2018 Pesach Guide

JMX TQYDB TWKLH
LAWS OF SEARCHING FOR CHOMETZ
WHAT & WHEN-
1. The Mitzvah: There is a mitzvah to do
Bedikas Chometz on the night of Erev
Pesach.
2. Reason for the Mitzvah: This mitzvah is
performed to insure that no chometz is
found in one’s possession on Pesach.
3. Time: The ideal time for the bedika is at
tzeitz hakochavim (nightfall).
4. Maariv: The minhag (custom), when possible,
is to daven Maariv before performing
the bedika.
5. Working Late: Those who work late do
not have to have their wives check for
them; rather the bedika can be performed
when they return home.
6. Eating Before the Bedika: Once the time
for the bedika has arrived, it is prohibited
to partake of a meal until the bedika is
completed. A small snack, however, is
permitted.
HOW
1. Bracha: The appropriate bracha should
be recited before beginning the bedika. If
one forgot to make the bracha at the beginning,
then it can still be said until the
bedika is complete.
2. Kol Chamira: At the conclusion of the
bedika, “Kol Chamira” should be said by
all the members of the household. It needs
to be said in a language that each reciter
understands.
3. Talking During the Bedika: During the
bedika one should only talk if it is related
to the bedika or it is for a mitzvah (For
example, saying “Asher Yatzar”). All other
speech should be avoided when possible
until after saying “Kol Chamira”.
4. Putting Out Ten Pieces of Bread: The
accepted minhag is to hide ten pieces of
bread before the bedika. One reason for
this minhag is to avoid the bracha being
l’vatala (in vain) in the common scenario
that no chometz is found.
5. Size of the Bread Put Out: Altogether, the
ten pieces of bread should equal at least
a kezayis, but no single piece on its own
should be a kezayis or larger. This is to assist
in the unfortunate circumstance that if
one of the pieces were to become lost, then
the entire house would have to be checked
again until it would be found. However,
since the piece was less than a kezayis, it
can be ignored because it was included in
the bitel (voiding).
6. Candle or Flashlight: According to Rabbi
Moshe Feinstein zt’l, one should make the
bracha and begin the bedika with a candle,
since it is mentioned explicitly in the Gemara
(Talmud). Afterwards, though, one
is permitted to continue with a flashlight
since it is less dangerous and provides better
light.
7. Closing the Lights: There is no particular
halacha on the topic of closing the lights
during the bedika, one can follow his family
minhag.
8. Thoroughness of the Bedika: Most homes
are cleaned thoroughly long before Erev
Pesach, which leads to a discussion how
thorough the actual bedika needs to be.
Some poskim (halachic authorities) are
of the opinion that the house must still
be checked as if it was never cleaned. The
common minhag, however, is to be lenient
and only check for places that may have
been overlooked and to superficially look
in previously cleaned areas.
WHERE
1. Which Locations in the House: All rooms
of the house that may have had chometz in
them throughout the year must be checked
before Pesach.
2. Car: A car must be checked before Pesach.
If it was cleaned thoroughly beforehand,
then it doesn’t have to be checked again at
the time of the bedika.
3. Clothing: Clothes must be checked before
Pesach. If they were cleaned thoroughly
beforehand, then they do not have to be
checked again at the time of the bedika.
4. Office/Store: If one owns an office or a
store that will be used during Chol Hamoed
(the intermediate days of Pesach),
then it must be cleaned for chometz. Ideally,
this bedika should begin after nightfall
with the bracha and then continue at one’s
home. When this is not possible, the bedika
for the store or place of employment
can be done during the day (no bracha is
AGUDATH ISRAEL OF ILLINOIS
made). If the store or place of employment
will not be used at all over Pesach, then it
can be locked up and all chometz inside
must be sold.
5. Seforim: Seforim (Jewish books), that
may contain chometz crumbs and might
be used on Pesach, should be checked
and cleaned before Pesach. Additionally,
bentchers that are used during the rest of
the year should not be used on Pesach.
One must obtain special bentchers for
Pesach.
TRAVELING
1. When Should the Bedika be Done: If
one is leaving home for Pesach, the bedika
should be done the night before he leaves.
This bedika is done without the bracha and
without the ten pieces of bread. Consult
your Rav for specific details.
2. Bedika at Hotel: If one is staying in a hotel
for Pesach, a bedika must be done in the
room the night before Pesach. No bracha
should be recited.
3. Bedika in Host’s Home: If one is a guest in
another person’s home (i.e.- parents or inlaws),
then the bedika is the responsibility
of the host and not of the guest.
MECHIRAS CHOMETZ
1. Every Jew must sell their chometz before
Pesach. If one knows that he will be eating
by relatives after Pesach who do not sell
their chometz, then one is permitted to
sell their chometz without their knowledge
or permission. This is valid because of the
halacha that one is permitted to perform
beneficial acts for others even without
their awareness.
2. Anything that is sold to a goy for Pesach
does not have to be cleaned.
GENERAL HALACHOS
1. Animal Food: Pets cannot be fed chometz
on Pesach. Therefore, pet owners must
check the ingredients of their pet food
being that many of them contain genuine
chometz.
2. Tablecloths: Tablecloths that have stains
must be covered before use on Pesach.
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