Eating Three Shabbat Meals on Erev Pesach Part II

Last week's issue discussed the various options one has to fulfill the mitzvah of
eating three meals on Shabbat when Shabbat coincides with Erev Pesach. These options
focused on what one may eat in the afternoon on Erev Pesach in order to eat the third
meal.
The Proper Time to Eat the Third Meal

Another factor to consider is the proper time to eat the third meal. Ran, Shabbat
43b, s.v. Tannu Rabanan Kama, quotes Ba'al Halachot Gedolot as ruling that the third
meal may be eaten anytime over the course of Shabbat. Tosafot, Shabbat 118a s.v.
B'Mincha, disagree, and rule that the third meal must be eaten after mincha gedolah (six
and one half hours into the day).
According to Ba'al Halachot Gedolot, there is another option to fulfill the third
meal. One can simply eat two Shabbat meals of chametz before the time when it is
prohibited to eat chametz. Mishna Berurah 444:8, recommends eating two meals in the
morning in addition to eating fruits, meat or fish in the afternoon, in order to satisfy all
opinions.
There may be a third opinion regarding the proper time to eat the third meal that
emerges from this discussion. The Gemara, Pesachim 13a, quotes a beraita stating that
when Erev Pesach coincides with Shabbat, one should dispose of all chametz before
Shabbat, and leave over enough food for two meals. Rashi, ad loc., s.v. Mazon, writes
that one does not leave over food for three meals because the third meal is eaten at
"mincha" and on Erev Pesach, it is prohibited to eat at that time. One can explain that
Rashi is of the opinion that the time to eat the third meal is after mincha ketana, nine and
one half hours into the day. At this time, one is no longer permitted to eat a meal on Erev
Pesach. [See R. Shmuel A. Yudelevitz, Me'il Shmuel ad loc., who explains Rashi's
opinion in this manner.] Alternatively, one can explain that Rashi is of the opinion that
the earliest time to eat the third meal is mincha gedolah, six and one half hours into the
day. Nevertheless, Rashi is of the opinion that latest time one may start a meal on Erev
Pesach is one half hour prior to mincha gedolah. [See R. Tzvi Y. Y. Spitzer, Be'erot
Yitzchak, ad loc., who explains Rashi's opinion in this manner. Shulchan Aruch, Orach
Chaim 471:1 codifies the opinion of Rosh, Pesachim 10:2, that one may start a meal until
the end of the ninth hour of the day.] According to both explanations, Rashi is of the
opinion that there is no possibility to fulfill the third Shabbat meal when Shabbat
coincides with Erev Pesach. [See also, R Shlomo Kluger, Chochmat Shlomo, Orach
Chaim 444:1, for a novel approach to explain Rashi's opinion.]
Although the proper time to fulfill the third meal extends until the end of the day,
as noted above, there is a prohibition to start a meal after the end of the ninth hour of the
day. Tosafot, op. cit., state that this does not apply to fruit, meat, or fish. Nevertheless,
Rambam, Hilchot Chametz UMatzah 6:12, writes that one should not eat an entire meal at
that time. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 471:1, quotes Rambam's opinion as normative.
Therefore, even those who are following Rama's recommendation to fulfill the mitzvah of
the third meal with fruit meat or fish, should do so before the end of the ninth hour.
Furthermore, if one is eating a meal that contains grains (matzah ashirah, kneidlach, etc.),
all opinions agree that it is prohibited to start such a meal after the end of the ninth hour.

The Vilna Gaon's Opinion

Rashi is not alone in assuming that there is no possibility to fulfill the third meal
when Shabbat coincides with Erev Pesach. The Vilna Gaon, Biur HaGra, Orach Chaim
444:1, quotes the Zohar, Parshat Emor, that Erev Pesach overrides the third Shabbat
meal. The Vilna Gaon explains that one can reject every single option presented above.
First, the option of eating matzah ashirah is predicated on the opinion of Tosafot that
whatever cannot be used to fulfill the mitzvah of matzah may be eaten on Erev Pesach.
The Vilna Gaon posits that Rambam disagrees. Accordingly, the prohibition of eating
matzah on Erev Pesach not only applies to matzah that one can use to fulfill the mitzvah,
but applies to all matzah related foods. The Vilna Gaon writes that therefore, one cannot
fulfill the third meal by eating cooked matzah as it is prohibited to eat matzah ashirah
and cooked matzah on Erev Pesach. Second, the Vilna Gaon suggests that the Zohar is of
the opinion that one can only fulfill the third meal with a bread item. Therefore eating
fruit, meat, or fish will not provide any fulfillment of the mitzvah of the third meal.
Third, apparently the Vilna Gaon is of the opinion that one cannot fulfill the third meal in
the morning.
The Chametz-Free Household

Much of the discussion that is applicable to eating the third Shabbat meal on Erev
Pesach applies to those who wish to have a chametz-free household when Shabbat
coincides with Erev Pesach. However, with regard to the chametz-free household an
additional question arises. Can one eat regular matzah for the first two Shabbat meals?

There are three opinions regarding the time in which it is prohibited to eat matzah
on Erev Pesach. Ramban, Milchamot Hashem, Pesachim 15b, states that the prohibition
to eat matzah corresponds with the time of bedikat chametz. Accordingly, it is prohibited
to eat matzah the entire Erev Pesach, including the night before Pesach. Ran, Pesachim
ad loc., as interpreted by Chok Ya'akov 471:7, is of the opinion that the prohibition begins
at day-break. Ba'al HaMa'or ad loc., is of the opinion that the prohibition to eat matzah
on Erev Pesach starts at mid-day on Erev Pesach.
Rama, Orach Chaim 471:2, rules that it is prohibited to eat matzah the entire day.
Chok Ya'akov, ibid, interprets this to mean from day-break, and not the night before.
However, Magen Avraham 471:6, implies that the prohibition starts the night before
Pesach. R. Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 1:155, rules that it is proper to
follow the opinion of Magen Avraham, and therefore one who wants to keep a chametz-
free household should use matzah ashirah for the first two meals. He adds that the
matzah ashirah should be eaten before the prohibition of chametz sets in, as per the
Ashkenazic tradition to refrain from eating matzah ashirah. R. Ovadia Yosef, Yechaveh
Da'at 6:27, rules that one may be lenient to eat matzah the night before Pesach. It should
be noted that according to the Vilna Gaon, op. cit., all matzah related products are
prohibited on Erev Pesach, and ostensibly, a chametz-free household is not an option.
Nevertheless, perhaps even the Vilna Gaon will agree that one can rely on the opinion of
the Ba'al HaMa'or (that the prohibition to eat matzah does not begin until mid-day) in
conjunction with the opinion of Tosafot that the prohibition to eat matzah does not apply
to matzah ashirah. By combining these two opinions, one would be permitted to eat
matzah ashirah before mid-day without violating either opinion.

Summary

There are numerous suggestions offered to fulfill the mitzvah of eating three
Shabbat meals on Erev Pesach. Shulchan Aruch recommends eating matzah ashirah.
Rama recommends eating fruits, meat, or fish, and Mishna Berurah adds that it is
preferable to also eat two meals in the morning. Other suggestions include eating cooked
matzah, or matzah that was not made for the purpose of the mitzvah of matzah. The
Vilna Gaon maintains that there is no obligation to eat three meals on Shabbat when
Shabbat coincides with Erev Pesach. Those who eat a meal in the afternoon should start
the meal before the end of the ninth hour.
Regarding those who want to keep a chametz-free household, R. Moshe Feinstein
permits eating matzah ashirah for the first two meals. According to the Vilna Gaon, it is
questionable whether one may eat matzah ashirah on Erev Pesach.
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