Bedikat Chametz: Difference between revisions

==Texts for Bedikat Chametz==

===Bitul===

#One who is sick must appoint a שליח to do bedika in his place.<ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:8) </ref>

#If a person leaves one’s house more than 30 days before [[Pesach]] and doesn’t plan to return for [[Pesach]] one doesn’t have to do bedika.<ref>Gemara Pesachim 6a, Rif Pesachim 2b, Rambam Chametz Umatza 2:19, Rosh Pesachim 1:8, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 436:1.</ref> Nonetheless one must do Bitul when the times comes wherever one is.<ref>*Rashi Pesachim 6a s.v. afilu holds that it is unnecessary even to do bitul if one is leaving prior to 30 days. He doesn't explain why there is no problem of Baal Yiraeh owning chametz on Pesach. The Bach 436:1 answers that chametz left out for 30 days will be destroyed by dicentrgrating, putrifying, or being eaten by rodents or bugs. Thus, it is possible on a Torah level not to be concerned for the chametz if it was left in the house for 30 days.[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=20516&st=&pgnum=254 Baal Haitur (Biur Chametz p. 120a)] seems to explain that Rashi is lenient because it is like chametz that a wall fell upon. Even though it is true that even if a wall collapses upon chametz bitul is still necessary (Gemara Pesachim 31b) that is only rabbinic and might not apply in this case (see Bach). See Petach Dvir (fnt. 80 to Baal Haitur) who rejects that understanding of the Baal Haitur.

#However, if possible it’s preferable to appoint a שליח to do Beidika for oneself at the proper time. <ref>Mishna Brurah 436:1 </ref> Some say that it’s better to do it oneself before going rather than have a non-family member (such as a neighbor) do it for oneself. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 436:1 </ref>

#If one plans on returning before [[Pesach]] if there’s a fear one will return on Erev [[Pesach]] without time for bedika one should do it before going, otherwise do it when one returns.<ref>Mishna Brurah 436:9 </ref>

#If one is not going to be home for [[Pesach]] it is sufficient to do a proper bedika according to the law by just looking for the Chametz (though not just a superficial look) and one doesn’t have to drive oneself crazy like one does every year.<ref>Rav Schachter on [https://oukosher.org/passover/webcast/pre-pesach/ou-kosher-pre-pesach-webcast-5771-2011/ OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 2:30 and 5 </ref>

# When doing bedika before the night of the fourteenth one should still scatter the pieces of chametz before bedika. Some say one shouldn't scatter the pieces when doing bedika early.<ref>[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=46447&pgnum=81 Nitai Gavriel (v. 1 8:10)] explains that according to the reason of the Chok Yakov that scattering the pieces is to motivate checking well that also applies before the 14th. Also, the Arizal's reason for scattering chametz also applies before the 14th. He also quotes Minchat Yitzchak 8:35 who held that one shouldn't scatter them when checking before the 14th so that one doesn't accidently forget one. Dirshu 436:10 quotes Rav Elyashiv (Kovetz Teshuvot 3:73) as holding that one should scatter the pieces even when doing the bedika before the 14th.</ref>

# The night before he leaves he should do bedika and it is forbidden to do melacha or eat before bedika just like bedika on the night of the 14th.<Ref>Pri Megadim E"A 436:1, [https://www.sefaria.org/Kaf_HaChayim_on_Shulchan_Arukh%2C_Orach_Chayim.436.6.1?vhe=Kaf_Hachayim,_Orach_Chayim_vol._I-IV,_Jerusalem_1910-1933&lang=bi Kaf Hachaim 436:6]</ref>

