Inedible Chametz

Hi,

One need not get rid of inedible Chametz for Passover. However, inedible Chametz may not be ingested on Passover.

Therefore: One may not eat on paper plates which have a starch powder on them, or use toothpaste with Chametz ingredients in it.

On the other hand, one may use non-ingested cosmetics that contain Chametz, provided that the Chametz is entirely inedible and cannot be restored to edibility.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 442:3-4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating around chametz on Pesach

Hi,

During Passover, a Jew may eat in the same dining room as a non-Jew who is eating Chametz. However, the two of them should not eat on the same table, even on separate tablecloths, lest some of the Chametz spill into the Jew's food.

A non-Jew may eat Chametz on a Jew's table during Passover, so long as he [the non-Jew] will clean and cover the surface afterward.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 440:3; Mishneh Berurah 440:17-18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Chmetz of a non-Jew

Hi,

If a Jew possesses a non-Jew's Chametz, and the Jew is responsible for its protection, then he must arrange for the removal of that Chametz before Passover; responsibility is a form of ownership, since he would have to replace it in the event of loss. This comes up, for example, in cubicle refrigerators in the workplace.

Chametz which belongs to a non-Jew may be left in one's home or workspace during Passover, provided that two conditions are met:
1. The Jew does not have any responsibility for the safety of the Chametz, and
2. The Chametz is in a locked container, closed cabinet or behind a partition at least 3 feet high, and the Jew will not enter the Chametz's space during Passover.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 440:1-2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Going away for Pesach

Hi,

One who is going away for the entire Passover still must conduct the search for Chametz before leaving, if he is in his home or workplace within 30 days before the holiday. The search should be performed on the last night before he goes away.

One may sell all Chametz within the house before the night preceding Passover, and so avoid the need to search, but one should leave over some space, clean it and search it, so as not to completely abandon the Mitzvah of searching for Chametz.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 436)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Oops - missed a spot!

Hi,


If a person forgets to search a particular spot for Chametz on the night preceding Passover, he should search during Passover, or even later if that's when one remembers, since one is not allowed to benefit from any Chametz owned by a Jew during Passover, even after the holiday.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 435:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Nullifying ownership of Chametz

Hi,

After we search for Chametz on the night preceding Passover, we verbally annul our ownership of any Chametz we have not discovered.

In a normal year, we repeat the annulment after we burn our remaining Chametz on the day after the search. We change the wording somewhat, though - the nighttime annulment is intended to annul ownership of any Chametz we have missed, but the daytime edition annuls ownership of any Chametz at all, whether we know where it is or whether we have missed it.

The reason for the different editions is that at night we still hold over Chametz to eat the next morning; when we get to the daytime edition, we should have nothing left to annul.

This year, though, we need to hold Chametz until Shabbat itself. Therefore, when we burn Chametz on Friday morning we do not recite the normal nullification of ownership of all remaining chametz. That waits until Shabbat morning, when we have finished eating our chametz.

Note: I almost always recommend that people who do not speak Hebrew recite prayers in English, but this is especially true for the annulment of Chametz. These statements must be made in a language one understands, since they are essentially legal declarations. There is a translated version in the standard Artscroll Siddur on page 655.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 434:2-3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Searching the workplace for chametz

Hi,

The obligatory search for Chametz is not limited to one's home; workplaces, as well as synagogues and schools, must be searched as well.

Public places, like synagogues, should be searched by their Jewish caretakers on the night before Passover, just as we search our homes that night.

[One who will not be present in his workplace on the night before Passover should search it on the last night he will be there preceding Passover, and be careful not to introduce Chametz on any subsequent day.]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 433:10; Mishneh Berurah 433:43)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Check your pockets

Hi,

We have begun to learn about the search for Chametz.

In cleaning for Chametz, one is supposed to check any place in which he might have brought Chametz food during the year, even if he is fairly sure he didn't bring any Chametz into that space.

