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/ This year the search for the Chometz will take place on Thursday night at nightfall, the night of 13 Nissan. The proper time for the search is right at nightfall (Tzeis HaChochovim, when the three stars appear). One who delays doing it at that time is considered (in the words of the Alter Rebbe 431:6) as one who has negated performing a decree of the chachomim. One is not permitted to start within a half hour of nightfall any activity, including learning, eating a meal, etc. Even if one was involved in doing any of these activities prior to the half hour, he must cease his activity at nightfall and do the search. (Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch 431:6) One who normally davens Maariv alone at home, should start the search at nightfall and delay the Maariv and the saying of Shema until after the search, since by not doing the search at the time that the Chachomim instituted it, one is considered as if being in violation and therefore it is considered as a "mitzvah overes" (a mitzvah whose time is passing). (Alter Rebbe's S.A. 431:6-7) However, if one usually davens Maariv with a Minyan at nightfall, then one should first do Maariv and then do the search when they come home. (Alter Rebbe's S.A. 431:8) Note: For Chitas, one should be aware that this coming week is a double Parsha - Vayakheil Pekudei.
Note: For those who are preparing to finish a Mesechta for a Siyum to absolve the first-borns from fasting, should realize that the Siyum will take place this year on Thursday morning, the 12th of Nissan and should plan accordingly. |
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/ The proper night for doing Bedikas Chometz is the night before Erev Pesach. [This year, since the night before Erev Pesach is Friday night, it will be done on Thursday night.] If for some reason an individual wants to do the search a night earlier, he is permitted to do it, provided a) he does not say a brocho before that search, b) he leaves over at least one room which he will be able to search on the proper night and c) he makes sure not to bring in any chometz into the searched rooms. (Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch 433:7) It is customary, for a number of reasons, to use with the search a wooden spoon which should be burned the next morning with the chometz. (Nitei Gavriel Pesach 7:8) In order to make the search easier, one should clean and vacuum all the rooms prior to starting the search. Prior to the start of the search it is customary to place 10 pieces of bread throughout the house. Although it is the Alter Rebbe's opinion that even if no chometz were found, it would still not be a brocho levatala (in vain), nevertheless since this custom has been widely accepted, and Minhag Yisroel Torah Hu (the customs of the Jewish people is Torah), one should place these pieces around the house. (Alter Rebbe's S.A. 432:11) [In a previous Halacha, it was mentioned the opinion of Rabbi Chaim No'ah that in his interpretation if one bedeeved did not say the brocho over the blossoming of the tree during Nissan, he would still be able to say it in Iyar. However, it has been brought to my attention that in a letter of the Rebbe that is printed in Shaarei Halacha uMinhag Vol. 1 pg 220, the Rebbe'states that one should not say it after the month of Nissan.]
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ The ten pieces of bread that is placed around the house should be placed right before the search, and not during the day. Members of the household should place the pieces throughout the house. Since there are usually a number of people (children) who wish to get into the act, it would be advisable to make a list of all the locations where the bread is placed.One should be careful to only use pieces of bread that will not crumble into smaller pieces and possibly get lost and unnoticed. As an added protection, the pieces should be placed in paper, or wrapped in saran wrap. It would not be advisable to use aluminum foil, since aluminum foil does not burn well and will prevent the bread from being burned properly. The Nitei Gavriel advises that no individual piece should be larger than a Kazayis, so that if one piece is lost, it will not be necessary to re-search the house again. However, all the ten pieces together should be at least to a Kazayis.Even if one has found all ten pieces, one must continue searching the rest of the house, for if one searches just for the pieces, one would not fulfill properly the requirement of searching. In an earlier Halacha we mentioned that on Rosh Chodesh Nissan a choson and kallah who are getting married would still fast. The same would apply to parents who are accustomed to fast on the wedding day of their children.