#If a Jew was living or renting a non-Jew's house and was there until within 30 days of Pesach and then left for the duration of Pesach, there is a discussion whether he is obligated in bedikat Chametz in the house he was staying at before leaving. Sephardim hold that if he is going to fulfill bedikat chametz in another house he isn't obligated to do bedikat chametz in the house that he is leaving since it is a non-Jew's house. However, if he isn't going to fulfill bedikat chametz someone else then he should do it in the house he is leaving since bedikat chametz is secondarily a personal obligation. Of course, bedikat chametz is an obligation upon a house that a Jew lived in where he ate chametz but it is also a personal obligation to take care of in some location.<ref>Ravyah (Pesachim ch. 426), Mordechai Pesachim n. 535, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 436:3. Bet Yosef 436:3 makes it clear that the Ravyah thinks that there is a personal obligation of bedikat chametz and the Tur disagrees. Kaf HaChayim on Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 436:49:1 notes that Shulchan Aruch follows the Ravyah even though he quotes him with the language of some say since he doesn't quote any other opinion. Also, in the Bet Yosef he answered the Tur's challenge to the Ravyah.</ref> However, according to Ashkenazim there is no personal obligation of bedikat chametz. Therefore, in this case since he moved out of the house and left it to a non-Jew before Pesach he was exempt from bedikat chametz in that house.<ref>Tur and Rama O.C. 436:3</ref> Some say that he it is only exempt if the non-Jew moved in before Pesach.<ref>The Shulchan Aruch Harav 436:22 writes that the Rama was specific in his language and the Jew is only exempt if the non-Jew moves in. Gra 436:15 also understood the Rama precisely like the Shulchan Aruch Harav but disagrees with the Rama that it isn't necessary for the non-Jew to actually enter. Similarly, the Chok Yakov 436:18 thinks that the Rama's language isn't precise and it is equally true that the Jew is exempt if the non-Jew was allowed in but didn't move in. Mishna Brurah 436:32 is strict for the Shulchan Aruch Harav since some achronim follow the Shulchan Aruch against the Rama to begin with.</ref>

#If one's porch is roofed and fenced in, it is considered like any other room that needs to be checked with a bracha.<ref>Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] v. 1, p. 112)</ref>

#If one is renting out one’s house and the Chametz in it to a non-Jew for [[Pesach]] one will have exempted oneself from bedika but it’s not proper to do so, rather it’s correct to rent one’s house except for one room and do bedika without a Bracha in that room before one leaves for [[Pesach]]. <ref>Rav Schachter on [https://oukosher.org/passover/webcast/pre-pesach/ou-kosher-pre-pesach-webcast-5771-2011/ OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 2:30 and 5 </ref>

#One should check using a single wax candle and not a torch (or even two candles together).<ref>Shulchan Aruch and Rama O.C. 433:2, Mishna Brurah 431:3 </ref>

#One doesn’t have to turn off the electric lights while performing the bedika. Furtherfore, some say that specifically one should turn on the lights because one can check better with the lights on.<ref>Halachos of [[Pesach]] (pg 86) quoting Rav Moshe Feinstein, A Guide to Practical Halacha v. 5 p. 42 n. 5 quoting Rav Moshe Feinstein, Minchat Asher responsa 3:31, Piskei Teshuvot 431:2 saying that such is the minhag, Mishna Halachot 15:92, Shalmei Moed p. 312 citing Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Halichot Shlomo p. 110 fnt. 57, Or Letzion 3:7:7, and Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] v. 1, p. 112). Avnei Derech 13:100:2 cites numerous poskim who allow leaving on the lights during bedikat chametz including Hagadah Shel Pesach Hachazon Ish p. 19, Chut Shani (Pesach p. 59), Chazon Ovadia Pesach p. 40, Orchot Rabbenu (v. 2 p. 2 Pesach n. 6), Shevut Yitzchak Pesach p. 34, and Hilchot Chag Bchag 5:7 p. 78. Rav Shlomo Zalman (Halichot Shlomo) is cited as having turned on the lights. The only one who cites on the other side is that the Torat Hamoadim p. 433 writes that the Brisker Rav would turn off the lights for bedikat chametz. Also, Imrei Sofer (Halichot Vehanhagot 8:6 p. 53) writes that a person should turn off the electric lights when doing bedikat chametz and this was the minhag of the Hitorerut Teshuva (Minhagei Raboteynu 3:4). [https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=144287 Rav Yitzchak Yosef (Motzei Shabbat Parshat Vayakel Pekudei 5781 min 10)] said that Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank and Rav Chaim Pinchas Sheinburg would turn off the lights before doing the bedika, but most others like Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Elyashiv, and Rav Ovadia did not turn off the lights.</ref>

