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Contents
The Blessing over Trees
Laws of Cleaning the House for Pesach
Laws of Hag‘alat Kelim
What one blesses upon
1.
The blessing is recited over a blossom that is meant to produce fruit. A blossom that is not meant to produce fruit is not blessed upon.
Number of trees
2.
Some maintain that two trees are required, and some have the custom that they should be of two species; however, the primary halachah is that it is sufficient to bless even over one tree.
A tree in a courtyard
3.
Although some are particular to bless over trees in fields or orchards, the primary halachah is that one may bless even over a tree in a courtyard.
A perforated flowerpot
4.
One may be lenient and bless over a tree planted in a perforated pot. If the blossom fell and the fruit has begun to grow, as long as the fruit is unripe and not fit for eating, one may bless over it lechatchilah.
If one saw and did not bless
5.
If one saw the tree and did not recite the blessing the first time, he may bless upon seeing it a second time only if there are still blossoms on the tree. If there are no longer blossoms and the fruit has begun to grow, he may not bless on the second sighting.
At night
6.
One may recite the blessing by day or by night, provided he sees the trees clearly.
Laws of Cleaning the House for Pesach
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Places that require checking
1.
Any place where chametz could have reached, even incidentally, requires bedikah.
Cupboards and items cleaned for Pesach
2.
Strictly speaking, places and objects that were cleaned for Pesach are exempt from the obligation of bedikah. However, since the obligation of bedikah begins thirty days before the festival, checking without a candle undermines the rabbinic enactment of bedikah. Therefore it is proper each evening to check, by candlelight or flashlight, every cupboard, drawer, and the like that was cleaned that day.
Soiled crumbs
3.
Chametz crumbs smaller than a kezayit, if somewhat soiled, do not require destruction. It is therefore sufficient to spray them with cleaning agent, even if they remain technically edible.
Crumbs and pieces that are hard to reach
4.
Chametz crumbs in holes and cracks that are hard to reach, as well as pieces accessible only by unscrewing and the like, do not require destruction; their status is like chametz upon which a collapse has fallen.
Crumbs on the floor
5.
Crumbs on the floor that are stepped on do not require bedikah or destruction. There is therefore no need to search for chametz on the floor; however, crumbs in corners of the house are not stepped on and should be spoiled with cleaning agent.
-- Cleaning the kitchen --
1.
The kitchen is the usual and common place of chametz in every home, and special attention must therefore be given to its cleaning and kashering. The kitchen differs from other rooms: in other rooms we clean, whereas in the kitchen we also kasher sinks, work surfaces, and various utensils that we wish to use on Pesach.
Gas stovetop
2.
Some are meticulous to designate a special gas stovetop for Pesach; at the very least one should use special grates for Pesach. The stovetop used for chametz should be wrapped, and the chametz stuck to it sold to a non-Jew.
If one has no Pesach stovetop
3.
One who has no Pesach stovetop should kasher the grate by thorough cleaning with cleaning agents, and then perform libun with fire by passing a torch over all parts of the grate until reaching libun chamur. After libun it is proper to be stringent and wrap the grate in thick aluminum foil. If one wraps the grate and surface well with thick foil, there is room to be lenient not to perform libun.
Burners
4.
Burners should be cleaned with cleaning agents and lit for several minutes.
Stovetop surface
5.
The stovetop surface should be cleaned well and covered with thick aluminum foil; it is preferable first to kasher it by pouring boiling water from a kli rishon.
Electric, ceramic, and induction cooktops
A metal electric cooktop should be cleaned well and turned on to the highest heat for an hour; if possible it should be covered with thick foil. Ceramic and induction cooktops generally cannot be kashered for Pesach; ideally one should use a special Pesach cooktop. If they are fully and securely covered with thick foil or a special silicone surface so that no liquid can enter underneath, there is room to rely on this.
Oven
Some are lenient to kasher an oven by waiting 24 hours after its last use and heating it at the highest temperature for an hour. Many, however, are stringent that a standard oven cannot be kashered for Pesach, due to the need for libun chamur, the glass door, rubber seals, and enamel walls. Therefore the oven should be closed and the chametz stuck to it sold in the sale of chametz.
Refrigerator and freezer
They should be dismantled as much as possible, cleaned thoroughly, and then checked for chametz. Particular attention should be paid to the door seals. It is preferable to place paper on the shelves before putting Pesach products on them.
Sinks and work surfaces
A clay, ceramic, or porcelain sink cannot be kashered through hag‘alah, since hag‘alah does not help earthenware. If it will be used, it should be cleaned thoroughly and a special Pesach insert-sink placed inside. A stainless-steel sink should be cleaned well, left unused with hot water for 24 hours, and kashered by pouring boiling water, preferably with a heated stone. A countertop should be cleaned, preferably left unused with hot items for 24 hours, kashered by pouring boiling water from a kli rishon, and covered with PVC or thick foil.
