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Bedikat Chametz: Difference between revisions

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==When==
==When==
# One should perform bedikat chametz in the beginning of the night on the fourteenth of Nisan.<ref>Shulchan Arukh O.C. 431:1. Mishna Brurah (431:1) writes that according to the Shulchan Arukh one should check after tzeit ha-kochavim. Raavad in Katuv Sham on Rif Pesachim 2a writes that the language of the Mishna ''אור'' implies that bedika should be done while there is light outside in the beginning of the night. Ran 1a quotes this Raavad and explains it should be done at the beginning of the night so you don't delay and become lazy about it or forget. However, The Gr”a (431:1) cites the Raavad as holding that it should be done while there is light outside because that is more accurate than saying it should be done at night. See Maaseh Rav (#178) who says that the Gra would begin Bedika slightly before [[Tzet HaKochavim]]. Nonetheless, Rabbi Eliyahu Spira in Eliyah Rabbah (431:5) explains that even the Raavad agrees that one shouldn’t begin until [[tzeit ha-kochavim]], however, at that time there still is a little bit of light outside.</ref> Generally, one may not do it earlier by day or the night before.<ref>Baal Hameor Pesachim 4a writes that it is acceptable to do the bedikat chametz on the day of the thirteenth as long as one uses a candle. However, the Ramban (Milchamot 4a) argues that there's an insistence on night in the Gemara since a candle is more effective at night than the day. He proves this from the Yerushalmi Pesachim 1:1 as well. Raavad (Katuv Sham 4a), Ran 1b, Ritva 4a, and Maharam Chalavah 4a all accept the position of the Ramban and reject the Baal Hameor. Furthermore, the Maharam Chalavah Pesachim 4a s.v. amar writes that one may not do bedika on the night of the thirteenth since one may not do a complete job since it isn't the time for the mitzvah and then one will rely on that incomplete bedika.</ref>
# One should perform bedikat chametz in the beginning of the night on the fourteenth of Nisan.<ref>Shulchan Arukh O.C. 431:1. Mishna Brurah (431:1) writes that according to the Shulchan Arukh one should check after tzeit ha-kochavim. Raavad in Katuv Sham on Rif Pesachim 2a writes that the language of the Mishna ''אור'' implies that bedika should be done while there is light outside in the beginning of the night. Ran 1a quotes this Raavad and explains it should be done at the beginning of the night so you don't delay and become lazy about it or forget. However, The Gr”a (431:1) cites the Raavad as holding that it should be done while there is light outside because that is more accurate than saying it should be done at night. See Maaseh Rav (#178) who says that the Gra would begin Bedika slightly before [[Tzet HaKochavim]]. Nonetheless, Rabbi Eliyahu Spira in Eliyah Rabbah (431:5) explains that even the Raavad agrees that one shouldn’t begin until [[tzeit ha-kochavim]], however, at that time there still is a little bit of light outside.</ref> Generally, one may not do it earlier by day or the night before.<ref>Baal Hameor Pesachim 4a writes that it is acceptable to do the bedikat chametz on the day of the thirteenth as long as one uses a candle. However, the Ramban (Milchamot 4a) argues that there's an insistence on night in the Gemara since a candle is more effective at night than the day. He proves this from the Yerushalmi Pesachim 1:1 as well. Raavad (Katuv Sham 4a), Ran 1b, Ritva 4a, and Maharam Chalavah 4a all accept the position of the Ramban and reject the Baal Hameor. Furthermore, the Maharam Chalavah Pesachim 4a s.v. amar writes that one may not do bedika on the night of the thirteenth since one may not do a complete job since it isn't the time for the mitzvah and then one will rely on that incomplete bedika.</ref>
# If one usually follows רבינו תם, some say that one should make sure to start the Bedika after [[Tzet HaKochavim]] of רבינו תם. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:10). Haggadah of the Roshei Yeshivah (pg 13) records Rav Moshe's minhag to start the Bedika 50 minutes after sundown which according to many opinions is [[Tzet HaCochavim]] of Rabbenu Tam. </ref> and some say that one should begin before [[Tzet HaKochavim]] of רבינו תם at the time of accepted [[Tzet HaKochavim]] (while it’s still slightly light outside). <Ref>Moadim UZmanim (Vol 4 Siman 286 pg 46), Piskei Teshuvot 431:3 </ref>
# If one usually follows רבינו תם, some say that one should make sure to start the Bedika after [[Tzet HaKochavim]] of רבינו תם.<Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:10). Haggadah of the Roshei Yeshivah (pg 13) records Rav Moshe's minhag to start the Bedika 50 minutes after sundown which according to many opinions is [[Tzet HaCochavim]] of Rabbenu Tam. </ref> and some say that one should begin before [[Tzet HaKochavim]] of רבינו תם at the time of accepted [[Tzet HaKochavim]] (while it’s still slightly light outside).<Ref>Moadim UZmanim (Vol 4 Siman 286 pg 46), Piskei Teshuvot 431:3 </ref>
# If one is praying with a [[minyan]] one should pray first and then perform Bedika. However, if one is praying at home, preferably one should appoint someone else to do Bedika while one prays, otherwise, pray first, unless one usually prays at home in which case some say one should check first and some say one should pray first.<Ref>Mishna Brurah 431:8</ref> Some recommend for a person davening at home that they should daven maariv at the ideal time, which is Tzet Hakochavim, and then starting the bedika.<ref>[https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=106099 Rav Shmuel Fuerst (min 1-5)]</ref>
# If one is praying with a [[minyan]] one should pray first and then perform Bedika. However, if one is praying at home, preferably one should appoint someone else to do Bedika while one prays, otherwise, pray first, unless one usually prays at home in which case some say one should check first and some say one should pray first.<Ref>Mishna Brurah 431:8</ref> Some recommend for a person davening at home that they should daven maariv at the ideal time, which is Tzet Hakochavim, and then starting the bedika.<ref>[https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=106099 Rav Shmuel Fuerst (min 1-5)]</ref>
# If one is going to come home after [[Tzet HaKochavim]] one should appoint someone as an agent (Shaliach) so that it can be done at the proper time. However, if the man is working at night and wants to fulfill the mitzvah himself, he may appoint his wife to do Bedika (with a Bracha) on the whole house except for one room and then do Bedika (with a Bracha) in that room when he returns. <Ref>Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:114. Listen to “Bedikas Chametz part 1” (min 3:30) by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz who asks on this. For possible resolution of this question see Mishna Brurah 431:8. </ref>
# If one is going to come home after [[Tzet HaKochavim]] one should appoint someone as an agent (Shaliach) so that it can be done at the proper time. However, if the man is working at night and wants to fulfill the mitzvah himself, he may appoint his wife to do Bedika (with a Bracha) on the whole house except for one room and then do Bedika (with a Bracha) in that room when he returns. <Ref>Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:114. Listen to “Bedikas Chametz part 1” (min 3:30) by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz who asks on this. For possible resolution of this question see Mishna Brurah 431:8. </ref>
# If a person did Bedikat Chametz on the 13th at night he doesn't need to redo the bedikat on the 14th at night, though the institution was to check on the 14th at night specifically.<ref>Pri Chadash 433:11, Olot Tamid 433:8, Nechpeh Bkesef v. 2 p. 1, Chok Yakov 433:23, Mekor Chaim 433:15, Chazon Ovadia Pesach p. 40</ref>
# If a person did Bedikat Chametz on the 13th at night he doesn't need to redo the bedikat on the 14th at night, though the institution was to check on the 14th at night specifically.<ref>Pri Chadash 433:11, Olot Tamid 433:8, [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1318&st=&pgnum=5 Nechpeh Bkesef v. 2 p. 1], Chok Yakov 433:23, Mekor Chaim 433:15, Chazon Ovadia Pesach p. 40. The Nechpeh Bekesef is addressing the concern of the Mikraei Kodesh that if a person does bedika on the 13th he needs to do it again because of marit ayin. He holds that there's no marit ayin since it is done inside the house. However, Bach 433:1 concludes that if someone checked the night of the 13th they need to check again the night of the 14th since the institution was to do bedika the night of the 14th in all cases.</ref> Some say that one doesn't need to do Bedika again but one should do at least one room again.<ref>Mishna Brurah 433:6</ref>
# An area with three walls and is very open to sunlight should be checked on the 14th at night and after the fact can be checked during the day without a candle since there is a lot of sunlight there.<ref>Gemara Pesachim 8a establishes that a house with three walls that is exposed to the sunlight can be checked to the sunlight. Bach 433:2 organizes three approaches in the rishonim: 1) Rashi 8a, Rif 4a, Smag Asin 39, and Smak 98 hold that even initially it is permitted to check the area exposed to the sunlight during the day. 2) Rambam Chametz Umatza 2:4 holds that initially one should check the night of the 14th and after the fact one should check during the day. 3) Rabbenu Yerucham 5:1 38c holds that one may not check the area on the 13th by day but even initially one can check it during the day of the 14th. He concludes that initially it may not be checked during the day. This is also the opinion of the Taz 433:2, Magen Avraham 433:3, Biur Hagra 433:2, Chok Yaakov 433:3, and Mishna Brurah 433:5.</ref>


