Biur Chametz: Difference between revisions
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→How to do Biur Chametz
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The Torah commands us to remove and destroy all chametz we own before Pesach. | The Torah commands us to remove and destroy all chametz we own before Pesach. | ||
==How to do Biur Chametz== | ==How to do Biur Chametz== | ||
#The minhag is to burn chametz (until it becomes coals or ashes) during the day, however, one fulfills the mitzvah by destroying the Chametz in any fashion.<ref>Rama O.C. 445:1, Mishna Brurah 445:1-2, Chazon Ovadia part 1 page 64. Kaf Hachayim 445:3-4. This is based on the Mishna in Pesachim 21a which records an argument regarding how to fulfill the obligation in Shemot 12:15 תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם. Rabbi Yehuda says the only way is to burn while chachamim say you can burn it, crumble it, or throw it into the river. Rambam Chametz Umatza 3:11 | #The minhag is to burn chametz (until it becomes coals or ashes) during the day, however, one fulfills the mitzvah by destroying the Chametz in any fashion.<ref>Rama O.C. 445:1, Mishna Brurah 445:1-2, Chazon Ovadia part 1 page 64. Kaf Hachayim 445:3-4. This is based on the Mishna in Pesachim 21a which records an argument regarding how to fulfill the obligation in Shemot 12:15 תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם. Rabbi Yehuda says the only way is to burn while chachamim say you can burn it, crumble it, or throw it into the river. Rambam Chametz Umatza 3:11 and Baal Hameor rule like the rabbis. Furthermore, Rabbenu Tam (Tosfot Pesachim 12b s.v. aymatay) holds that even Rabbi Yehuda holds that it is only after midday that one needs to burn it, beforehand one can dispose of it in any way. Similarly, Baal Hameor holds that it is only a mitzvah for Rabbi Yehuda to burn it from the sixth hour and on and beforehand one can just dispose of it. Nonetheless, the Tur 445:1 explains that it is proper to be strict for Rashi who holds like Rabbi Yehuda and who also thinks that there is a mitzvah to burn the chametz even before midday. He also notes that the Rosh Pesachim 2:3 thinks that even for Rashi it is only a mitzvah to burn it in the sixth hour and not beforehand, but the Tur disagrees and thinks it is a mitzvah to burn it for Rashi all morning. Even though the Shulchan Arukh (445:1) rules that one may dispose of chametz in any fashion, Rama 445:1 writes that the minhag is to specifically burn it in order to satisfy all opinions. The Gra 445:1 says that even chachamim say that ideally one should burn it, as the Mishnah states one can "even" (af) eliminate it in other ways. He adds that the only reason this is only a custom and not obligatory is because according to Rabbi Yehuda you need to burn the chametz after its prohibited time and since we do it before that we can really do it any way. Kaf Hachayim 445:11 says that there is special kabbalistic importance to burning the chametz because it symbolizes burning the evil inclination. </ref> | ||
#The minhag is to burn the chametz in its own bonfire or fire-pit and not on one's stove.<ref>Maharil (Erev Pesach n. 3 s.v. vein), Magen Avraham 445:5, Mishna Brurah 445:11. The reason for the Maharil is that the ashes of chametz burned after chametz is forbidden is similarly forbidden according to many rishonim. To avoid mistakes even when burning the chametz when chametz is permitted the minhag is to do it in a separate bonfire and not on one's stove. Kaf Hachayim on Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 445:14:1 adds another explanation; since we learn the idea of chametz from notar and kodshim were typically burned in courtyards outside we should do the same for burning chametz.</ref> | |||
#It is preferable for one to burn his own chometz and not to appoint someone else to do it for him.<ref>Kinyan Torah 5:37</ref> | #It is preferable for one to burn his own chometz and not to appoint someone else to do it for him.<ref>Kinyan Torah 5:37</ref> | ||
#One should cut the chametz into thin slices in order for it to burn properly.<ref>Chazon Ovadia [[Pesach]] page 40. </ref> | #One should cut the chametz into thin slices in order for it to burn properly.<ref>Chazon Ovadia [[Pesach]] page 40. </ref> | ||
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#If one puts chametz in one’s private garbage bin one should either pour Ajax on the Chametz to make it totally inedible <ref>Minchat Yitzchak 4:56, [[Shevet Halevi]] 1:137. </ref>, or put it in the street and declare that it be ownerless in front of three people.<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 445:7, Chelkat Yaakov 3:165 </ref> One can also include them in the sale of the chametz to a non-jew but then they cannot be used by him over [[pesach]].<ref>Be'er Moshe 1:41; 3:74 </ref> | #If one puts chametz in one’s private garbage bin one should either pour Ajax on the Chametz to make it totally inedible <ref>Minchat Yitzchak 4:56, [[Shevet Halevi]] 1:137. </ref>, or put it in the street and declare that it be ownerless in front of three people.<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 445:7, Chelkat Yaakov 3:165 </ref> One can also include them in the sale of the chametz to a non-jew but then they cannot be used by him over [[pesach]].<ref>Be'er Moshe 1:41; 3:74 </ref> | ||
#It’s preferable to burn the chametz without dousing it in gasoline or lighter fluid so that one can destroy the Chametz with fire and not to make it inedible using any other means.<ref>Halichot Shlomo 6:10, Piskei Teshuvot 445:1, Beer Moshe 5:122, Siddur [[Pesach]] Kihilchato page 173. </ref> If the chametz will not burn in time without the gasoline then one should pour it to speed up the burning.<ref>http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5757/metzorah.html </ref> | #It’s preferable to burn the chametz without dousing it in gasoline or lighter fluid so that one can destroy the Chametz with fire and not to make it inedible using any other means.<ref>Halichot Shlomo 6:10, Piskei Teshuvot 445:1, Beer Moshe 5:122, Siddur [[Pesach]] Kihilchato page 173. </ref> If the chametz will not burn in time without the gasoline then one should pour it to speed up the burning.<ref>http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5757/metzorah.html </ref> | ||
#There is a custom to burn the ten pieces of chametz that were hidden for the bedikah along with the rest of the chametz during biur.<ref>Kaf Hachayim 432:1 quoting the Arizal, Chazon Ovadia 5763 [[Pesach]] Part 1 page 36. </ref> There is also a custom to burn the [[lulav]], <ref>[http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=241 Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com]. Hagahot Maimoniot Hilkhot [[Sukkah]] 7:26 and Darchei Moshe Haaroch 664 and the Rama 664:9. Kaf Hachayim 445:16, 664:60 says to take half of the [[lulav]] to burn with the chametz and half to bake the matzot. The custom in Yemen was to use it to | #There is a custom to burn the ten pieces of chametz that were hidden for the bedikah along with the rest of the chametz during biur.<ref>Kaf Hachayim 432:1 quoting the Arizal, Chazon Ovadia 5763 [[Pesach]] Part 1 page 36. </ref> There is also a custom to burn the [[lulav]], <ref>[http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=241 Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com]. Hagahot Maimoniot Hilkhot [[Sukkah]] 7:26 and Darchei Moshe Haaroch 664 and the Rama 664:9. Kaf Hachayim 445:16, 664:60 says to take half of the [[lulav]] to burn with the chametz and half to bake the matzot. The custom in Yemen was to use it to fuel the ovens for [[matza]] according to Rav Yosef Kapach in Halikhot Teiman page. </ref> the [[aravot]] used for hoshanot <ref>Mishna Brurah 445:7 </ref>, leftover [[chanuka]] candles and wicks <ref>[http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=241 Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com]. See also [[Leftover oil and wicks]] of [[Chanukah]] candles. </ref> and fingernails <ref>Chazon Ish quoted in Orchot Rabbeinu page 104 </ref> along with the chametz. | ||
#One should throw the chametz with his right hand.<ref>Orchot Chaim 451:1. </ref> | #One should throw the chametz with his right hand.<ref>Orchot Chaim 451:1. </ref> | ||
#One should burn the chametz in one's own property.<ref>Teshuvot vihanhagot 1:192 quoting the Ramban that the mitzva from the torah to burn chametz only applies to chametz in your domain. </ref> | #One should burn the chametz in one's own property.<ref>Teshuvot vihanhagot 1:192 quoting the Ramban that the mitzva from the torah to burn chametz only applies to chametz in your domain. </ref> | ||
