Laws of Pesach through Shavuot (5780) Compiled by Rav Eytan Weisz Administrator of the Efrat Religious Council “The way of the world is that when there is a revolution or drastic external change, everyone gets caught up in it – in what’s going on outside – pushing away private matters and neglecting family life. No one considers that it is precisely at such moments when it is especially important to invest more time and effort in the home.″ But in the Exodus from Egypt, in the midst of that world-changing event, things worked differently: In the midst of the drama we received instructions on how to conduct the first Seder. Where? Inside, in the home. “Each family is called upon to eat by itself, at home. Public figures too are obligated to set aside community obligations at this time for the sake of a family meal, the first of its kind to be eaten with regal bearing as free people. This is done so that the entire nation can stabilize itself. Enhancing stability at home and in the family comes first.″ Rav Moshe-Zvi Neria Schedule for Pesach 5780 Latest Time: To eat Chametz: To burn Chametz (and prohibition on deriving benefit from Chametz) According to: The Gr”a 10:33 11:37 Magen Avraham 10:04 11:22 Rav Ovadia 10:08 11:24 Rav Eliyahu 09:38 10:51 Chatzot – Halachic Midnight on Seder Night – 24:41 The Month of Nissan 1. During the entire month of Nissan ‘Tachanun’ is omitted, as is ‘Tzidkatcha’ in Mincha on Shabbat. Ashkenazim also omit ‘Av Harachamim’ although it is said on the shabbatot after Pesach.1 Furthermore, no fasts are observed throughout the month of Nissan, other than the fast of the firstborns (Tzom Bechorot) on erev Pesach.2 According to Ashkenazi custom, even a bridegroom fasts on the day of his wedding.3 2. A person who sees fruit trees blossoming outside during the month of Nissan recites ברוך אתה ה׳ אלוקינו מלך העולם שלא חיסר :(the blessing for the trees (Birkat Ha’ilanot Blessed are You, L-rd) בעולמו כלום וברא בו בריות טובות ואילנות טובות ליהנות בהם בני אדם our G-d, King of the universe, Who has made nothing lacking in His world, and created in it goodly creatures and goodly trees to give mankind pleasure.) This blessing is recited once a year and those who wish to perform the mitzvah at the earliest time possible will recite it on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, preferably in a minyan.4 The blessing is recited only over fruit trees,5 upon viewing two trees – optimally of different species.6 Cleaning the house and office 3. All places that might harbor chametz must be cleaned: the home – with an emphasis on the kitchen and its implements, dining rooms, offices, storage rooms, cars, handbags and briefcases, clothing pockets etc. Gabbaim must ensure that the synagogue is cleaned. 4. Books do not need to be shaken out7 (some rule stringently and require cleaning). Bedikat Chametz 5. On the eve of the 14th of Nissan we perform the Bedikat Chametz (search for chametz)8 – men and woman alike.9 The optimal time for Bedikat Chametz is immediately after nightfall,10 though Ma’ariv should be recited beforehand. Those who customarily attend a later Ma’ariv or pray in solitude should perform Bedikat Chametz at its optimal time and pray later on that night.11 1 Rema 284:7; Mishnah Berurah 284:18. 2 Shulchan Aruch 429:2 ; Luach Dinim U’Minhagim. 3 Mishna Berurah 429:10. 4 Shulchan Aruch 226:1; Yalkut Yosef, Mo’adim p. 345. 5 Mishnah Berurah 226:2; Yalkut Yosef, Mo’adim p. 345. 6 Yalkut Yosef, Moadim, p. 345:6. 7 Halichot Shlome 5:6, Pninei Halacha 4:7. 8 Shulchan Aruch 431:1. 9 Pninei Halacha, Pesach 4:1. 10 Shulchan Aruch 431:1; Mishnah Berurah 431:1; Yalkut Yosef 347:2. 11 Mishnah Berurah 431:8, Chazon Ovadia 45 – one should recite Ma’ariv early or another person should remind him to pray after searching for the chametz. 6. One should not sit down to a meal, begin a task or even study Torah from half an hour before nightfall lest he forget to perform Bedikat Chametz.12 A regular shiur can be scheduled prior to Bedikat Chametz and it is a good idea to remind those attending that it should be performed. 