==What==
==What==
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# If one never put Chametz in the pocket, some say that one doesn’t have to check but others hold that one must check because Chametz may have been placed there inadvertently. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 433:47 obligates checking even if one never put Chametz in there, however, S”A HaRav 433:43 and Kaf HaChaim 433:87 hold that one doesn’t need to check but it’s praiseworthy. </ref>
# If one never put Chametz in the pocket, some say that one doesn’t have to check but others hold that one must check because Chametz may have been placed there inadvertently. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 433:47 obligates checking even if one never put Chametz in there, however, S”A HaRav 433:43 and Kaf HaChaim 433:87 hold that one doesn’t need to check but it’s praiseworthy. </ref>
===Under Furniture===
===Under Furniture===
# A person should check under the refrigerator, stove, couches, and all moveable furniture.<ref>[https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=106099 Rav Shmuel Fuerst (min 8)]</ref>
# A person should check under the refrigerator, stove, couches, and all movable furniture.<ref>[https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=106099 Rav Shmuel Fuerst (min 8)]</ref> Some say that one doesn't need to move a heavy oven or furniture which isn't regularly moved to get chametz behind or to the side of it if one's hand can't reach it as is. He can rely upon [[bitul chametz]].<ref> Rav Nissim Karelitz (Chut Shani Pesach 2:11) as holding that one doesn't have to check behind or to the side of a heavy furniture if he can't fit his hand in there to check without moving anything. He can rely on bitul.</ref>
# A crack or crevice very low to the ground, within 3 tefachim, doesn't need to be checked since a person doesn't usually use that area.<ref>Gemara Pesachim 8a, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 433:4</ref> If a person has children he does need to check since they could easily put chametz there.<ref>Mishna Brurah 433:19</reF>
 
===On Top Of Furniture===
# A person should check on top of the furniture, ovens, and cabinets unless they have a slanted roof which would make it abnormal to store things there.<ref>Gemara Pesachim 8a, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 433:5, Mishna Brurah 433:20</ref>
===Inside Machines===
#Chametz which is stuck inside of a machine and can't be accessed unless dissembled by a professional doesn't need to be removed.<ref>Chut Shani Pesach p. 67</ref>
 
===Roof===
# If a person uses his roof he needs to do bedikat chametz there. If it is a slanted roof and he doesn't use it it wouldn't require bedikat chametz.<ref>Mishna Brurah 433:23</ref>