#See also [[Hebrew sources for using a flashlight for Bedikat Chametz|Hebrew sources for using a flashlight for bedikat Chametz]]

#If one didn’t do bedika at night one should do so during the day before the sixth hour (halachic hours) and if one forgot to do it before the sixth hour one should still do it on Erev [[Pesach]] with a Bracha.<ref>S”A 435:1, Mishna Brurah 435:5 </ref> One can only do [[Bitul Chametz]] after the bedika until the sixth hour of Erev [[Pesach]]. <ref>Mishna Brurah 435:1 </ref>

#Any bedika not at the appropriate time should be done with a candle. <ref>Mishna Brurah 435:4 </ref>

#If one finds Chametz on [[Yom Tov]] one shouldn’t burn it but rather cover it and then burn it after [[Yom Tov]].<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 446:1 </ref> some say that nowadays one should have a non-Jew flush it down the toilet. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 446:2 </ref>

#Some say that if one sold one’s Chametz before [[Pesach]] and then one finds Chametz on [[Pesach]], one should store it away with the other Chametz that’s sold to the non-Jew and not burn it.<ref>Mikrei Kodesh 1:74, Piskei Teshuvot 446:1 </ref>

#Nowadays, when people clean the house of Chametz in advance, it’s enough to quickly double 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> However, others disagree and hold that even if one cleaned the house well it is necessary to do a serious and thorough bedika. One is strict will be blessed.<ref>Chazon Ovadia p. 36 quotes Mahari Shapira who writes that nowadays when people clean very well for pesach in advance it is sufficient to do a cursory check for bedikat chametz. Machzik Bracha 433:6 and Shaarei Teshuva 433:11 quote this. Chazon Ovadia, however, quotes Mikrei Kodesh who disagrees and adds that Shulchan Aruch O.C. 433:11 implies this as well. Chazon Ovadia concludes that one who is strict will be blessed.</ref>

#A person doesn’t have to make themselves crazy, one just to be reasonable not to overwork oneself so that one can enjoy [[the Seder]]. <ref>Rav Schachter on [https://oukosher.org/passover/webcast/pre-pesach/ou-kosher-pre-pesach-webcast-5771-2011/ OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 19:30 and 21 </ref> It’s a judgment call and one should do a peripheral check (not too peripheral).<ref>Rav Yisrael Belsky on [https://oukosher.org/passover/webcast/pre-pesach/ou-kosher-pre-pesach-webcast-5771-2011/ OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 24 and 25. See Haggadah of the Roshei Yeshiva (pg 13) which records the minhag of Rav Moshe to perform a bedika in his small apartment for longer than an hour. This bedika doesn't need to be done as if no cleaning was done, but is required anyway. This is the opinion of Sha’arei Teshuvah 433:2, Daat Torah 433:2, Chochmat Shelomo 433:11, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach quoted in Mevakshei Torah Ohr Efrayim page 532), Kinyan Torah 2:122.</ref>

# The minhag is that some family member hides the pieces and someone else finds them. If he is doing bedika by himself he should nonetheless hide the pieces and find them himself.<ref>[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=46447&pgnum=79 Nitai Gavriel (v. 1 8:5)]. He writes that this was the practice of the Steipler.</ref>

#If one found Chametz after the bedika one doesn’t have to recheck the house. <ref>Mishna Brurah 438:4, Halichot Shlomo 5:22 </ref>