בס״ד Laws and Customs: Pesach For the year 5780 Times listed are for Passaic, NJ Based in part upon the guide prepared by Rabbi Shmuel Lesches (Yeshivah Shul – Young Yeshivah, Melbourne) THIRTY DAYS BEFORE PESACH not to impact one’s Sefiras Haomer. CLEANING AWAY THE [Alert: Polar flight routes can be From Purim onward, one should learn CHAMETZ equally, if not more, problematic. and become fluent in the Halachos of Guidance should be sought from a It is improper to complain about the Pesach. Since an inspiring Pesach is Rav familiar with these matters.] work and effort required in preparing the product of diligent preparation, for Pesach. one should learn Maamarim which MONTH OF NISSAN focus on its inner dimension. Matzah One should remember to clean or Tachnun is not recited the entire is not eaten. However, until the end- discard any Chometz found in the month. Similarly, Av Harachamim and time for eating Chometz on Erev “less obvious” locations such as Tzidkasecha are omitted each Pesach, one may eat Matzah-like vacuum cleaners, brooms, mops, floor Shabbos. crackers which are really Chometz or ducts, kitchen walls, car interiors egg-Matzah. One may also eat Matzah The Nossi is recited each of the first (including rented cars), car-seats, balls or foods containing Matzah twelve days of Nissan, followed by the baby carriages, highchairs (the tray meal. One may also be lenient for Yehi Ratzon printed in the Siddur. It is should also be lined), briefcases, children below the age of Chinuch. recited even by a Kohen and Levi. On pocketbooks, phones, mobile devices, the thirteenth day, one recites the computer keyboards and other During these days, Chometz should selection from “Zos Chanukas devices commonly handled when not be scattered in a manner that Hamizbeach” until “Ken Assah es eating. would make it hard to clean and Hamenorah”, but without reciting the remove before Pesach, or that would Items regularly used around Chometz Yehi Ratzon. allow it go unnoticed before Pesach. (e.g. cookbooks, Bentchers, Siddurim One should give Maos Chittim and One may not fast during Nissan, and Kvorts) must be stored with the provide all the Pesach needs except a Chosson and Kallah on their Chometz that is sold for Pesach. (including food and clothing) of the wedding day, who fast even on Rosh Seforim and toys should be cleaned poor. [Donate at beischabad.org]. Chodesh Nissan. well or included in Mechiras Chometz. Some play items may contain One should participate in Mivtza During the month of Nissan, one Chometz and must be included in Matzah, ensuring that every Jew has recites the applicable Brocho when Mechiras Chometz. round handmade Shmurah-Matzah seeing blossoming fruit-trees for the for Pesach (or at least for the Seder) first time. This Brocho is not recited in Tablecloths or napkins should not be and attends a Seder. Suitable the Southern Hemisphere. used if they were starched with a arrangements should be made for substance that may contain Chometz. Haircuts may be taken only until Erev One should also ensure that starched Jewish servicemen, as well those in Pesach (see further). hospitals, aged-care facilities or jail. clothing does not come into contact SHABBOS HAGADOL (10 with food. Before Pesach, all children should be given the opportunity to attend a NISSAN) Shabbos candlesticks should be cleaned thoroughly. If the usual tray model-Seder. [It should be conducted Although the Haftorah of V’arva is not will be used on Pesach, it should be in a manner that will not conflict with recited unless Shabbos coincides with cleaned well and covered in foil. No the respective family Minhagim of the Erev Pesach, one should nevertheless food should be placed on the children in attendance.] recite it along with the regular candlestick tray on Pesach. Every Jew should be encouraged to Haftorah when reading Shnayim sell his Chometz, even if there is Mikrah v’Echad Targum. Garbage bins should be thoroughly cleaned. Council bins should also be concern that he will consume it on One attends a Shabbos Hagadol cleaned; alternatively, before the end Pesach. [Obviously, such a person Drosho about the practical Halachos time of Biur Chometz, they should be should be educated not to use it.] of Pesach. Those with travel plans should ensure placed in the public domain for the After Mincha, the Haggadah is read that they will be able to observe entire Pesach, with the bin and its from “Avadim Hayinu” until “L’chaper Pesach properly without relaxing any contents deemed ownerless. Al Kol Avoinoseinu”. standards. New toothbrushes should be On Motzei Shabbos, Vihi Noam and One should avoid the International prepared for Pesach. V’atah Kaddosh is not recited. Dateline on the return journey so as 248 Passaic Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055 • Phone: 917-803-7745 • [email protected] • www.beischabad.org בס״ד P a g e | 2 Beis Chabad of Passaic-Clifton A Rav should be consulted regarding For standard electric cooktops (where the manner described above for the use of vitamins and medicines the burner coils are exposed), the tabletops and counters). (taken orally) which may contain coils are Kashered through Libbun The hot tap-water should be turned Chometz. Gommur (turning them onto the on and running through the interior of Pet food must be Chometz-free but highest setting until they glow red- the faucet at the time that it’s hot), while the burners, drip-trays and may contain Kitniyos. exterior is being Kashered. cooktop surface are Kashered by Cages, enclosures and feeding bowls cleaning them thoroughly, after which Bleach should be poured down the must be thoroughly cleaned. Libbun Kal is performed. sink drain and onto any crevices between the sink and the sink drain. One does not need to clean behind or If the cooktop surface cannot be under heavy furniture rarely moved, Any tap filters, aerators, strainers and Kashered through Libbun Kal (e.g. if sponges should be replaced. as long as there are no plans to move made of glass or enamel), it may it on Pesach itself. [Even if one knows instead be covered with a durable and The kettle used to boil the water for for certain that there is Chometz heat-proof covering or lining. Cooktop Kashering is customarily reserved for there, one may include it in the knobs and backsplashes should be this purpose alone, and is used Mechiras Chometz.] cleaned and lined with foil. neither with the Chometz nor with the Pesach cooking. If a tabletop or KASHERING Induction cooktops and electric countertop will be damaged by smooth-tops (where the burner coils It is customary to avoid Kashering Kashering, or is made of a material lie beneath a flat ceramic glass utensils where possible, and to that cannot be Kashered, one should surface) are not Kashered and used instead use utensils designated cover it well instead, ensuring that no for Pesach. exclusively for Pesach. [If Kashering is liquid is trapped beneath. Wooden or laminate tabletops and performed, it should be done under After Kashering, all countertops, the guidance of one who is well countertops are Kashered by cleaning backsplashes, tables and cooktop them thoroughly (including crevices) versed in the relevant Halachos.] surfaces should be lined or covered. and waiting 24 hours. Then, after Dishwashers, regular ovens, ensuring that the surface is Sinks should also be lined or fitted continuous cleaning ovens, toaster thoroughly dry, one pours boiling with sink inserts. A separate Blech and ovens, microwave ovens, grills and water from a kettle that has just been urn is used for Pesach. BBQs are not Kashered and used for removed from the source of heat, Pesach. Self-cleaning ovens which Pantries, cupboards, shelves, fridges ensuring that the flow of water from reach approximately 480°C/900°F and freezers (defrosted first) should the kettle to the entire surface is may be Kashered by running it be thoroughly cleaned with a cleaning direct and uninterrupted. through a full clean cycle; the oven agent, and lined. door and seals should be cleaned well Stone countertops are Kashered The fridge/freezer rubber door seals beforehand. For gas cooktops, the similarly, but the boiling water is should be cleaned as well, and the grates are Kashered through Libbun poured over an Even Meluban (red- interior circulation vents should not Gommur (heating the grates until hot stone) which is moved around (or be blocked, so as not to cause they glow red-hot in the dark). right above) the entire surface as the damage. water is poured over it. The Even The burners, drip-trays and cooktop Meluban remains effective as long as Fans, hoods and other areas above surface beneath the grates are it causes the boiling water to bubble. stoves and ovens should be cleaned Kashered by cleaning them and ideally covered due to the steam thoroughly, after which Libbun Kal Metal countertops and sinks are that circulates when cooking. (heating the metal until the other side Kashered with boiling water and an is hot enough to scorch paper) is Even Meluban, in the manner MECHIRAS CHOMETZ performed. One way to achieve all of described above. The water should be Mechiras Chometz is effective only if this is by turning all the burners on poured over the lowest surfaces first, one truly commits to sell his Chometz the highest, and covering the entire before moving upward. Alternatively, in an unconditional and absolute sale. cooktop with a Blech until the grates they may be Kashered through Libbun It is therefore customary to perform a glow red-hot, by which time the other Kal (blowtorching until the other side Kinyan (act of acquisition) when components of the cooktop will have of the metal is hot enough to scorch authorising the Rav to sell the reached the heat of Libbun Kal.