Page 36 - HaMizrachi #28 Pesach USA 2021

PESACH READING EREV PESACH

Dr. Shana Strauch Schick

Why is Pesach Eve Different

from All Other Holiday Eves?

mong the many halachot of Erev Pesach beginning at midday. As an another beit din to repeal.” Moreover,
Pesach, there is one that is often extension of the rule that an individual since Rashi’s reason (destroying chametz
Aoverlooked. The Mishnah in who brings a korban may not do work and preparing for the Seder) remains
Pesachim states that there are varying while their sacrifice is being offered, operative, so too does the prohibition.
customs as to whether one may perform work was forbidden for everyone while This is the view of the majority of Ris-
labor on Erev Pesach before midday. The the Pesach sacrifices were being slaugh- honim and codified in the Tur and Shul-
Talmud Bavli (Pesachim 50b) focuses tered and their blood sprinkled in the chan Aruch (Orach Chaim 468). They
on the assumption underlying this Temple. clarify that the prohibition applies to
Mishnah; namely, that there is a unique paid work, whereas fixing an object for
prohibition against performing labor Rashi, however, explains that the singu- the purpose of the holiday is permitted,
on Erev Pesach from midday onward larity of Erev Pesach is due to the mitzvot as is writing in the course of learning
(the sixth halachic hour) which is not one may neglect to perform properly Torah. While it is debated whether one
subject to local custom. However, the if allowed to engage in everyday work. may have a non-Jew perform labor on
Bavli cites a Baraita which appears to These include not only the korban one’s behalf (such as cutting hair) the
contradict this: Pesach, but also destroying chametz Shulchan Aruch concludes that the
“One who performs labor on Shabbat and preparing the foods required for custom is to be lenient.
eves and Festival eves from mincha the Seder.
onward never sees a sign of blessing.” Several differences arise between these Ultimately, this prohibition reflects both
an imperative tied with the past (per
The implication of the Baraita is that two reasons. For instance, in the situa- the Yerushalmi), and one that is still in
on the eves of all holidays one may not tion this year, when Erev Pesach coin- effect (per Rashi). Through abstaining
do work. Why then, asks the Bavli, does cides with Shabbat, according to Rashi’s from work on Erev Pesach we impart
the Mishnah single out Erev Pesach? reasoning, since one cannot prepare for significance to the day itself, in conso-
The first answer offered is that there is the Seder on Shabbat but must do so nance with a time when the Beit HaMik-
a quantitative difference at play. On the on Friday, the prohibition against per- dash stood and the day was dedicated
eves of other holidays and Shabbat, the forming labor is transferred to Friday. to offering the korban Pesach. At the
prohibition begins at the earliest time According to the Yerushalmi’s expla- same time, it is a conduit to enhance our
one may recite mincha (the 6 ½ hour nation, it is not extended to Friday for experience of the Seder, encouraging us
of the day), whereas on Erev Pesach it the ban is linked to the korban Pesach, to devote the day toward preparations so
begins at midday. The Bavli then sug- which is always offered Erev Pesach, we can be fully present and attentive as
gests there is a qualitative difference as even on Shabbat (Chok Ya’akov Orach we re-experience the redemption from
well: the prohibition on the eve of other Chaim 468:1). Egypt.
holidays/Shabbat is less severe, whereas
forbidden labor on Erev Pesach is a A further difference is whether the pro-
definitive prohibition incurring excom- hibition remains in effect today. The 1 Pesachim, dapei haRif 15b.
munication. (Whether this prohibition Ba’al HaMe’or argues that according
is Biblical or Rabbinic is debated among to the Yerushalmi’s logic, the prohibi- Dr. Shana Strauch Schick teaches Talmud
the medieval commentators.) tion is no longer applicable since we no and Halacha at Michlelet Mevaseret
longer offer the korban Pesach. Erev Yerushalayim and Drisha Institute and is
1
The Bavli does not explain why Erev Pesach is now treated like the eves of a fellow at Yeshiva University’s Center for
Pesach is distinct, but the parallel other holidays and subject to minhag. Israel Studies.
Yerushalmi sugya explains that this The Ramban counters that whether
prohibition is directly linked to the the reason still applies is irrelevant, for A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
korban Pesach, which was offered on “once a proclamation is made, it requires mizrachi.org/speakers

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