zmanim erevpesach

Zmanim for Erev Pesach

On the day preceding Pesach (erev Pesach), chametz may be eaten only during the first one third of the day, or in other words, the first 4 hours from morning.

There are two main Ashkenazi shitot for determing this time. These shitot have in common with the times for sof zman shema and sof zman tefilla, the difference of opinion between the Magen Avraham and the GR"A.
• According to the shita of the GR"A, four proportional hours (reckoned from netz till shkia) are added to hanetz hachama.
• As with other halachic times, Ashkenazim who wish to be scrupulous in their observance determine this time by adding four proportional hours (reckoned from alot hashachar till tzeit hakochavim) to alot hashachar. This results in a time that is ABOUT a half hour earlier than the more lenient shita (depending on location of course).

The Sefardim add an extra stringency by adding the proportional hours of the GR"A (netz to shkia) to alot hashachar. This results in a time about another 15 minutes earlier than the strict Ashkenazi shita.

On the day preceding Pesach (erev Pesach), chametz may be used (eg. given as food to animals) only during the first five hours of the day from morning, or in other words, the first 5/12 of the day. After this, the chametz must be destroyed beyond usefulness. The most common way this is done is by burning. Other ways are halachically acceptable, but the appropriate rabbinic authority should be consulted.

The shitot for this time follow the same principles as for sof zman achilat chametz.