Question
: When does one make the beracha for bedikas chametz and what is the correct time for performing the mitzvah?
Answer:
Before the Bedika one should make the Bracha of Asher Kidishanu BeMitzvotav VeTzivanu Al Biur Chametz. If one accidentally made the Bracha of Al Bitul Chametz after the fact one has fulfilled the obligation.One has also fulfilled his obligation if he recites “livaer chametz.”
One may not speak between the Bracha and beginning the Bedika, and if one did make an interruption not related to the Bedika one must make another Bracha. (Mishna Brurah 432:3 explains that we don’t recite al bedikat chametz because the search is only for the purpose of the destruction).
After one began it’s preferable not to speak until one completes the Bedika, however it’s permissible to speak even in matters not related to Bedika.
Some poskim say that one must search even for crumbs of Chametz and remove them.However, most poskim say that there’s no obligation to check for crumbs of chametz, but the places where one will have kosher for pesach food must be cleaned of all crumbs of chametz so that not even a crumb gets into the food which will be eaten on Pesach.
Chametz that is buried in the cracks in the floor or between the back of a cabinet and the wall and people can’t reach one doesn’t have to do Bedika there.
The Chazon Ish 116:18 writes that you need to section off chametz crumbs like chametz of a non-Jew (Pesachim 6a). See regarding checking sefarim that the Chazon Ish checked his sefarim for crumbs. See, however, Gemara Pesachim 6b that implies that crumbs aren’t significant and don’t need bedika. Maharam Chalavah holds that one doesn’t need to destroy a crumb less than a kezayis except for dough pieces which could combine into a kezayis.
One should perform bedikat chametz in the beginning of the night on the fourteenth of Nisan.
Shulchan Aruch 431:1. Mishna Brurah (431:1) writes that according to the Shulchan Aruch one should check after tzeit ha-kochavim. The Gr”a (431:1) cites the opinion of the Ra’avad who says that one should begin while there is still light outside. See Maaseh Rav ,who says that the Gra would begin Bedika slightly before Tzet HaKochavim. Nonetheless, Rabbi Eliyahu Spira in Eliyah Rabbah (431:5) explains that even the Gr”a agrees that one shouldn’t begin until tzeit ha-kochavim, however, at that time there still is a little bit of light outside
If one usually follows Rabeinu Tam, some say that one should make sure to start the Bedika after Tzet HaKochavim of Rabeinu Tam and some say that one should begin before Tzet HaKochavim of Rabeinu Tam at the time of accepted Tzet HaKochavim (while it’s still slightly light outside).
If one is praying with a minyan one should pray first and then perform Bedika. However, if one is praying at home, preferably one should appoint someone else to do Bedika while one prays, otherwise, pray first, unless one usually prays at home in which case some say one should check first and some say one should pray first.Some recommend for a person davening at home that they should daven maariv at the ideal time, which is Tzet Hakochavim, and then starting the bedika.
If one is going to come home after Tzet HaKochavim one should appoint someone as an agent (Shaliach) so that it can be done at the proper time. However, if the man is working at night and wants to fulfill the mitzvah himself, he may appoint his wife to do Bedika (with a Bracha) on the whole house except for one room and then do Bedika (with a Bracha) in that room when he returns. |