7. It is necessary to inspect all places that are liable to harbor chametz, e.g.: rooms, storage rooms, offices, kitchens, dining rooms, balconies and gardens, cars.13 The stairwell of an apartment building is common area and therefore the obligation to inspect it is incumbent on all the residents.14 In practice, they should appoint one person to inspect it. Gabbaim should inspect the synagogue on the strength of the blessing that they recited at home.15 8. Before conducting Bedikat Chametz , one recites the blessing ‘al bi’ur chametz'. There should be no talking between uttering the blessing and beginning the search: throughout the search, it is preferable to restrict talking to matters pertaining to the search itself.16 9. Once the search concludes, the chametz is nullified by reciting ‘Kol Chamira’, the passage that appears in most Haggadot and siddurim.17 If the person does not כל חמץ ושאור שישנו ברשותי :understand the Aramaic they should recite it in Hebrew If necessary, he should 18".שלא ראיתיו ושלא ביערתיו, יתבטל ויהיה הפקר כעפר הארץ". repeat it in a language that he understands. The main principle is that the person understands what he is saying and that he is nullifying the chametz. 10. The search should be conducted by candlelight using a candle with a single wick: therefore, a Havdalah candle cannot be used for this purpose.19 If a candle is not available or if it is impossible to use a candle in a certain place (like a car etc.) one can use a flashlight.20 11. It is permissible to inspect several places on the strength of a single blessing:21 walking between places does not constitute a ‘hefsek’ (abruption).22 12. One is not required to inspect books. 23 Bedikat Chametz for someone who will be away from home24 12 Shulchan Aruch 431:2, Mishnah Berurah 431:8, Yalkut Yosef 347:3. 13 Shulchan Aruch 433:3, Yalkut Yosef 347:4-5, Pninei Halacha 4:4. 14 Pninei Halacha 4:4. 15 Yalkut Yosef, Mo’adim, p. 349; Chazon Ovadia – Haggadah Shel Pesach, p. 30. 16 Shulchan Aruch 432:1-2, Mishnah Berurah 432:6; Yalkut Yosef 348:12, Pninei Halacha 4:3. 17 Shulchan Aruch 434:2. 18 Rema 434:2, Mishnah Berurah 434:9; Yalkut Yosef, p. 349:19; Pninei Halacha Pesach 5:1. 19 Shulchan Aruch 433:1-2; Rema 432:2; Yalkut Yosef, p. 348:9 – if he checked with a torch he should repeat the search without reciting the blessing. 20 Haggadah Shel Pesach of Rav S.Z. Auerbach, p. 29; as well as in Halichot Shlomo 5:11; Yalkut Yosef 358:10; Pninei Halacha Pesach 4:5. 21 Shulchan Aruch 432:2. 22 Mishnah Berurah 422:7; Yalkut Yosef 348:14. 23 Halichot Shlomot 5:6; Pninei Halacha 4:7. 24 Shulchan Aruch 436; Pninei Halacha 4:10 If he left home within thirty days of the holiday, i.e. between Purim and Pesach, expecting to return after Pesach concluded, he should clean and inspect his home the night before his departure, using a candle but without reciting the blessing. If he left his home before Purim he does not need to search for chametz: upon his return he should destroy any chametz that he finds. If he intends to return before Pesach or during chol hamo’ed he must inspect his home before his departure (even if he departed long before the holiday) unless he had appointed someone to inspect it for him on the eve of the 14th). In all the above cases, he should annul his chametz on the day of the 14th with the accepted formula from wherever he is at that time. Bedikat Chametz for hotel guests, soldiers etc.25 13. A person who books a hotel room is considered as one who rents a home since he undertook payment for the room which was then placed at his disposal and to which he was given a key. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the person to inspect the room on the eve of the 14th of Nissan while reciting the blessing and, following the search, to annul the chametz that might have been left, undiscovered, in his possession. 14. If he arrived at the hotel in the course of the holiday, he should inquire if the room was inspected for chametz: if it was only given a regular cleaning without being inspected for chametz – or if it was inspected but thereafter inhabited by a non- Jewish guest, he should perform Bedikat Chametz with a blessing. 15. A hospital patient, a soldier in his room on the base or a yeshiva student in his dorm room etc. should perform Bedikat Chametz by inspecting his room and closet, on the eve of the 14th. However, he should not recite the blessing26 since the room he occupies is not at his personal disposal (see note regarding those who do require a blessing), and he could be transferred to a different room at a moment’s notice or additional soldiers/patients could be assigned to the room. Mechirat Chametz – the sale of chametz27 16. Anyone who possesses chametz that he wishes to retain after Pesach should sell it or gift it unconditionally to a non-Jew.