The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it. Page3

The procedure for the actual search (Bedikat Chametz) is as follows:

You need a single candle, a feather, a wooden spoon and a receptacle e.g. paper bag, cardboard container etc.

If others participate physically in the search, each one will need a "searching for leaven set."

Take some pieces of bread or some other Chametz, some people have the custom of taking ten pieces of bread, wrap them well in paper serviettes and place them around the house. All those who join in the search should be present when you make the blessing. The search should take place immediately after nightfall which is approximately 6.20pm. To ensure that the crumbs do not fall out of the paper serviettes, one can cellotape them.

The blessing is:

"BARUCH ATA ADO-NAI MELUCH HA'OLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU B'MITZVOTAV V'TZIVANU AL BIUR CHAMETZ"

"BLESSED ARE YOU OUR L-RD G-D KING OF THE UNIVERSEWHO HAS SANCTIFIED US WITH HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS COMMANDED US CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF LEAVEN"

Those involved in the search should not make any interruption between the blessing and the declaration after the search, unless the interruption has to do with the search.

You then proceed from room to room with your lit candle searching for Chametz and hopefully the only Chametz you will find will be those pieces that were placed around the house. When coming upon those pieces or any other Chametz use the feather to place the Chametz on the wooden spoon and then into the receptacle. One must search every room, under beds and cupboards, garages, storerooms, etc.

Upon completion of the search one says the following declaration:

Those who do not understand Hebrew must say the following in English:

"ALL MANER OF LEAVEN THAT IS IN MY POSSESSION WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN OR HAVE NOT REMOVED OR HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SAME, SHALL BE NULLIFIED AND DISOWNED AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH"

Seal the receptacle containing the Chametz found in the search, place it in a very conspicuous spot so as not to forget to burn it the following morning.

Erev (Day before) Passover

Fast of the First Born (TA'ANIT BECHORIM)

This fast commemorates the salvation of the Israelite firstborns during the Plague of the Firstborn.

The Fast of the First Born takes place Erev (day before) Passover. The Siyum (completion of a tractate of the Talmud) for first born sons or fathers of first born sons who are under Barmitzvah, will take place in all Synagogues at the conclusion of the morning service. The Siyum is immediately followed by a S'EUDAT MITZVAH (a meal of which it is a mitzvah to partake). Consequently those who participate in the Siyum may partake of the meal and do not have to fast.

On the Day of Erev Passover

1) Chametz may not be eaten after 9.45 AM

2) No Matzah may be eaten

Some people have the custom of not eating on erev Passover anything that is used on the actual Seder Plate or at the Seder.

There are three traditional methods of removing chametz

Bi'ur: burning one's chametz

Bittul: nullifying one's chametz

Mechirah: selling one's chametz

Burning one's Chametz

The Chametz found in the search and any other Chametz which has not been sold and is not being used for friday morning must be burnt. This should be done in the late morning of the 14th of Nisan....The declaration KOL CHAMIRA is said:

Those who do not understand must say the following in English:

"ALL MANNER OF LEAVEN THAT IS IN MY POSSESSION WHICH I HAVE SEEN OR HAVE NOT SEEN WHETHER I HAVE REMOVED OR NOT REMOVED SHALL BE NULLIFIED AND DISOWNED AS DUST OF THE EARTH"

Note: If chametz is found during Yom Tov, it must be covered over until Chol HaMoed when it can be burned.

Chametz found during Chol HaMoed should be burned immediately.

After the holiday, there is a special law known as "chametz she'avar alav haPesach," chametz that was owned by any Jew during Pesach. Such chametz can only be burned; no benefit may be derived from it at all, not even by selling it to a non-Jew.

