Bedikas Chametz
Bedikas Chometz is done on Thursday evening, the 13th of Nissan. Generally, it is forbidden to eat after nightfall on Erev Pesach until one has completed his search for the chametz. Similarly, one may not study Torah at this time until he has fulfilled his obligation to search, and the Rema even says that if he started learning earlier, he must interrupt his learning when the time for bedikah arrives. This applies this year as well, however, due to the fact that the search is performed early (on the night preceding the 13th, rather than that preceding the 14th), it is possible that one may be more lenient in this regard if necessary.
The reason that we do not do bedikas chametz on Shabbos is because it is forbidden to move a candle. For this reason, one who did not search for chametz on the night of the 13th must do the bedikah on Erev Shabbos.
Biur Chametz
This year, although we may continue to eat chametz the entire Friday, as well as on Shabbos morning, we burn the chametz on Friday before the beginning of the sixth halachic hour of the day, as we do in other years when the prohibition of chametz begins at this time. While many people usually follow the Magen Avraham's earlier time for destroying their chametz, this year one may rely on the Gra's later time, since the chametz is not actually forbidden after this time.
Regarding the sale of one's chametz to a non-Jew, it is customary to perform the sale in the morning, as it is done in other years. However, it is proper to make a condition that the sale not take effect until shortly before Shabbos.
One should specify that he is selling all of his chametz except for what he will eat on Shabbos. This way, anything he does not eat was retroactively included in the sale before Shabbos.
If one forgot to sell his chametz before Shabbos, it is best to give it to a non-Jew as a gift, rather than effecting a sale on Shabbos. If this may result in a significant loss, however, he may rely on the lenient opinions that allow a sale wherein the non-Jew promises to pay a set amount for the chametz.
Melachah on Erev Shabbos
The prohibition against work on Erev Pesach after midday does not apply to Erev Shabbos even though it is the last weekday before Pesach.
Eruv Chatzeiros
It is customary to perform Eruv Chatzeiros with matzah (a ritual whereby all residents establish their dwelling in a single location to permit carrying from one person's property into another's on Shabbos) on Erev Pesach for the entire year. This year, it should be done on Erev Shabbos.
Matzah on Friday Night and Shabbos
It is forbidden to eat matzah on Erev Pesach. However, the halachah is that it may be eaten on the night of Erev Pesach. Thus, technically it would be permitted to eat matzah on Friday night. Some are of the opinion that it is preferable not to eat matzah on Friday night as well.
Although Matzah may not be eaten Shabbos day, it is not muktzeh. Therefore matzah may be used as the second loaf for lechem mishneh. This may be done even if the matzah is completely wrapped in plastic.
Although many Poskim permit the consumption of Matzah Ashirah (matzah that was made from flour mixed with eggs or fruit juice, which is not kosher for fulfilling the mitzvah of eating matzah) on Erev Pesach until the 5th halachic hour of the day, it is preferable for Ashkenazim to use challah or other chometzdike bread for the first two Shabbos meals.
One must eat a k'beitzah (the size of an egg) of challah at each of the two Shabbos meals.
If, for whatever reason, one is eating matzah ashirah for his Shabbos meals, there is a dispute as to how much of the matzah he must consume to establish a kevius (a "set" amount of bread to establish a halachic meal). Some Poskim are of the opinion that one not need to eat more than a k'beitzah (the size of an egg) of the matzah, since the fact that he is using it as the base for his seudah is sufficient to establish a kevius. Others require consumption of 2 whole matzos to establish the kevius.
If someone is using matzah ashirah for his Shabbos meals, some are of the opinion that they only use matzah made from flour and grape juice, since there is an opinion that Hamotzi is not said on matzah made from other fruit juices.
If one has neither chametz nor matzah ashirah, he must fulfill the mitzvah of seudas Shabbos by eating matzah, since this mitzvah supersedes the prohibition against eating matzah on Erev Pesach.
The Location of the Shabbos Seudos
Some people eat the bread in one place (such as an outdoor porch, or an area that is easy to clean), and the remainder of the meal in another place. It is best if the place where the bread will be eaten is visible from the place where kiddush is made. In any case, one should drink at least a revi'is of the kiddush wine so that the "meal" is in the same location as kiddush.
The Shabbos candles should be lit where the main portion of the meal will be eaten, even though bread will not be eaten in that place. However, one must ensure that the location where the bread is eaten is not dark. Some recommend lighting the candles in a place where it can be seen from both locations.
After eating the bread, one may eat the remainder of his seudah in the other designated location without reciting another berachah, since he has not finished eating, and he is refraining from eating more bread for reasons unrelated to the meal.
It is preferable to keep some bread in his mouth and swallow it in the location of the remainder of the meal to enable recitation of Bircas Hamazon in that location according to all opinions. If one consumed and swallowed all of the bread outside, some are of the opinion that he must return outside in order to bentch.
Davening
It is worthwhile to daven early enough to provide time to fulfill the Shabbos seudah before chometz is forbidden. However, congregations who recite special piyutim on the Shabbos before Pesach should not skip them, especially since these piyutim contain many laws of Pesach, and serve to remind people of these laws.
Seudah Shlishis
It is best to fulfill the third Shabbos meal by eating fruit or fish, rather than washing twice before midday, since many opinions say that the third meal may not be eaten before midday. If one can eat mezonos foods, such as kneidlach, after midday, that is even better, but he is not obligated to do so. Some are of the opinion that it is worthwhile to eat fruit from the Seven Species (grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, or dates) on which a special after-berachah is recited. One does not need to daven Minchah before eating this third seudah.
If one is dividing his main meal in two, some are of the opinion that there is a preference to eating the cholent at the first seuda. If this is difficult however, he may eat the cholent at the second meal.
Dividing one's meal is accomplished by completely distracting himself from eating. Although it is customary to take a walk in between the two meals, it is not necessary to do so, provided that a sufficient break is taken. This may even be accomplished by involving oneself in Torah study in between the two meals. Some are of the opinion that a half hour break is necessary to effect a true hefsek between the seudos.
If one is using Pesach utensils for the rest of the meal, he should make sure to rinse his mouth out thoroughly after eating bread before continuing to eat.
Even if he divided his meal into two, it is still proper to eat fruit or fish after midday in order to fulfill the third meal.
Cleaning up After the Seudah and Bittul Chometz
Large crumbs, even if they are smaller than a k'zayis, must be disposed of, and the area where chametz was eaten should be swept. Any tiny crumbs that remain on the floor after this are inherently nullified, and one need not concern himself with them.
Bittul chometz (nullification) is done after completion of chometz consumption. All members of the family should verbalize the bittul (kol chamira etc.) explicitly.
If one lives in a place that has no eruv, he may ask a non-Jew to remove any chametz trash from his property.
Kitniyos
The Ashkenazic custom is not to eat Kitniyos after the onset of the prohibition of chametz.
Preparing for Pesach on Shabbos
The halachah is that one may not say that he is going to sleep on Shabbos in order to have energy for after Shabbos, because it appears as if he is preparing on Shabbos for afterward. However, this is not truly forbidden preparation, since he enjoys the Shabbos nap on Shabbos itself. Therefore, as long as he does not explicitly say that he is going to sleep in order to be able to stay up for the Seder, even if that is his intention, it is permitted.
Moreover, one may tell his young children to go to sleep on Shabbos in order to stay up for the Seder, since his speech is not directly associated with the act of preparation, which is performed by the children.
One may not be lenient in preparing the Seder before Shabbos is over. Some are of the opinion that one may recite Baruch HaMavdil bein kodesh l'kodesh and begin preparing once three small stars are visible (in the Tri-State area, approximately forty minutes after shkiah), even though we would not do melachah yet at that time
Havdalah
Women who recite kiddush at the Seder should also recite the blessing of Borei Me'orei Ha'Eish. They should also answer "Amen" to the Shehecheyanu blessing that their husbands recite, even though they recited this blessing when lighting the candles
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