Checklist for Bedikas Chametz

Bedikas Chametz-Night of the 14^th:

• Wrap 10 pieces of hard bread in paper in a way that they will not crumble out.
• Hide the pieces and take note of their whereabouts.
• Do not perform Melacha, eat a meal, or learn Torah within a half hour before nightfall of the 14^th until the Bedika is complete.
• Begin the Bedika immediately after nightfall, after Davening Maariv.
• Prior to the Bedika place all Chametz that one still owns in a guarded area from children and animals.
• During the Bedika guard all found Chametz from animals and children.
• After the Bedika place all the found Chametz in a guarded area.
• After the Bedika recite the Bittul
• Check your Matzah for Kefulos. Remove a 2cm. circumference from the Kefula area and place it together with the Chametz.
• Remove Chametz garbage and place in a public area for all. Don’t leave in building garbage.
• The Gabaiy is to perform Bedikas Chametz in Shul with a blessing. This applies even if the Chametz of the Shul will be sold in Mechiras Chametz.
• Place all Chametz vessels in a closed and locked area that one will not come to accidently open on Pesach.

Checklist for Erev Pesach

Erev Pesach:

• Fast day for Bechoros: If you are a Bechor, make sure to fast from Alos until Tzeis, or join a Siyum.
• Remember to avoid mentioning “This meat is for Pesach”. Rather say “This meat is for Yom Tov.”
• Don’t eat lettuce; apples; pears; nuts until the Seder. One may eat eggs, chicken or meat, potatoes, and onions.

Shacharis:

• Awake early to Daven Shacharis
• Omit Mizmor Lesoda until after Pesach

To do before beginning of 5^th hour of the day:

• Finish any last minute Kashering prior to the 5^th hour
• Kasher the teeth prior to the 5^th hour
• Finish eating Chametz prior to the 5^th It is forbidden to eat Chametz once the 5^th hour has begun. Look in a Jewish calendar to verify the 5^th hour of your region. It is synonymous with Sof Zeman Tefila.
• Do not eat Matzah Ashira, egg Matzah, starting from the 5^th hour until the end of Pesach.

To do before the beginning of the 6^th hour:

• Clean the house of all Chametz leftovers. Make sure the Chametz garbage is removed to an area that is public for all, and has not remained in a building shoot.
• Clean out your Chametz pockets
• Burn the Chametz.
• After burning the Chametz, recite the Bittul. The Bittul must be recited prior to the 6^th Don’t recite the Bittul until at least a Kezayis of the Chametz burns.

To do before midday:

• Starting from midday [Chatzos] do not perform any Melacha that may not be performed on Chol Hamoed
• Cut nails and receive a haircut before Chatzos
• Print whatever Pesach papers you will need before Chatzos.

To do before 10^th hour:

• Food restrictions that apply past the 10^th hour [Three Zmaniyos hours before sunset]: Don’t eat a large amount of food. One may eat a small amount of fruits and other foods. One may not drink wine or grape juice at this time.

Seder preparation to do list:

• Immerse new vessels in a Mikveh
• Don’t eat lettuce; apples; pears; nuts
• Wash and clean the lettuce
• Don’t soak the lettuce that will be used for Maror, in water for 24 hours.
• Roast the Zeroa-neck of the chicken.
• Do not roast any meat or poultry to be eaten for Seder night. One may roast fish. Don’t cook the meat in a pot without liquids, even if it will simmer in its own juice. One may roast the meat and then cook it.
• Set up the Seder table
• Check the Matzos for Kefulos.
• Separate Challah from the Matzos if needed.
• When Pesach falls on Shabbos, place wine in the Charoses before Shabbos. Alternatively, place the Charoses in a large amount of wine prior to the dipping, and mix with your finger.
• Make salt water
• Cook the egg for Beitza.
• If you don’t have a broken plate for the spilling of the wine by the Makos, then chip a plastic bowl before Yom Tov.

Erev Pesach-Summary of lawsA. Taanis Bechoros-Fast of First Born:

• When: The fast of the first-born sons takes place on Erev Pesach.
• Who? If one is a firstborn male for either the mother or the father, he has to fast. This applies likewise to Levim and Kohanim. If one’s mother had a miscarriage prior to her firstborn then he still has to fast, unless his father has had a child from a previous woman. The custom is that the father fasts on behalf of his son, if his son is not yet old enough to fast on his own. If the father is also a firstborn then the mother should fast for her son unless it will bring her pain, or she joins a Siyum. First born females are not accustomed to fast.
• Siyum: One may eat if he hears a Siyum. One must fast until he hears one. One who is stringent not to make a siyum and does fast will be blessed.

What is one to do if he has missed all the Siyumim?

• He must fast. Alternatively, he can learn Tractate Tamid and make a Siyum on it.

Can one make a Siyum on Mishnayos?

• One can make a Siyum on one of the six Sedarim of Mishnayos. Likewise, one can make a Siyum on a single Misechta if he learns it in depths with one of the commentaries.

Must a firstborn convert fast?

• This matter is disputed, and one may thus be lenient to snack if he is unable to hear a Siyum.

B. The Davening:

• Awaking early on Erev Pesach: One is to awaken early to Daven Shacharis in Shul in order to finish eating the Chametz meal prior to the 4^th
• Mizmor Lisoda: Is omitted on Erev Pesach and Chol Hamoad [being that the Todah sacrifice cannot be brought at this time as it contains Chamietz bread offerings.]

C. Sof Zman Achilas Chametz: From what time on Erev Pesach must one be careful to eat only Kosher for Pesach products?

• It is forbidden to eat Chametz past the 5^th hour of the day on Erev Pesach. One must be careful to only eat Kosher for Pesach products beginning from the 5^th hour of the day of the 14^th.
• How are these hours calculated? These hours are calculated starting from sunrise in accordance to Shaaos Zmaniyos, [the amount of minutes that there are within the twelve hours of daylight in ones area]. [Practically this is equivalent to the time of Zman Tefila for Shacharis.]
• Benefiting: It remains permitted to receive benefit from Chametz until the beginning of the 6^th Thus one may sell Chametz to a gentile during the 5^th hour. As well one may feed it to animals and birds during the 5^th hour. From the 6^th hour all Chametz becomes forbidden in benefit even if it does not belong to him.
• Kashering: One is to finish any last minute Kashering prior to the 5^{th hour.}

Cleaning Teeth:

• Prior to the arrival of the 5^th hour one is to clean and wash his teeth with water to make sure that no crumb of Chametz has remained.
• Teeth with fillings: One is to clean them out prior to the 5^th hour and then swish one’s mouth with the hottest temperature of water, from a Keli Sheiyni, that he can intake. It is best to not eat hot Chametz 24 hours prior to doing so.
• Braces: One is to clean them to the best of his ability, and follow the above mentioned order for fillings.
• Dentures: Are to be removed, cleaned and Kashered. If this is not possible then one is to clean them to the best of his ability, and follow the above mentioned order for fillings.

Q&A

From what time are those that are accustomed to not eat processed foods to begin their stringency? From the night of Pesach or from the 5^th hour of Erev Pesach?

One is to avoid eating these foods starting from the 5^th hour of the day. However, many are lenient to eat processed foods up until the night of Pesach.

From what time are those that are accustomed to not eat spices or unpeeled foods to begin their stringency? From the night of Pesach or from 5^th hour of Erev Pesach?

One is to avoid eating these foods starting from the 5^th hour of the day. However, many are lenient to eat these foods up until the night of Pesach.

At what time must Ashkenazim stop eating Matzah Ashira [egg Matzah]?

Some Poskim rule that even according to Ashkenazim one may eat Matzah Ashira [egg Matzah] until midday. However practically the custom is to avoid eating Matzah Ashira beginning from the time that one must stop eating Chametz, which is the beginning of the 5^th hour.

D. Sof Zman Biur Chametz-Burning the Chametz:

• Benefiting from Chametz: It remains permitted to receive benefit from Chametz until the beginning of the 6^th At the 6^th hour and onwards all Chametz becomes forbidden in benefit even if it does not belong to him. Thus, one may no longer sell Chametz to a gentile, and may not feed it to animals and birds.
• Remove all Chametz from home: Prior to the start of the 6^th hour, one is to clean the house of all Chametz leftovers. Make sure the Chametz garbage is removed to an area that is public for all, and has not remained in a building shoot. Clean out your Chametz pockets.
• Biur Chametz: With some time prior to the start of the 6^th hour of the day one is to burn the Chametz. One is to burn any Chametz that he found during the Bedika, including the ten pieces of bread and the vessels used for the Bedika, such as the spoon and candle. If one did not find any Chametz during his search, then it is proper for him to burn the vessels used for Bedikah. Some have the custom to use the Aravos which were hit on Hoshana Rabah as fuel to burn the Chametz.
• Bittul: After performing Biur Chametz, prior to the 6^th hour, it is proper that one repeat the bittul, and nullify once again all the Chametz which he has in his possession. The Bittul cannot be performed once the 6^th hour has arrived.

E. Doing work on Erev Pesach:

• One may not do any Chol Hamoed forbidden Melacha on Erev Pesach beginning from midday. One who does Melacha will lose the profit that he made.
• Definition of work: Included in the above prohibition is all work that is forbidden to be performed on Chol Hamoed.
• Working without pay: The forbidden works may not be done even for free, without pay.
• Haircut: It is forbidden to get or give a hair cut past midday.
• Cutting nails: It is disputable if one may cut nails after midday. Practically Lechatchilah one is to cut the nails prior to midday, although if he did not do so, then they may be cut after midday.
• Fixing something: Only actual work is forbidden to be done on Erev Pesach. It is permitted however to fix an item.
• Writing: It is forbidden to write sefarim for others, although it is permitted to write on one’s own behalf, such as words of Torah and the like.
• Printing: Due to the above, one must beware to print prior to midday all papers needed during the duration of Pesach. Bedieved, if one did not print the papers before midday, then one may do so after midday.

F. Eating on Erev Pesach:

• Fast day for Bechoros: First born sons must fast unless they hear a Siyum. See Halacha A!
• Food restrictions that apply past the 10^th hour [Three Zmaniyos hours before sunset]: It is forbidden to drink wine or a large amount of any food from the beginning of the tenth hour of Erev Pesach. One may eat a small amount of fruits and other foods. One may not drink wine or grape juice at this time.
• Foods of the Charoses and Maror: The Chabad custom is to refrain from eating any of the foods that enter into the Charoses [nuts, apples, pears] and Maror, Erev Pesach until Koreach of the second Seder. However, one may eat from the egg, potato, onion or roasted meat. A child who is not old enough to understand the story of the exodus that is retold on the Seder night, may be fed any of these foods throughout Erev Pesach, as well as on Pesach even prior to Kiddush.

Matzah on Erev Pesach:

• It is forbidden to eat Matzah on Erev Pesach.
• Kefula; Nefucha; Machine; Non-Shmura: One is to avoid eating Matzah even if it is a Kefula, Nefucha, non-Shmura, or machine-made Matzah.
• Chametz Matzah: It is disputed amongst Poskim if one may eat Chametz Matzah prior to the 5^th hour of Erev Pesach.
• Matzah Ashirah: Matzah Ashirah, such as egg Matzah which has a strong taste of egg or fruit juice, may be eaten until the start of the 5^th hour of the day.
• Gebrochts: One may eat cooked Matzah, such as Matzah balls and the like [however only until the start of the 5^th hour of the day, for those particular on Gebrochts.] Those which are not particular on Gebrochts may eat it until the 10^th hour of the day.
• May a child eat Matzah on Erev Pesach? A child who is not old enough to understand the story of the exodus that is retold on the Seder night, if needed, may be fed Matzah throughout Erev Pesach, as well as on Pesach even prior to Kiddush. However, a child who can understand the story of the exodus is forbidden to be fed Matzah on Erev Pesach. This law applies whether the child is a boy or a girl.