Eiruv Tavshilin and cooking on Yom Tov

If there is not enough time before Yom Tov to prepare food or if the food will be and taste better by cooking it on Yom Tov. Halacha (Jewish Law) permits us to prepare and cook food on Yom Tov providing that one uses an existing flame. However, Halacha forbids us to prepare food on one day of Yom Tov especially for the next day. In this context, the Jewish "day" is from sunset one day until sunset on the day following. One may, however, prepare and cook on one day Yom Tov an extra quality of food to be eaten on the following day of Yom Tov because Halacha says that cooking food in larger quantities enhances it's quality and taste.

In accordance with the Halacha mentioned above, one would not be allowed to prepare or cook food on the first day Yom Tov (i.e. friday) for the next day (Shabbat). As it is, of course, forbidden to prepare and cook food on Shabbat itself. Jewish Law provides a method of allowing us to prepare and cook food on Yom Tov with an Eiruv Tavshilin whereby it is considered as if we had commenced the cooking and preparation for Shabbat prior to Yom Tov and then just continued.

The head of the household sets aside a whole Matzah and cooked food e.g. hard boiled egg, piece of fish or a piece of meat, etc. , and while holding them recites the following blessing and prayer:

"BARUCH ATA ADO-NAI ELO-HAINU MELUCH HA'OLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU B'MITVOTAV V'TZIVANU AL MITZVAT EIRUV"

"THROUGH THIS EIRUV MAY WE BE PERMITTED TO BAKE, COOK, INSULATE, KINDLE FLAME, PREPARE AND DO ANYTHING NECESSARY ON THE FESTIVAL FOR THE SAKE OF SHABBAT"

The two food items that were set aside for the Eiruv should be eaten during one of the Shabbat meals preferably at the S'udah Sh'lishit.

Kashering for Passover

Although it would be most wonderful to have everything totally separate for Passover, it is impractical and in most cases uneconomical, therefore Halacha (Jewish Law) allows for the kashering of most vessels and utensils. There are five different methods of kashering depending on the type of vessel and on the type of method in which it became Chametz.

1) LIBUN GAMUR - Becoming red hot through fire.

2) LIBUN KAL - Using fire without the item becoming red hot.

3) HAGALAH - Immersing in water that is boiling.

4) ERUI - Pouring of boiling water

5) MILUI V'ERUI - Soaking with cold water

Candle Lighting for Passover

Lighting the candles marks the beginning of Passover as well as the end of the huge work of preparation.

Our sages have said: "great is the mitzvah of candle lighting as it brings peace into the world." On one level this means that the light of Shabbat and Yom Tov candles brings peace by illuminating the house so that people do not stumble in the dark. In a deeper sense we learn that the candles light up the house and every member of the family with the light of Torah, which guides them safely through the path of life, so full of dangerous pitfalls.

Candle lighting is the privilege and responsibility of the woman of the house and has always been a special and auspicious time for meditation and silent prayer. Married women light a minumum of two candles. Some have the custom that the mother lights an additional candle for each member of the family and others have the custom that single girls light one candle in addition to to the two lit by their mother. It is customary to give TZEDAKA (charity) before lighting candles on friday night and on the first night of Yom Tov and before lighting candles the evening preceding the 7th day of Yom Tov (if it's not Shabbat).

There are three customs:

1) The mother lights an extra candle for each member of the family in addition to the regular two candles.

2) Single girls light one candle in addition to the two lit by their mother.

3) Some do both.

We are not allowed to create a new flame on Yom Tov and so on the second night of Yom Tov, and again on the eighth night, the candles must be lit using a flame already in existence (e.g. from a candle lit before Yom Tov and large enough to burn until the second night of Yom Tov).

On friday nights care should be taken to light candles before the given time as to do so afterwards would be a desecration rather than a sanctification of Shabbat. On the second and seventh night of Yom Tov candles must be lit after the given time. Until that time it is still the previous and we are not allowed to prepare on Shabbat for Yom Tov or on one day of Yom Tov for the next.

The correct blessing for lighting candles on Shabbat and Yom Tov are found in any Siddur ( prayer book).