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ Prior to starting the search, one is required to say the Brocho...asher kidshonu....al biur chametz. If in error one said "leva'eir chametz," it is acceptable and another brocho is unnecessary. A Shehecheyanu is not recited. (Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch 432:1,4,3) If one forgot to recite the brocho before starting the search, he can still say the brocho, provided that there is still more to search. Once he has finished searching, he cannot say the Brocho. Nevertheless, he should say the brocho (without the words Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haiolom) when burning the chometz that he found during the search. (A.R.S.A. 432:5) One is not permitted to speak at all between the time he completes the brocho and the start of the search, even matters that pertain to the search. If one however did speak before starting the actual search and it was matters pertaining to the search, then it is not necessary to resay the brocho. If, however, it was matters that do not pertain to the search, one would have to resay the brocho before starting the search. (A.R.S.A. 432:6)
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ This coming Shabbos, Parshas Vayakheil Pekudei is Shabbos Mevorchim. Rosh Chodesh Nissan is on Sunday.The Molad is on Shabbos afternoon at 5:41 and 10 chalokim. In addition to being Shabbos Mevorchim, it is also Shabbos Parshas HaChodesh. Two Sifrei Torah are removed from the Aron. In the first Sefer Torah, the Parsha of the week - Vayakheil Pekudei - is read and seven Aliyos are distributed. The second sefer is placed adjacent to the first and the half Kaddish is recited, after which Hagbaah and Gelilah are done on the first Torah. In the second Torah we read for Maftir from Parshas Bo (12:1-20). For the Haftorah we read from Yechezkiel (45:18 - 46:16). After completing the Haftorah for HaChodesh, one also reads the first and last Psukim of the Haftorah Mochor Chodesh (which is usually read when Erev Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbos). Since it is Shabbos Mvorchim, Av HoRachamim is not recited before Musaf.Since it is Erev Rosh Chodesh, Tzidkoscho is omitted from the Mincha Tefila. If one who was eating Seudah Shlishis continued his meal into the night and ate a Kazayis of bread when it was already night, he needs to say both Retzei and Yaale VeYovo in bentching.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ One must use the light of a candle to do the search. One cannot fulfill the mitzvah with the light of the moon, even if the amount of light is sufficient for the search. If one did not search during the night, and needs to search during the day (Erev Pesach), one must still use a candle, and also say the Brocho. Some Poskim recommend closing the shades in order to darken the room somewhat. The candle used for the search should be of a single wick and prefereable of beeswax.One should not use oil lights for the search, unless no candles are available. The Nitei Gavriel (Pesach 17:19) quotes a number of Poskim that permit the use of a small flashlight in places where searching with a candle is inadvisable and difficult due to the possibility of starting a fire.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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>Questions or Comments [In response to inquiries where Vol. 4 of my Chagaynu on Pesach is available. Tzivos Hashem Bookstore has them and Judaica World will have them at the beginning of the week.] |
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/ Since one of the purposes of the Shabbos Hagodol sermon is to teach the various laws that one needs to know for Pesach, it would be of no value to give the sermon on Shabbos Hagodol which is Erev Pesach (such as this year). Therefore, most opinions state that the sermon should be give a week earlier (7 Nissan). Especially, since people need to be told of how to conduct themselves when Erev Shabbos comes out on Shabbos. On Motzoei Shabbos of 7 Nissan, Vehi Noam and Ve'Ata Kodosh is recited since every day of the following week is a working day.Since the first born cannot fast on Erev Pesach when it comes ou on Shabbos, the fast is advanced to Thursday, the 12th of Nissan. Since the fast of the first-born is advanced and not taking place on Erev Pesach, if one did not manage to participate in a Siyum or other Seudas Mitzvah and is not feeling well or finds it difficult to fast, should consult with a Rav, because there are various options, such as redeeming the fast through Tzedokah, that are available. The same would apply to a father who needs to fast on behalf of his minor first born son.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ As previously mentioned, the search for Chometz this year takes place on Thursday night. Since one is not permited to eat prior to the search, if a first-born is fasting on that Thursday, he must do the search while fasting. If it is difficult for him to do the search under that situation, he would be permitted to take a light snack. If one had not yet done Kiddush Levana by Thursday night and there is a visible moon before the search, he should first do Kiddush Levana and then do the search. If one forgot to do the search on Thursday night, he can do it on Friday during the day using a candle and with a Brocho (Alter Rebbe's S.A. 455:1, Nitei Gavriel) If one forgot to do the search anytime before Shabbos, it cannot be done on Friday night even with the assistance of a non-Jew. (A.R.S.A. 435:3, 444:1) On Friday morning, the 13th of Nissan, Mizmor Lesodah IS said during Shacharis.