Thirty day before Pesach Reminders

Thirty day before Pesach Reminders

Avoiding sticky Chametz starting from thirty days before Pesach:[1]
From thirty days before Pesach it is proper to be careful to avoid getting Chametz stuck onto surfaces, in a way that the Chametz will not be easily removable when Erev Pesach arrives.

Giving children play dough within thirty days before Pesach:
Many varieties of Play dough are made of actual Chametz.[2] The company brand Play-doh, which is the main manufacturer of the item, makes the compound from flour, water, and food coloring.[3] Therefore, in compliance with the previous law of avoiding Chameitz that is difficult to remove, it is suggested that children not be given play-doh to play with starting from Purim and onwards, unless they are properly supervised. There are alternative brands of Play-dough that do not contain Chametz, and thus would not pose a problem in their use over [Chol Hamoed] Pesach.

Avoiding getting Chameitz in Sefarim:[4]
One is to be careful that crumbs do not fall into Sefarim beginning from Purim and onwards. If one is learning while eating he is to verify that the Sefer is clean of any crumbs prior to closing it in order so he does not find the crumbs on Pesach. ]

Laundry and ironing starch:
Starch is used in laundering and ironing clothing in order to give it a fresh look and stiff feel. There are a number of forms of clothing starch, some of which use Kitniyus ingredients [i.e. corn flour, potato flour] and others which use actual Chameitz, such as wheat flour. The following is the law regarding starching one’s clothing prior to Pesach.
Chameitz starch:[5] One is not to starch ones clothing or tablecloths with a Chametz based starch if he will be using those clothing over Pesach while eating foods.[6] This applies even if the starch is not visible on the clothing.[7] [Seemingly, this applies even to starching the clothing prior to thirty days before Pesach.[8]] In the event that one starched his clothing or tablecloth with such starch, it is forbidden to place it on the table or wear while one is eating. Likewise, one may not wrap any Pesach foods in this garment, even before Pesach. One may however wear the clothing during Pesach during non-eating times. [If the Chameitz starch has been spoiled to the point it is not edible to a dog, then one may usethis starch for his clothing and may wear such clothing on Pesach.[9]]
Kitniyus starch:[10] One may starch his clothing using Kitniyos starch and may even wear them while eating on Pesach.

Buying Hagadahs:[11]
One is to buy a personal Hagadah for each of his children. The Hagadahs are to contain pictures and designs in order to arouse the interest of the child.

Buying Pesach vessels:
One is to buy beautiful vessles in honor of Pesach and have them set on the table for the night of the Seder.[12] Those Chameitz vessels that are difficult to clean and Kasher, it is best to buy a new vessel for Pesach.[13] [Some[14] write that it is always proper to have a Pesach set of vessels rather than to Kasher, in order to avoid complications.] 

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[1] 436/23; M”A 436/end; Bach 436; Aguda 2/16; Maharil p. 11; M”B 436/32

[2] Playdough can be made in a variety of ways. Most Play-doughs on the market consist of flour and water. Home-made recipes will include salt, flour or corn starch, a vegetable, canola, or olive oil and cream of tartar. Nevertheless there are some companies that make it from other non-chametz ingredients. Such non-Chametz play doughs are commonly called Plasticine [Plastalina in Hebrew] or silly putty. One is to verify the brand that is being used and the ingredients they use to make their dough. Nevertheless most play doghs using real flour will feel softer than regular silly putty or Plastelina and can hence be told apart.

[3] Ingredients provided by the Play-Doh company “Hasbro”: The compound is primarily a mixture of water, salt, and flour.

Must play-doh be destroyed before Pesach even though it is not edible? Play-doh is consumable and does not contain any poisons or dangerous material for a human. It thus must be destroyed just like a piece of actual dough. It does not follow the allowance of owning Chametz that is not food, which is brought in 422/22, as there it is referring to Taaruvos Chametz while here it is Chametz Beiyn. Nevertheless perhaps it should be viewed as Chametz Nuksha being that it is not meant to be eaten, and is hence exactly similar to the dough made by the Sofrim, mentioned in 442/20, which is Chametz Nuksha. Thus although it must be destroyed or sold to the gentile before Pesach, if one did not do so and found play-doh on Pesach, it is be destroyed without a blessing as is the law by Chameizt Nuksha in 442/20.

[4] Aruch Hashulchan 436/15

[5] Admur 442/26; M”A 442/4; Chok Yaakov 442/11

[6] The reason: As it is forbidden to place clothing laundered with Chametz starch on the eating table during Pesach, as perhaps some of its Chametz will fly off and land into ones food. Likewise, the women scarfs which are customarily starched with flour until they become thick are not to be worn while eating as it is common for the flour to fly off of it. [Admur ibid]

[7] Admur 442/26 in the beginning of the Halacha

[8] Implication of Admur ibid who does not mention any differentiation between before and after thirty days, even though in the previous Halacha a differentiation is made; Rav Mordechai Belinuv in Paamei Yaakov 16/27

The reason: Although the flour starch that is on the clothing and other items loses its texture after thirty days and hence is allowed to be owned over Pesach even if the flour is visible and there is a Kezayis of flour on the garment, [Admur 442/25; Michaber 422/3] nevertheless, since the flour is still edible to a dog it therefore contains a complete eating prohibition. For this reason it is forbidden to place it in proximity to food, as if it falls into food it is not nullified in majority but rather requires 60x. [see Admur 447/18] This is unlike Chameitz that has spoiled to the point it is no longer fit for a dog, in which case majority suffices. [Admur 442/33] Accoridngly, there are four levels of Chameitz: 1) Actual Chameaitz which may not be owned and is never nullified; 2) Chameitz Nuksha which may not be owned and is nullified in 60x; 3) Chameitz that has lost its texture which may be owned but reuires 60x. 4) Chameitz that is spoiled for a dog which may be woned and is nullified in majority. [Paamei Yaakov ibid]

[9] Based on Admur 442/33; Paameiy Yaakov ibid

[10] Admur 453/5 that one may have Kitniyus products on ones table. We do not suspect that the oil will fall into food, as even if it does it is nullified in majority.

[11] Sichas Purim 1987 brought in Otzer Minhagei Chabad Purim 238

[12] See Admur 472/6 that one is to have beautiful vessles on the table on the night of Pesach in accordance to his affordability. Thus, one is to purchase beautiful vessels befoire Pesach in order to fulfill this Mitzvah.

[13] See Admur 451/14

[14] Yerushas Hapleita 20; Meiam Loez Bo; Piskeiy Teshuvos 451/2;