Cabinets, tables, and chairs
Shelves that are sold to a non-Jew, if they contain no visible chametz, need not be checked. Shelves to be used on Pesach should be cleaned with a cloth and cleaning agent, their corners checked, and preferably covered with paper. A table should be cleaned well and used with a tablecloth; ideally the tabletop should first be covered with foil, paper, plastic, or PVC. Chairs, especially highchairs, should be cleaned well, as food remains are common in their cracks and crevices.
Utensils and electrical appliances
Since cleaning and kashering eating utensils, storage vessels, and food-preparation appliances is complex, the Jewish custom is to designate special sets of utensils and appliances for Pesach. Chametz utensils should be sold to a non-Jew with respect to the chametz stuck to them.
Bedrooms, children’s rooms, and living room
One should check under mattresses and beds. In wardrobes and dressers, one checks shelves that may be approached while dealing with chametz or that children can reach. Clothing pockets, especially children’s clothing, should be checked; a good suggestion is to launder the clothes before Pesach with the pockets turned out. Bags, schoolbags, and food bags should be checked and, if possible, laundered. Toys sold to a non-Jew need not be checked; toys to be used on Pesach should be cleaned or washed. Books used while eating should not be placed on a table or kitchen surfaces on Pesach. Birchonim and zemirot booklets are difficult to clean and should be sold to a non-Jew.
General rules
The floor generally does not require checking because crumbs on it are stepped on; corners should be checked or washed with cleaning agent. Windows and shutters need not be cleaned, but window tracks should be cleaned of noticeable pieces of chametz and cleaning agent poured there to spoil possible crumbs. Electronics used while eating, such as a phone or computer, should be cleaned of chametz that may be stuck to them; a keyboard usually need only be shaken well upside down.
Shared areas
In an apartment building, a spacious entrance hall and corners that are not stepped on should be checked; if the floors are washed with cleaning agent the crumbs are spoiled. Utility cabinets require checking for large pieces. Mailboxes accessible to children require checking. Chametz may not be thrown into the shared garbage bin after the final collection before the time of bi‘ur chametz; if one fears neighbors will not be careful, he should renounce his share in the bin and common area before three people. An open courtyard where animals are present usually does not require checking, but if chametz was eaten there after the night of bedikah, it should be checked again. A shelter into which chametz is brought should be checked or rented to a non-Jew with the agreement of the neighbors.
Laws of Hag‘alat Kelim
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Instructions for those performing hag‘alah and for the public
Preferably
1.
One who is able should preferably buy new utensils and not kasher old chametz utensils for Pesach.
Within twenty-four hours
2.
One may not perform hag‘alah on a utensil used within the previous 24 hours; ideally, even its cleaning should be 24 hours before hag‘alah. Some are particular not to use it for three days before hag‘alah.
An unclean utensil
3.
One may not perform hag‘alah on a utensil unless it is completely clean, meaning that it has no substantive dirt or rust.
Utensils with folds and grooves
4.
Utensils that have folds or grooves are not helped by hag‘alah alone; light libun is required in the places of the folds or grooves.
A pot with handles
5.
If the handles are removable, they must be removed and kashered. If they are not removable, libun is required in the grooves; since this often may damage the utensil, there may be no remedy. The same applies to knives made of two parts with grooves at the joint.
Use with cold foods
6.
Goblets used cold, even if they have folds, may be kashered leniently; according to the Shulchan Aruch, since their main use is cold, rinsing is sufficient. For Ashkenazim as well, if it is known with certainty that they did not touch hot chametz or pickled chametz, rinsing is sufficient.
Teflon, baking trays, plastic, and glass
Teflon utensils, ceramic coating, or any other coating are not kashered. Baking trays cannot be kashered. Plastic that absorbed through a kli rishon or pouring from a kli rishon is not kashered. Glass or crystal utensils may not be kashered for Ashkenazim; for Sephardim, where their main use is cold, washing is sufficient.
Procedure of hag‘alah
When kashering several utensils together, care must be taken that they do not touch one another, and one should not put in too many utensils. Chametz utensils should be kashered in a vessel that is kosher for Pesach; if the kashering vessel itself is chametz, it must first be kashered by filling it with water, bringing it to a bubbling boil, and pouring in boiling water so that the water overflows slightly. The utensils requiring hag‘alah are then placed into the boiling water for about two seconds and removed. After hag‘alah, chametz utensils are rinsed with cold water; this rinsing is not indispensable.