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ Opinions vary as to when the Chometz should be sold in a situation when Erev Pesach comes out on Shabbos. According to certain opinions, the chometz should be sold by the end of the fifth hour -just as it is done every year. According to other opinions, including Rav Moshe Feinstein and the Debreciner Rav, it may be sold until Chatzos. It would seem from what the Alter Rebbe writes in 454:5 regarding removal of the chometz is before chatzos that the same would apply to selling the chometz. However, if one had forgotten to sell the chometz by the prescribed time on Friday, it would be permitted to sell it later during the day.When the chometz is sold to the non-Jew on Friday, it is made clear to him that the sale does not include the chometz which was set aside to be eaten Friday night and Shabbos morning.Retailers and others who are in the business of selling chometz and wish to do so on Friday afternoon should consult with their Rav for guidance. One is permitted to take a haircut and cut one's nails throughout the day of 13 Nissan (Friday).
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ One really needs to be careful as to where Chometz is eaten on Friday afternoon, the 13th of Nissan, since the house is clean for Pesach and it is not possible on Friday night or Shabbos morning to do many forms of cleaning. It is advisable to give children Pesach food to eat that day. One must remember or make arrangements for the garbage to be removed from one's property before the start of Shabbos. For those people who need to make an Eiruv Chatzeiros, it is customary to make it right before Pesach and in this way the Matzah that is used can stay until the following Pesach. The Matzah, however, should not be used for the following year, for one cannot be positively sure that the Matzah had not come into any contact with Chometz during the year. However, prior to making the new Eiruv Chatzeiros for Pesach, one should either eat up the matzah of the past year (which is not a viable solution for Chabad, since Matzah is not eaten from an earlier period) or to burn it with the chometz. If the old matzah was still available when the new Eiruv is made, it would be questionable whether a brocho may be said. Those who are accustomed to bake Matzos on Erev Pesach after Chatzos do it this year on Friday afternoon. There are dissenting opinions among the poskim whether Hallel should be said during the baking of these Matzos on Friday, but for Chabad, this is a moot matter, since Chabad does not say the Hallel even at the actual Erev Pesach baking.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, as this year, the Chometz needs to be burned on Friday. It should be done before the end of the fifth hour, as is done every year in order to avoid confusion. (Although the Alter Rebbe writes before Chatzos, the Hishkashrus of this week says that it should be done before the 5th hour.) However, the Kol Chamiro is not said on Friday. It is delayed until Shabbos morning after all the Chometz has been disposed of and before the end of the fifth hour. The Yehi Ratzon which is said at the time of chometz burning should still be done on Friday. (This is what the Rebbe did in the years 5737 and 5741 [1977,1981]). If in error one did say Kol Chamiro Friday morning, he should repeat it again on Shabbos.If one forgot to burn the Chometz in the morning, then it can be done anytime on Friday - before the ushering in of Shabbos. Since there are so many things that need to be done before the start of Shabbos, it is advisable to make a list. The list should include preparing the charoses, roasting the zeroa, preparing the saltwater, grating the horseradish, cooking the egg [Although there is no problem with cooking the eggs on Motzoei Shabbos for THAT seder, since we will be eating the egg, if it is prepared before Shabbos, it can help start the Seder a few minutes earlier], arranging the time clocks for the lights, making sure thereare enough candles for Motzoei Shabbos, making sure that there will be an existing fire with which to light the candles on Motzoei Shabbos, opening the bottles of wine and grape juice.