===Renting or Selling the House to a Non-Jew===
===Renting or Selling the House to a Non-Jew===
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# Nowadays when people clean the house of Chametz in advance, it’s enough to check to see if that area was cleaned from Chametz and if it wasn’t to remove the Chametz. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:1), Piskei Teshuvot 433:8, Or Yisrael (vol 35, pg 100-102, article by Rav Shlomo Wolfson) </ref>
# Nowadays when people clean the house of Chametz in advance, it’s enough to check to see if that area was cleaned from Chametz and if it wasn’t to remove the Chametz. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:1), Piskei Teshuvot 433:8, Or Yisrael (vol 35, pg 100-102, article by Rav Shlomo Wolfson) </ref>


==Scattering 10 pieces of Chametz==
==Scattering Ten Pieces of Chametz==
# The minhag is to scatter 10 pieces of Chametz to be found during the Bedika. <Ref>Rama 432:2, Mishna Brurah 432:13. Rama (432:2) quotes one opinion who says that the minhag to leave pieces of bread around the house is to ensure that one finds chametz to prevent a berakhah of biur chametz being said in vain. However, the Rama concludes, that it is not necessary since one’s intent in the berakhah is to destroy the chametz that one finds. Taz (432:4) discourages this minhag because one may misplace one of the placed pieces. On the other hand, Rabbi Yaakov Reischer in Chok Yaakov (432:13) defends the minhag and argues that putting out pieces encourages one to do a thorough check and not abandon the job if chametz is not found immediately. </ref> Nowadays when people clean the house of Chametz in advance, some say that one must scatter these pieces, while others maintain that it’s still not an obligation but only a minhag. <Ref> Shaar HaTziyun 432:12 quotes the Emek Halacha who maintains that nowadays when people clean the house in advance one must put out these 10 pieces of Chametz so that the Bracha on Bedika isn’t a Bracha Levatala. However, Halichot Shlomo 5:12 argues that one can still make the Bracha without putting out these pieces because the Bedika includes checking that the areas have been cleaned properly, nonetheless it’s still the minhag to do so.</ref>
# The minhag is to scatter 10 pieces of Chametz to be found during the Bedika.<Ref>Rama O.C. 432:2, Mishna Brurah 432:13. Rama (432:2) quotes one opinion who says that the minhag to leave pieces of bread around the house is to ensure that one finds chametz to prevent a berakhah of biur chametz being said in vain. However, the Rama concludes, that it is not necessary since one’s intent in the berakhah is to destroy the chametz that one finds. Taz (432:4) discourages this minhag because one may misplace one of the placed pieces. On the other hand, Rabbi Yaakov Reischer in Chok Yaakov (432:13) defends the minhag and argues that putting out pieces encourages one to do a thorough check and not abandon the job if chametz is not found immediately. </ref> Nowadays when people clean the house of Chametz in advance, some say that one must scatter these pieces, while others maintain that it’s still not an obligation but only a minhag.<Ref> Shaar HaTziyun 432:12 quotes the Emek Halacha who maintains that nowadays when people clean the house in advance one must put out these 10 pieces of Chametz so that the Bracha on Bedika isn’t a Bracha Levatala. Rav Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia Pesach p. 36, Yabia Omer 9:88:12, 9:92:2, Yachava Daat 5:31) agrees with the Emek Halacha. However, Halichot Shlomo 5:12 argues that one can still make the Bracha without putting out these pieces because the Bedika includes checking that the areas have been cleaned properly, nonetheless it’s still the minhag to do so.</ref>
# These pieces should be hard Chametz that doesn’t cause crumbs and it should be placed in an area that’s protected from children or mice. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 432:12 </ref> Additionally, it may be advisable to wrap it so that it doesn’t make crumbs. <Ref>Halachos of [[Pesach]] (pg 80) </ref>
# These pieces should be hard Chametz that doesn’t cause crumbs and it should be placed in an area that’s protected from children or mice.<Ref> Mishna Brurah 432:12 </ref> Additionally, it may be advisable to wrap it so that it doesn’t make crumbs.<Ref>Halachos of [[Pesach]] (pg 80) </ref>
# One should be careful not to loss any of the pieces. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 432:13 </ref>
# One should be careful not to loss any of the pieces. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 432:13 </ref>


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