Summary of the main laws of Pessach
by Rabbi EZRAN (Z"L)
The following laws are copied from previous bulletins:
The Shabbat before Pessah is called Shabat Hagadol – the Big Shabbat. This title is used to indicate that the Jewish people enjoyed complete freedom from the Egyptian enslavement a whole week before they actually left Egypt. The custom today is to dedicate Shabbat Hagadol to review the laws and the customs of the Holiday.
Only five grains – Wheat, Barley, Spelt, Oat and Rye – become Hametz after they come in contact with water for more than 18 minutes and are not baked by then. The conclusion from this definition of Hametz is that rice, beans, corn, and garbanzo are not and cannot be Hametz. A person who does not eat those items on Pessah is following a custom- and only a custom- and not the Jewish law.
To eliminate the possibility that a grain of wheat is in the rice we check the rice three times. Sometimes the rice is ‘coated’ with starch therefore we must rinse the rice several times before we use it in Pessah. If the family tradition is not to eat these items in Passover, a person should follow the family tradition.
Medicine – In a life threatening illness a person is allowed to use any medicine that the doctor prescribes even if it does contain Hametz. If the illness is NOT life threatening a person can consume medicine that has hametz ingredients only if the medicine is not tasty and it is swallowed without chewing.
Beauty Aids, including toothpaste, may be used in Pessah regardless of their ingredients if they were bought before Pessah. The same is correct for glue and shoe polishing materials.
One is permitted to buy the following items BEFORE Pessah and use them during Pessah, even if they do not have a special Kasher LePessah symbol.
Hametz which is going to be consumed after Pessah should be sold to a Goy through a synagogue. The form of selling the Hametz is available on the main page and it should be sent to the synagogue as soon as possible.
The time for checking Hametz is on the day before Erev Pessach (check schedule above) after nightfall. Ten pieces of bread wrapped with paper should be put in different corners of the house. Using the light of only one candle, a person recites the Beracha – Al Biur Hametz. After checking for Hametz throughout the house, the blessing “Kol Hamira Vahamia” is said.
The ten wrapped pieces of bread and Hametz, which is left over, should be burnt not later than the morning before erev Pessach (check schedule above). After burning the Hametz –the blessing "Kol Hamira Vahamia" is recited.
The last time to eat Hametz on the morning before Pessach (see schedule above). A person is not allowed to eat or to enjoy Hametz in any way, like feeding it to a pet or selling it, after that time.
A person who did not check for Hametz on the night before erev Pessach should check for it on the morning before erev Pessach. If they do not check before then it should be checked on the first possible opportunity during Pessah.
If a person does not plan to be at his home during Pessah and he leaves his home less than thirty days before the Holiday, he should check for Hametz, with the ten pieces of wrapped bread and one candle, the night before he leaves.
However the blessing of Al Beur Hametz and Kol Hamira is not said. Kol Hamira should be recited on the eve of Pessah even if the person is not at his home.
Maot Hitttim
A sacred custom obligates each member of the community to contribute – according to his or her best ability – money for the poor for Pessah. This money is dedicated to answer their needs and to enable them to celebrate the holiday properly.
The Sedarim are celebrated on the first and second nights of Pessah (see schedule above). A person should recline to his or her left side when eating the Haroseth, the Korech, the Matzah after the blessing of Hamotzi, and when drinking the four cups of wine. Reclining emphasizes the fact of freedom on Pessah. We do not recline during the eating of the maror alone.
Counting of the Omer will begin on the second night of Pessach.
The Shabbat before Pessah is called Shabat Hagadol – the Big Shabbat. This title is used to indicate that the Jewish people enjoyed complete freedom from the Egyptian enslavement a whole week before they actually left Egypt. The custom today is to dedicate Shabbat Hagadol to review the laws and the customs of the Holiday.
Only five grains – Wheat, Barley, Spelt, Oat and Rye – become Hametz after they come in contact with water for more than 18 minutes and are not baked by then. The conclusion from this definition of Hametz is that rice, beans, corn, and garbanzo are not and cannot be Hametz. A person who does not eat those items on Pessah is following a custom- and only a custom- and not the Jewish law.
To eliminate the possibility that a grain of wheat is in the rice we check the rice three times. Sometimes the rice is ‘coated’ with starch therefore we must rinse the rice several times before we use it in Pessah. If the family tradition is not to eat these items in Passover, a person should follow the family tradition.
Medicine – In a life threatening illness a person is allowed to use any medicine that the doctor prescribes even if it does contain Hametz. If the illness is NOT life threatening a person can consume medicine that has hametz ingredients only if the medicine is not tasty and it is swallowed without chewing.
Beauty Aids, including toothpaste, may be used in Pessah regardless of their ingredients if they were bought before Pessah. The same is correct for glue and shoe polishing materials.
One is permitted to buy the following items BEFORE Pessah and use them during Pessah, even if they do not have a special Kasher LePessah symbol.
- 100% pure orange juice, 100% pure apple juice, and 100% pure Kosher grape juice, so long they have no additional ingredients
- 100% pure corn oil
- 100% pure natural honey and pure natural jelly
- Cottage cheese without any additional ingredients.
- Milk
Hametz which is going to be consumed after Pessah should be sold to a Goy through a synagogue. The form of selling the Hametz is available on the main page and it should be sent to the synagogue as soon as possible.
The time for checking Hametz is on the day before Erev Pessach (check schedule above) after nightfall. Ten pieces of bread wrapped with paper should be put in different corners of the house. Using the light of only one candle, a person recites the Beracha – Al Biur Hametz. After checking for Hametz throughout the house, the blessing “Kol Hamira Vahamia” is said.
The ten wrapped pieces of bread and Hametz, which is left over, should be burnt not later than the morning before erev Pessach (check schedule above). After burning the Hametz –the blessing "Kol Hamira Vahamia" is recited.
The last time to eat Hametz on the morning before Pessach (see schedule above). A person is not allowed to eat or to enjoy Hametz in any way, like feeding it to a pet or selling it, after that time.
A person who did not check for Hametz on the night before erev Pessach should check for it on the morning before erev Pessach. If they do not check before then it should be checked on the first possible opportunity during Pessah.
If a person does not plan to be at his home during Pessah and he leaves his home less than thirty days before the Holiday, he should check for Hametz, with the ten pieces of wrapped bread and one candle, the night before he leaves.
However the blessing of Al Beur Hametz and Kol Hamira is not said. Kol Hamira should be recited on the eve of Pessah even if the person is not at his home.
Maot Hitttim
A sacred custom obligates each member of the community to contribute – according to his or her best ability – money for the poor for Pessah. This money is dedicated to answer their needs and to enable them to celebrate the holiday properly.
The Sedarim are celebrated on the first and second nights of Pessah (see schedule above). A person should recline to his or her left side when eating the Haroseth, the Korech, the Matzah after the blessing of Hamotzi, and when drinking the four cups of wine. Reclining emphasizes the fact of freedom on Pessah. We do not recline during the eating of the maror alone.
Counting of the Omer will begin on the second night of Pessach.
Moadim Lesimha - Pesah Kasher V’esameah!