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ The most convenient manner of having the Shabbos meals is to eat foods which have been cooked Kosher for Pesach. However, since one is required to eat Challah for Lechem Mishnah on Friday night and Shabbos morning, one should take these precautions. If one will be eating the challah on the same table as they will eat the Pesach meals, a disposable tablecloth should be placed on top of the table. Since this tablecloth will need to be removed, the Shabbos candles should not be placed on the table. (Even those who follow the opinion that it would be permitted to move the candelabra with the tray, if a non-muktza item of value was placed on the tray, this is not possible for Friday night, since the candles will still be burning when one is ready to eat the meal.) One must make sure that while Kiddush is being said, if it is a cup that is used on Pesach, that it does not come into contact with the challah. The challah should be kept in the plastic bag until after Kiddush, and the kiddush cup should be removed before the Hamotzi is said. Many may find it more convenient to use disposable plates and flatware for the Shabbos meals, since they can not be washed until after Shabbos is over and this may possibly delay the start of the Seder.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ Since one is required to have Lechem Mishna for Friday night and Shabbos morning, some of the practical solutions that are offered are: Either to make Kiddush and eat the Challah in a room which will be closed off for Pesach and then continue the regular meal which is pesachdik in the regular eating room. The downside of this is that one is supposed to bentch in the same place where one ate Hamotzi, thus requiring a return to the original room. One should consult a Rav if one wants to use this solution in which way to best do this. Another suggestion is to eat the challah in the regular eating room. However, one covers the table with a disposable tablecloth and eats the challah very carefully over the napkin. Afterwards the crumbs are flushed down the toilet and the tablecloth can be put away with the chometz. Others will set aside a small table or bouffet upon which to eat the challah. Likewise, it should be covered and eaten carefully over a napkin. A suggestion which is mentioned in many seforim but which presents brocho problems is making the Lechem Mishna on egg matzos (which also have the requirement to finish it before the end of the 4th hour). The problem is that since it is not officially bread, a Hamotzi and Bircas HaMozon cannot be said over it unless one eats a sufficient amount, even if it is being combined with a ful meal. According to Rav Moshe Feinstein (as stated in contemporary seforim) one would need to eat at least 2 whole egg matzos. According to the Alter Rebbe, it would seem that one needs to eat a quantity about 4 times that amount. If one wants to use the egg matzah solution, it is advisable to consult one's Rav first. Some Poskim feel that one should specifically eat chometz challah, since this is a way that one fulfills biur chometz on Erev Pesach.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ Since one must consume one's chometz on Shabbos morning before the end of the 4th hour, it is necessary to start the Shabbos tefilos much earlier, so that one can get home, say Kiddush, wash and consume their challah before the proper time. The Chazonim should not prolong their davening. After finishing the Chometz, one's mouth should be rinsed out. One can use a dry toothbrush, but one must be careful not to cause any bleeding of the gums. The toothbrush is not to be rinsed out afterwards, but just have it placed among the chometz. One who has braces should consult with their Rav regarding eating challah on Shabbos. I have heard that some Rabbonei Lubavitch advise against eating Challah that Shabbos. After all the chometz has been disposed of, either by flushing it down the toilet, or placing it among the rest of the chometz, but before the end of the fifth hour one should say the Kol Chamiro which is usually said when the chometz is burned.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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>Questions or Comments May we all succeed in removing all of our own personal chometz and have a Kosher and Freilichen Pesach. [The Daily Halacha will resume bl"n after Pesach. Those to whom I did not have a chance yet to reply to your emails, I will get to them bl"n right after Pesach] |
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welcome back Rabbi Wenger / The proper time to count the Omer starts at Tzeis Hakochavim (when three stars appear).When counting the Omer, it is necessary to mention both the days of the omer as well as the weeks. If one forgets to count the Omer at night and one realizes his omission during the following day, he can say the proper Omer without a Brocho.If however, one did not realize his omission until the following night, he can no longer count the Omer with a Brocho. If it is possible for him to listen to the Brocho when someone else is saying it, he should ask the other person to have him in mind when he says the brocho and after carefully listening to the brocho he should answer Amen and then count the omer. If one is in doubt and does not recall if he counted the Omer the previous night or not, then he is permitted to continue counting with a brocho.