|
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.
|
