Bedikat Chametz: The Search Is On!

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.....................................   Against The Grain: The Mitzva of Chametz  Pre-Pesach Laws & Customs It is prohibited by Torah law to own chametz (leaven) during Pesach. As a result, an important part of the pre-Pesach rush is the search for and destruction of chametz before the beginning of the Festival! In most homes, the process of cleaning begins weeks before Pesach, as the house is scoured from top to bottom to remove all traces of chametz. On the night before the Festival, the search is formally ended, with Bedikat Chametz. The Mitzva | The Blessing | The Declaration The Search | Nullification and Burning The aim of Bedikat Chametz is to provide a final cleansing effort before the prohibition of Chametz begins the next day, and to make a declaration that any chametz that has remained undiscovered will be completely annulled. The search is conducted with a wooden spoon and a candle, which are intended to help remove any chametz particles that may be found during the search. The Mitzva Bedikat Chametz is performed on the night before Pesach, Nissan 14 immediately after nightfall. Since Chametz is symbolic of the "evil inclination" which we "seek and destroy", Bedikat Chametz is both a spiritual and physical milestone in the Jewish year. If it is too difficult to search the whole house on one night, the search can be started earlier, if done according to the laws of Bedikat Chametz. However, the blessing is only said on the night of the 14th. The Blessing Before the search, the blessing of ‘Al Biur Chametz’ is recited as found in the Haggadah or Siddur. From the time the blessing is said until after the search, one should not say anything not relevant to the search. When there is more than one building to search, one blessing suffices. One person says the blessing for all the searchers, they listen to the blessing and say "Amen." Then they split up and search the different buildings. The Declaration Any chametz not found during the search is declared null and ownerless (hefker): "All chametz, leaven and leavened bread, that is in my possession which I have not seen, removed or is unknown to me, should be annulled and considered ownerless like the dust of the earth." This declaration is traditionally said in Aramaic as found in the Haggadah or Siddur. However, one who doesn’t understand Aramaic must say it in a language he understands. The Search The search should be conducted by the light of a candle, in order to look in all the nooks and crannies. If the candle might cause damage, such as in a carpeted area, one may use a flashlight. It is preferable that the owner of the property conduct the search him/herself. Nevertheless, s/he may appoint someone else to search on his/her behalf. Any place where chametz might have been put during the year must be searched, including one’s pockets. There is a custom that ten pieces of chametz are "planted" in the rooms to be searched. If you hide ten and find nine, just keep searching! The ten pieces remind us of the ten plagues. Nullification And Burning The following morning, it is forbidden to eat chametz after the fourth hour. One may continue to derive other benefit from the chametz until the end of the fifth hour. Before this time, the chametz must be burned and again nullified. Since the times vary from city to city, an Orthodox rabbi should be consulted for the exact times in your area. The second nullification is: "All chametz, leaven and leavened bread, that is in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have removed it or not, should be annulled and considered ownerless like the dust of the earth." (These instructions were provided courtesy of Yeshivat Ohr Somayach.)   Against The Grain: The Mitzva of Chametz  Pre-Pesach Laws & Customs .....................................