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ Although the proper time to count the Omer is at the beginning of the night, one can "bedieved " count with a brocho until Alos HaShachar. One should stand while counting the Omer.If one asks of another person after sunset, what day in Sefirah is it? and the other individual has not yet counted the Omer, he should not tell him what day it is now. Rather, he should say that "yesterday was such a number of days."However, if while kit was day, he said that "tonight is such and such a day in the Omer," he would be permitted to count the Omer at night with a Brocho. Our custom is to first count the Omer, then say Aleinu and afterwards say Kaddish. If someone is davening in a congregation where Kaddish is said once after the Omer and once after Oleinu, he should do likewise and not get into a disagreement over this.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ Although there are various opinions as to whether women should count the Omer or not, the prevailing custom amongst Ashkenazic Jews is that women do count the Omer, and they can even say it with a Brocho.A woman can exempt another woman with the Brocho, but she cannot exempt with her brocho any male even a child who has stopped saying the Brocho. Although a child is trained to count the Omer with a Brocho, he cannot say the Brocho if he missed counting for a complete day. If one converts during the sefirah days, he count the Omer without a Brocho. One who knows that he will be a Onen r"l (the status of an individual after the death of an immediate family member, prior to the funeral) for a complete day, then according to the Nodah Beyehuda he should count the Omer without a brocho on the night that he is an Onen and then he will be able to continue counting the rest of the time with a Brocho. According to other opinions, he may not count the Omer at all until after the Onen period ends and then he will need to count the rest of the days without a Brocho. In such situations, one should consult their Rav for guidance.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ The proper time to count the Omer is as close as possible after Tzeis Hakochavim.It is more ideal for a person to count the Omer together with a minyan, rather than doing it alone. It is preferable to count the Omer after davening Maariv, since Maariv is more frequent. However, one is permitted to count before Maariv if need be. Therefore, if one comes late to shul and the congregation is going to count the Omer, he should do it with them and then daven Maariv. Although one should wait until tzeis Hakochavim to count the Omer properly, there are those opinions which permit the Omer to be counted with a brocho from sunset on. (See Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch 489:12 for more.) However, one cannot count the Omer before sunset. According to certain opinions, if one did count the Omer between sunset and Tzeiis, they should count it over again after Tzeis without a brocho. One who davened Maariv early (after Plag HaMincha) and counted the Omer at that time, needs to recount the Omer later on. According to the Alter Rebbe, he recounts it without a Brocho.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ If an individual had not counted Sefirah on Thursday night or Friday and realized his omission on Friday evening before sunset, but he had already accepted Shabbos or the Minyan had already davened an early Maariv, he should still count that days Omer and then continue counting with a Brocho. When one is in doubt as to whether he counted the previous night or not, and for sure he did not count during the day, he is still permitted to continue counting with a brocho. Likewise, if he is positive that he did not count the previous night but is in doubt as to what he did during the day, he may still continue counting with a brocho. However, if he discovers that on the previous day he counted the wrong day, he cannot count any longer with a brocho.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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/ One is not permitted during the sefirah counting days to sit down to eat a meal or do work within a half hour before Tzeis Hakochovim. [According to some opinions, this prohibition even starts earlier, a half hour before sunset-See Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch 489:17 for specifics] If one violated this rule and did start eating a meal (or do work) before Tzeis, then according to the Alter Rebbe (ibid), he does not need to interrupt his meal to count, but he can wait until he finishes the meal. However, if he started the meal after Tzeis, without counting the Omer, it is necessary to interrupt his meal and count the Omer. If he began his meal prior to the prohibited times, then he may [according to all opinions] continue eating into the night and count the Omer after the meal.If however, he has someone who will remind him to count the Omer then he is permitted to eat or do work until Tzeis.
Compiled by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger
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