	Home Israel and the Jewish people The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it. Page1 The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it. Page2 The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it. Page3 The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it. Page4 The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it. Page5 The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it. Page3 The procedure for the actual search (Bedikat Chametz) is as follows: You need a single candle, a feather, a wooden spoon and a receptacle e.g. paper bag, cardboard container etc. If others participate physically in the search, each one will need a "searching for leaven set." Take some pieces of bread or some other Chametz, some people have the custom of taking ten pieces of bread, wrap them well in paper serviettes and place them around the house. All those who join in the search should be present when you make the blessing. The search should take place immediately after nightfall which is approximately 6.20pm. To ensure that the crumbs do not fall out of the paper serviettes, one can cellotape them. The blessing is: "BARUCH ATA ADO-NAI MELUCH HA'OLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU B'MITZVOTAV V'TZIVANU AL BIUR CHAMETZ" "BLESSED ARE YOU OUR L-RD G-D KING OF THE UNIVERSEWHO HAS SANCTIFIED US WITH HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS COMMANDED US CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF LEAVEN" Those involved in the search should not make any interruption between the blessing and the declaration after the search, unless the interruption has to do with the search. You then proceed from room to room with your lit candle searching for Chametz and hopefully the only Chametz you will find will be those pieces that were placed around the house. When coming upon those pieces or any other Chametz use the feather to place the Chametz on the wooden spoon and then into the receptacle. One must search every room, under beds and cupboards, garages, storerooms, etc. Upon completion of the search one says the following declaration: Those who do not understand Hebrew must say the following in English: "ALL MANER OF LEAVEN THAT IS IN MY POSSESSION WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN OR HAVE NOT REMOVED OR HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SAME, SHALL BE NULLIFIED AND DISOWNED AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH" Seal the receptacle containing the Chametz found in the search, place it in a very conspicuous spot so as not to forget to burn it the following morning. Erev (Day before) Passover Fast of the First Born (TA'ANIT BECHORIM) This fast commemorates the salvation of the Israelite firstborns during the Plague of the Firstborn. The Fast of the First Born takes place Erev (day before) Passover. The Siyum (completion of a tractate of the Talmud) for first born sons or fathers of first born sons who are under Barmitzvah, will take place in all Synagogues at the conclusion of the morning service. The Siyum is immediately followed by a S'EUDAT MITZVAH (a meal of which it is a mitzvah to partake). Consequently those who participate in the Siyum may partake of the meal and do not have to fast. On the Day of Erev Passover 1) Chametz may not be eaten after 9.45 AM 2) No Matzah may be eaten Some people have the custom of not eating on erev Passover anything that is used on the actual Seder Plate or at the Seder. There are three traditional methods of removing chametz Bi'ur: burning one's chametz Bittul: nullifying one's chametz Mechirah: selling one's chametz Burning one's Chametz The Chametz found in the search and any other Chametz which has not been sold and is not being used for friday morning must be burnt. This should be done in the late morning of the 14th of Nisan....The declaration KOL CHAMIRA is said: Those who do not understand must say the following in English: "ALL MANNER OF LEAVEN THAT IS IN MY POSSESSION WHICH I HAVE SEEN OR HAVE NOT SEEN WHETHER I HAVE REMOVED OR NOT REMOVED SHALL BE NULLIFIED AND DISOWNED AS DUST OF THE EARTH" Note: If chametz is found during Yom Tov, it must be covered over until Chol HaMoed when it can be burned. Chametz found during Chol HaMoed should be burned immediately. After the holiday, there is a special law known as "chametz she'avar alav haPesach," chametz that was owned by any Jew during Pesach. Such chametz can only be burned; no benefit may be derived from it at all, not even by selling it to a non-Jew. Eiruv Tavshilin and