Bedikat Chametz: Difference between revisions

# 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 but rather just do Bitul when the times comes wherever one is. <Ref>S”A 436:1 </ref>

# If a person leaves one’s house within 30 days of Pesach and doesn’t plan to return for Pesach one must do Bedika with a candle the night before one leaves and then do Bitul Chametz afterwards, however the Bedika is done without a Bracha. <Ref> S”A 436:1 </ref>

## Since one is not going to be home for Pesach it’s 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 [http://www.ou.org/torah/article/oukosher_pre-pesach_webcast_5771 OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 2:30 and 5 </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 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 [http://www.ou.org/torah/article/oukosher_pre-pesach_webcast_5771 OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 2:30 and 5 </ref>

# If the owner/landlord has the keys at the time of the Bedika, then the owner is obligated in Bedika. <Ref> S”A 437:1, Mishna Brurah 437:2, Halachos of Pesach (pg 98) </ref>

# If the renter has the key to the house at the time of Bedika (14th at [[Tzet HaKochavim]]) and he has made a halachic acquisition (paying with cash), then he’s obligated to do Bedika. <Ref> S”A 437:1, Mishna Brurah 437:2, Halachos of Pesach (pg 98) </ref>

# However, if the renter has the key to the house but didn’t do a halachic acquisition, many say that the owner is obligated and some say that the renter is obligated. <Ref> S”A 437:1, Mishna Brurah 437:2, Halachos of Pesach (pg 98) </ref> Certainly the owner or renter can be appointed a שליח by the other and fulfill the obligation of Bedika. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 437:2, Halachos of Pesach (pg 99) </ref>

# If one arrives in the hotel before the 14th at night and plans on staying Pesach, then one should perform Bedika in the room with a Bracha. <Ref>Chovat Hadar (end of Sefer Dinei Bedikat Chametz), Siddur Pesach KeHilchato 12:8, Chag HaMatzot (Halachot VeMinhagim 5:32), Otzar Halachot vol 2 pg 124, Rav Schachter on [http://www.ou.org/torah/article/oukosher_pre-pesach_webcast_5771 OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 2:30 and 5, Piskei Teshuvot 437:1 </ref> Some maintain that one should check without a Bracha. <Ref>Sh”t Kinyan Torah 1:120, 5:33 </ref>

# If one arrives in the hotel on the day of the 14th, if the hotel did a Bedika on the 14th at night one doesn’t need to do Bedika, however, if the hotel didn’t do Bedika, one should do so with a Bracha. <Ref>Siddur Pesach KeHilchato 12:8, Piskei Teshuvot 437:1 </ref>

# If one is a guest in the hotel only for the 14th and plans on leaving before Pesach one should still do Bedika but without a Bracha. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 5:19, Piskei Teshuvot 437:1 </ref>

# If a Yeshiva student is leaving his dorm or apartment within 30 days of Pesach, even if he isn’t returning on Pesach, he has an obligation to do Bedikat Chametz the night before he leaves, without a Bracha <ref> The Gemara Pesachim 6a says that one who leaves his house within 30 days of Pesach, should do Biur even if he doesn’t plan on being home during Pesach. Rambam (Chametz 2:16) explains that this includes doing Bedika. S”A 436:1 agrees. Mishna Brurah 436:6 writes that one should do Bedika with a candle the night before leaving. Rama 436:1 writes that there’s no Bracha for this Bedika since it’s not performed on the night of the 14th. Torat HaYeshiva 14:2 applies this halacha to a Yeshiva student in dorms. </ref>, but with a candle or flashlight <ref> Taz 436:2 writes that besides the Bedika, one should do Bitul on Erev Pesach; Magen Avraham 436:1 argues that one should also do Bitul after the Bedika as one does by Bedika on the 14th. Biur HaGra 436:4, Mishna Brurah 436:3, and Kaf HaChaim 436:8 agree. </ref>, and then do Bitul. <Ref> Halachos of Pesach (p. 86) quotes Rav Moshe saying that a flashlight is better than using a candle and Rav Aharon Kotler as saying it is equivalent to a candle. Halichot Shlomo 5:11 writes that if one can’t use a candle, one should use a flashlight. Chazon Ovadyah (p. 38) agrees. </ref>  

# If a student in Yeshiva is in Yeshiva on Pesach, he is obligated to perform Bedika in his dorm room and if it’s done on the 14th at night it should be done with a Bracha. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:17), Dinim VeHanhagot 17:18 quoting the Chazon Ish, Siddur Pesach KeHilchato 12:9, Kovetz MeBet Levi (Nissan 5756), Chut HaSheni (Pesach pg 88), and Torat HaYeshiva write that a yeshiva student should perform Bedika in his dorm with a Bracha if it’s done on the 14th. </ref> However, some hold that the Bedika should be made without a Bracha. <Ref>Teshuvot VeHanhagot 1:287, Chovat Hadar (end of Sefer Dinei Bedikat Chametz), Mishpat HaSechirut 5:32 </ref>