G. Getting a haircut on Erev Pesach:

• It is a Mitzvah upon a person to get a haircut on Erev Pesach in honor of Yom Tov, in order so one does not enter into the holiday looking unrespectable.
• Until when is a haircut permitted on Erev Pesach? It is forbidden to get or give a haircut past midday.
• May one get a haircut prior to Davening? It is forbidden to get a haircut prior to Davening. This prohibition begins from Alos Hashachar. However, prior to Alos it is permitted.
• If one began a haircut before midday and it is now past midday may he complete the haircut? Yes.
  • The Kavanos of a Haircut: One is to intend upon getting a haircut that he is removing the powers of severity and is fulfilling the Mitzvah of having Peyos and the Mitzvah of paying a worker for his job on the same day and the Mitzvah of honoring Yom Tov. One can fulfill a total of fourteen Mitzvos when he gets a haircut.

H. Cutting the nails: 

• It is a Mitzvah to cut one’s nails on Erev Pesach in honor of Yom Tov, just as is the law on Erev Shabbos. [One is to cut his nails prior to immersing.]

I. Seder preparation to do list:

• Immerse new vessels in a Mikveh.
• Don’t eat lettuce; apples; pears; nuts.
• Wash and clean the lettuce.
• Don’t soak the lettuce that will be used for Maror, in water for 24 hours.
• Roast the Zeroa-neck of the chicken.
• Do not roast any meat or poultry to be eaten for Seder night. One may roast fish. Don’t cook the meat in a pot without liquids, even if it will simmer in its own juice. One may roast the meat and then cook it.
• Set up the Seder table.
• Check the Matzos for Kefulos.
• Separate Challah from the Matzos if needed.
• Place wine in the Charoses before Shabbos. Alternatively, place the Charoses in a large amount of wine prior to the dipping, and mix with your finger.
• Make salt water
• Cook the egg for Beitza.
• If you don’t have a broken plate for the spilling of the wine by the Makos, then chip a plastic bowl before Yom Tov.

J. Roasting meat for the Seder:

• It is forbidden to roast meat on Erev Pesach for the sake of the Seder meal, as one may not eat roasted meat on the night of the Seder. In the Diaspora, this applies towards the meals of both Sedarim.
• What is the definition of roasting? Roasting includes any cooking that is done without additional liquids, such as barbecuing, baking or cooking in a pot without any liquid. The meat is considered roasted even if it simmers in gravy that it released. Some Poskim rule it is likewise forbidden to fry the meat with only oil.
• What meats are included in the above prohibition? All meats that require Shechita are included in the roasting prohibition. Thus, one may not roast beef, lamb, chicken or other meat or poultry. One may roast fish.
• May one roast the meat and then cook it in water? Yes. One may roast the meat if it will afterwards be cooked.
• May one cook the meat and then roast it without water? No. One may not roast the meat even after it has been cooked.
• Liver: One may not eat liver on the night of Pesach as liver is roasted.
• Smoked meat: One may not eat smoked meat on the night of Pesach as it is considered like roasted.
• May one eat roasted meat on the Pesach day meal? Yes.

K. Mincha Erev Pesach:

• Seder Karban Pesach: In preparation for the Pesach offering, one is to learn the detailed laws of the Karban Pesach as written in the Siddur. It is read after Mincha of Erev Pesach, as Mincha corresponds to the afternoon Tamid offering which was brought prior to the Pesach offering. It is to be read before sunset.
• Pesach Erev Shabbos: If Pesach falls on Erev Shabbos, one is to recite Hodu and Patach Eliyahu before Mincha.