cooking on Yom Tov If there is not enough time before Yom Tov to prepare food or if the food will be and taste better by cooking it on Yom Tov. Halacha (Jewish Law) permits us to prepare and cook food on Yom Tov providing that one uses an existing flame. However, Halacha forbids us to prepare food on one day of Yom Tov especially for the next day. In this context, the Jewish "day" is from sunset one day until sunset on the day following. One may, however, prepare and cook on one day Yom Tov an extra quality of food to be eaten on the following day of Yom Tov because Halacha says that cooking food in larger quantities enhances it's quality and taste. In accordance with the Halacha mentioned above, one would not be allowed to prepare or cook food on the first day Yom Tov (i.e. friday) for the next day (Shabbat). As it is, of course, forbidden to prepare and cook food on Shabbat itself. Jewish Law provides a method of allowing us to prepare and cook food on Yom Tov with an Eiruv Tavshilin whereby it is considered as if we had commenced the cooking and preparation for Shabbat prior to Yom Tov and then just continued. The head of the household sets aside a whole Matzah and cooked food e.g. hard boiled egg, piece of fish or a piece of meat, etc. , and while holding them recites the following blessing and prayer: "BARUCH ATA ADO-NAI ELO-HAINU MELUCH HA'OLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU B'MITVOTAV V'TZIVANU AL MITZVAT EIRUV" "THROUGH THIS EIRUV MAY WE BE PERMITTED TO BAKE, COOK, INSULATE, KINDLE FLAME, PREPARE AND DO ANYTHING NECESSARY ON THE FESTIVAL FOR THE SAKE OF SHABBAT" The two food items that were set aside for the Eiruv should be eaten during one of the Shabbat meals preferably at the S'udah Sh'lishit. Kashering for Passover Although it would be most wonderful to have everything totally separate for Passover, it is impractical and in most cases uneconomical, therefore Halacha (Jewish Law) allows for the kashering of most vessels and utensils. There are five different methods of kashering depending on the type of vessel and on the type of method in which it became Chametz. 1) LIBUN GAMUR - Becoming red hot through fire. 2) LIBUN KAL - Using fire without the item becoming red hot. 3) HAGALAH - Immersing in water that is boiling. 4) ERUI - Pouring of boiling water 5) MILUI V'ERUI - Soaking with cold water Candle Lighting for Passover Lighting the candles marks the beginning of Passover as well as the end of the huge work of preparation. Our sages have said: "great is the mitzvah of candle lighting as it brings peace into the world." On one level this means that the light of Shabbat and Yom Tov candles brings peace by illuminating the house so that people do not stumble in the dark. In a deeper sense we learn that the candles light up the house and every member of the family with the light of Torah, which guides them safely through the path of life, so full of dangerous pitfalls. Candle lighting is the privilege and responsibility of the woman of the house and has always been a special and auspicious time for meditation and silent prayer. Married women light a minumum of two candles. Some have the custom that the mother lights an additional candle for each member of the family and others have the custom that single girls light one candle in addition to to the two lit by their mother. It is customary to give TZEDAKA (charity) before lighting candles on friday night and on the first night of Yom Tov and before lighting candles the evening preceding the 7th day of Yom Tov (if it's not Shabbat). There are three customs: 1) The mother lights an extra candle for each member of the family in addition to the regular two candles. 2) Single girls light one candle in addition to the two lit by their mother. 3) Some do both. We are not allowed to create a new flame on Yom Tov and so on the second night of Yom Tov, and again on the eighth night, the candles must be lit using a flame already in existence (e.g. from a candle lit before Yom Tov and large enough to burn until the second night of Yom Tov). On friday nights care should be taken to light candles before the given time as to do so afterwards would be a desecration rather than a sanctification of Shabbat. On the second and seventh night of Yom Tov candles must be lit after the given time. Until that time it is still the previous and we are not allowed to prepare on Shabbat for Yom Tov or on one day of Yom Tov for the next. The correct blessing for lighting candles on Shabbat and Yom Tov are found in any Siddur ( prayer book).