1 Likro et Hahallel
2 La'asot Ma'akeh
3 Hanoon Hamarbeh L'sloah
4 Al Nitilat Yadayim
5 Melekh Ohev Tzedakah U'mishpat
6 Dayan Ha'emeth
7 Leshev Ba'Sukkah
8 Lasok b'divrei Torah
9 Kiddush levana
10 Asher yatzar
11 Borei Pri Ha'eitz
12 HaMotzi
13 SheHakol Nihiyeh B'dvaro
14 Shehechiyanu
15 Lihitattef Batzitzit
16 Likboah Mezuzah
17 L'hadlik ner shel hannukah
18 She'asah nisim lavoteinu byamim hahem bazman hazeh
19 HaGomel L'Chayavim tovot, shegimalani kol tov
20 Malbish Arumim
21 L'hadlik ner shel Shabbat
22 Borei pri Hagafen
23 Hazan et HaKol
24 L'havchin bein yom u'vein layla
25 lhanot bahem b'nai adam.
26 borei minei mizonot
27 HaMachazir neshamot lifgarim matim
28 l'hachniso b'brito shel avraham avinu
29 al mikra megillah
30 shomeah tephillah
31 noten hatorah
32 sh'asani b'tzalmo
33 al biur hametz
34 al sefirat ha'omer
35 et amo yisrael bashalom.
36 Haham HaRazim
37 haolam Borei Minei Bisamim
38 matir asurim
39 shepratani meansho shel zeh
40 zokeif kifufim
41 HaBocher  b'amo yisrael b'ahava
42 hamavdil bein kodesh lechol
43 borei meorei haeish
44 magen avraham
45 shover oyvim umachnea zaydim
46 Mikadeish HaShabbat
47 boreh pri ha'adamah
48 al ha'aretz v'al hamazon
49 michayei HaMaitim
50 yotzer ha'adam
51 boneh berachamav yerushalayim
52 she'asani kirtzono

Bracha #33

This bracha is recited the night before Pesah. Pesah begins with the first seder on the 15th of Nisan and therefore, this activity and its accompanying bracha is done on the 14th of Nisan. Traditionally, we clean our homes making sure to get rid of ever last trace of hametz, then after we have completely removed all hametz, we then place a small piece of hametz, often a roll or a piece of breach in the various rooms in our homes. We then conduct a search by the light of a candle. Many may recall he piece of hametz being swept into a wooden spoon with a feather and then wrapped in a paper bag.

For the religious and the non religious alike this activity of cleaning our homes for Passover has become an near obsessive activity. For weeks we rid our homes of all forms of hametz, we clean every corner and we make rules about what can be brought in to our homes. Then just before the holiday begins we make around our houses and we actually place pieces of bread. Then we use some implement to gather those crumbs that is sure to miss a few crumbs and possibly even create a few new ones. It seems a flawed way to conclude this original form of spring-cleaning.

Hametz, according to a midrash represents sin. Through the process of cleaning our homes we, figuratively, rid our surroundings of the potential for transgression. There, it is understandable that we do our very best to seek out all hametz and wipe the slate completely clean. But then why place the hametz around again. The customs suggests two things. One we should never be so arrogant to think that we are without sin, and two, we should always be involved in the process of making ourselves better through getting routing out sin.

The holiday of Pesah is replete with rituals rules and laws, each providing us with the opportunity to follow or to disregard them. Pesah can therefore, be understood as an intensified version of our relationship with Judaism in general. In many ways the holiday of Pesah makes the statement that if can do Passover we can live the rest of our lives Jewishly as well. Pesah is one of the most popular holidays in the Jewish calendar. I believe that is because of the joy of family coming together and the elevated spiritual experience we have through the observance customs. That can occur all year and this bracha reminds us of that possibility.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved.