Bedikat Hametz - Searching for Leaven

The evening before Pesah, the cleaning, the shlepping (Yiddish for dragging and carrying) and the washing are finished. Mazal Tov!! After sundown, the entire family participates in a ritual hunt for any leftover hametz. This is called "bedikat hametz" — searching for leaven. First, a b'rakhah (blessing) is said:

BARUKH ATAH ADONAI ELOHEINU MELEKH HA-OLAM ASHER KIDDESHANU B'MITZVOTAV V'TZIVANU AL BIUR HAMETZ.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has sanctified us through commandments, commanding us to destroy all hametz.”

With Candle & Feather

With this b'rakhah, we are carefully stating our intent. It is traditional to use a lit candle to collect the hametz, a feather to "sweep" up the hametz, and a wooden spoon in which to collect it. A flashlight can also be used. Some families daringly hide pieces around the house for the children to find. Wrapping them in paper helps contain the crumbs. Just make sure that all of them are accounted for! The pieces of hametz, the feather, and the spoon are collected in a special place until the morning. Now we make that all-important statement (bitul hametz — the nullification of hametz) that excuses us if by a strange chance some hametz escaped our scrutiny:

“All leaven in my possession which I have not seen or removed or of which I am unaware is hereby nullified and ownerless as the dust of the earth.”

This should be recited after the search and again the following morning. The formula itself is in Aramaic, but should be recited in any language which the listeners can understand. It can be found in most Haggadot – a sign that we are getting close to the Seder itself!

In the morning, all of the hametz is burned (biur hametz — destruction of hametz). Some follow the custom of burning the feather and spoon as well. The following formula is then recited:

“All leaven in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have removed it or no, is hereby nullified and ownerless as the dust of the earth."

Burning the hametz may not be easy, but lighter fluid helps. Matzah is not eaten during the day so that the taste will be novel at the Seder meal. It is a real challenge to find something for people to eat when they can no longer eat hametz and yet can't eat matzah! Many families get along on cheeses, fruits, vegetables and baked potatoes. If they are cut up ahead of time, these are "self-help" foods and free up the cook from making extra meals when s/he has the Seder to worry about.