Passover 2010

THE SEARCH FOR CHAMETZ (leavened bread)BEDIKAT CHAMETZ

On the evening before the Pesach Seder, Sunday evening, March 28 2010, a thorough search of the house (and business) is made to ensure that no chametz remains. There is a tradition of distributing ten pieces of bread throughout the house, so that the searchers will have something to find. A word of caution: Make sure someone remembers where they put each piece.

The family gathers together, with a candle for lighting the way, a feather for brushing-up the chametz, and a wooden spoon onto which the chametz is brushed.

The head of the household lights a candle and makes the bracha:

Ba-ruch Ah-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hay-nu Meh-lech Ha-olam Ah-sher Ki-de-sha-nu B-mitz-vo-tav V-tzi-va-nu Al Bee-ur Chametz.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us concerning the removal of chametz.

The head of the household collects this bread that is found into a special bag and sweeps up the crumbs using a feather. A word of caution: Make sure someone remembers where they put each piece. The search for chametz is made by candlelight, paying special attention to crevices and places where chametz can usually be found. No talking is permitted from after the recitation of the Bracha (Blessing), until the search is completed except for questions or instructions related to the search.

After the search, the chametz found is put away to be burned the next morning. The head of the household recites the following declaration: "Any chametz (leavened bread) or leaven which is in my possession and which I have not seen, nor disposed of, nor did I know of it, may it be considered as null and as ownerless like the dust of the earth."

BURNING THE CHAMETZ             BEE-UHR CHAMETZ

 The following morning, (Monday, March 29 2010), Erev Pesach, the 14th day of Nisan, the chametz that was found, is burned together with the bag and the feather. Don't forget to include the leftovers from breakfast.

The head of the household again recites the following declaration after the chametz is burned:  

"Any chametz (leavened bread) or leaven that is in my possession whether I have seen it or not, whether I have disposed it or not, may it be considered as null and as ownerless like the dust of the earth."

"TORAHTOTS"