Shem on the 1st 13 Days of Sivan
Do Metal Peelers Require Tebila?
Is It Required To Dip An Oven Grate or Appliances Such As An Urn or In The Mikveh Kelim
If a Utensil That Had Not Undergone Immersion Became Mixed with Immersed Utensils
Do Plastic or Teflon Utensils Require Immersion in a Mikveh?
Is It Permissible To Allow Minors or Non-Jews To Dip Kelim In The Mikveh
Immersing a New Utensil in a Mikveh on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found