# If one is staying at a relative for Pesach and has a room where will one be staying one should participate in the Bedika by listen to the Bracha on the Bedika and then checking the room one will be staying in. <Ref> Rav Schachter on [http://www.ou.org/torah/article/oukosher_pre-pesach_webcast_5771 OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 6 and 7 </ref>

# If one leaves one’s bungalow colony house within 30 days of Pesach one has to Bedika before one leaves, however if one leaves longer than 30 days before Pesach one doesn’t have to Bedika and it’s sufficient to do Bitul Chametz on the Chametz in that house unless one is going to come to the house on Pesach in which case one has to Bedika before Pesach. <Ref> Rav Yisrael Belsky on [http://www.ou.org/torah/article/oukosher_pre-pesach_webcast_5771 OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 11 and 12 </ref>

# One has to clean the house before Pesach and still do Bedika (with a Bracha) the night before Pesach. <Ref> Rav Yisrael Belsky on [http://www.ou.org/torah/article/oukosher_pre-pesach_webcast_5771 OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771] between minutes 12:45 and 15:45 </ref>

# Many authorities maintain that there is no obligation to check sefarim for Chametz crumbs. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo 5:6 writes that even though there’s a dispute whether the possible existence of crumbs necessitates Bedika, since the crumbs in sefarim would be disgusting sefarim don’t require Bedika. Chazon Ovadyah (p. 35), Or Letzion 1:32, Rav Mordechai Willig in Am Mordechai (p. 154), and Halachos of Pesach (p. 72) quoting Rav Moshe Feinstein agree. Maaseh Rav #178, however, writes that one should do Bedika on sefarim that he used during a meal. Chazon Ish 116:18 and Mishna Halachot 7:64 agree. Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 6) records the Steipler and Chazon Ish’s practice to check sefarim in advance of the night of 14th. </ref>If one is going to check one may do so in advance and doesn’t have to wait until the night of the 14th. <ref>Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 6) regarding the practice of the Steipler and Chazon Ish. </ref>

# Benchers and Zemiros booklets of the rest of the year should not be used on Pesach but rather sold to a non-Jew with [[Mechirat Chametz]]. <Ref>Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider; pg 72) </ref>

# One should check the pockets of clothing in which one sometimes puts Chametz. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 433:47 </ref> Many permit checking the pockets before the night of the 14th. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 433:7, Kaf HaChaim 433:89, Halachos of Pesach (pg 71) in name of Rav Moshe Feinstein </ref>  

# If one is not going to be home on Pesach and sell the house to a goy, it’s improper not to do Bedika. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, pg 101 note 14) </ref>

# It’s proper to check one’s car(s) for Chametz on the night of the 14th using a flashlight, otherwise, one should check it during the day. No Bracha is required for performing Bedika in a car. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:5) writes that one should check the cars on the night of the 14th and if not then it should be cjecked on the day. Halichot Shlomo and Halachos of Pesach (pg 71) in name of Rav Moshe Feinstein hold that no Bracha is made on this Bedika. </ref>  

## One doesn’t have to do Bitul Chametz after Bedika of the Shul or Bet Midrash <Ref>Mishna Brurah 433:43, Aruch HaShulchan 433:12 </ref> unless it belongs to an individual in which case one should do Bitul Chametz. <ref>Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider; pg 73) </ref>

# If one is unable to use a candle, one should use a flashlight. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 5:11), Piskei Teshuvot 431:2 </ref> Some say that one can fulfill the obligation with a flashlight but the minhag is to use a candle or to begin with a candle. <Ref> Halachos of Pesach (pg 86) quoting Rav Aharon Kotler and Rav Moshe Feinstein that the flashlight sufficies. </ref>

# One doesn’t have to turn off the electric lights while performing the Bedika. <Ref>Halachos of Pesach (pg 86) quoting Rav Moshe Feinstein, Piskei Teshuvot 431:2 saying that such is the minhag, Nitai Gavriel (Pesach v. 1, p. 112) </ref>

# 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>

# If one didn’t do it before Pesach, do it on Pesach unless one did Bitul Chametz before Pesach in which case one shouldn’t do Bedika on Pesach with a Bracha. <ref>S”A 435:1, Mishna Brurah 435:3,5 </ref>

# If one didn’t do Bedika during Pesach, do it after Pesach without a Bracha. <ref>S”A 435:1 </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>Piskei Teshuvot 446:1 quoting Mikrei Kodesh 1:74 </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>

# Before the Bedika one should make the Bracha of Asher Kidishanu BeMitzvotav VeTzivanu Al Biur Chametz. <Ref>S”A 432:1. Mishna Berura 432:3 and Chazon Ovadia Part 1 page 44 explain that we don't recite al bedikat chametz because the search is only for the purpose of the destruction.  </ref> If one accidentally made the Bracha of Al Bitul Chametz after the fact one has fulfilled the obligation. <ref>Mishna Brurah 432:3 </ref> One has also fulfilled his obligation if he recites "livaer chametz." <ref> Chazon Ovadia Pesach 5763 Part 1 page 44 </ref>