This includes checking the pockets of one's clothing. Even one who is certain he didn't put Chametz in his pockets should still check; people put Chametz in their pockets absent-mindedly.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 431:1, 433:3, 433:11; Mishneh Berurah 431:4, 433:47)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Search

Hi,

We have begun to learn about Passover.

Before Passover, we work to get rid of our Chametz - any food product containing leavened grain, and even any non-food product containing edible leavened grain.

On the night preceding Passover we make one last search of our home, looking for Chametz products. We do this immediately after nightfall, and one is not supposed to begin any activity - even a Mitzvah activity - close to nightfall, last he forget to check for Chametz.

Note that this year Passover begins on a Saturday night, and so we do the search two nights before Passover, on Thursday night.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 431:1-2; 444:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Proper Purim Dress / Preparing for Pesach

Hi,

First, one last Purim email:

It is appropriate to wear Shabbat-type clothing on Purim, both at night and during the day, out of respect for the miracle and to heighten the celebration of the day.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 695:2, and Mishnah Berurah ibid.)


And one to start Pesach [Passover]:

Thirty days before Pesach, we begin to learn the laws of Pesach.

The Shabbat preceding Pesach is called 'Shabbat haGadol,' 'the great Shabbat,' for a variety of reasons. One reason is that four days before leaving Egypt, on a Shabbat, the Jews took lambs, one of Egypt's gods, and designated the lambs for slaughter as an offering to Gd. The fact that the Egyptians didn't attack the Jews then and there was a great miracle. As such, we use the Shabbat before Pesach to commemorate that miracle.

There is an important practice associated with this day: On that Shabbat afternoon families read through the 'Magid' portion of the Haggadah - the part which tells about our evolution as a nation and our ultimate departure from Egypt.

This practice commemorates the day's miracle, and it also helps us prepare for Pesach, so that we don't walk into the Seder blind but instead have a chance to review the material beforehand.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 430:1; Mishneh Berurah 430:1-2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mishloach Manot

Hi,

There is a Mitzvah to send two gifts of food to at least one friend on Purim day, as the Megilah says, 'And sending portions, one to another.' The portions should be ready to eat, and appropriate for consumption at the Purim feast, since one of the purposes of this Mitzvah is to help augment people's Purim feasts. This is called "Mishloach Manot" (lit. sending portions).

Wine counts as one of the 'foods' for this Mitzvah.

Women and men have separate obligations to fulfill the Mitzvot of Purim. Therefore, each spouse should make sure to give to the poor and to send gifts of food to friends on Purim day.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 695:4; Mishneh Berurah 695:20)

A mourner does send "Mishloach Manot," gifts of food, to a friend to fulfill this Purim Mitzvah.
However, others should not send Mishloach Manot to a mourner.

"Mourner" refers to one who is within the year after losing a parent, or one who is within 30 days after losing a spouse, sibling or child. May we know only happy occasions, and see no mourning.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 696:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Alcohol at the Purim Seudah

Hi,

One more note related to the Purim meal:

In today's earlier email I discussed the use of alcohol to enhance one's joy at the Purim feast.

I must stress something obvious: People should not give alcohol to minors to drink on Purim. It is not necessary for their fulfillment of any Mitzvah, and it is a foolish and dangerous practice.
I would also add that it would be better for adults not to drink on Purim with young children present, as even that may be misunderstood by those children.

The finest joy is joy which centers around a Mitzvah, and this is the essence of Purim - 4 Mitzvot (Megilah, Sending Gifts of Food, Giving to the Poor and having a Feast) which are about experiencing joy and spreading joy.

For more on this theme see Shaarei Teshuvah of Rav Chaim Margaliyot, Orach Chaim 697:2.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A Purim Seudah

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim.

First, a note:
We have talked about the mitzvah of giving gifts to the needy on Purim Day.One is allowed to give these gifts to a distributor before Purim, so that the distributor gives them to the poor on Purim Day itself. In fact, historically this money was collected by a central collector, who then distributed them; see Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 694 for laws regarding the collector's role.
Through the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund, I collect and distribute such funds, partly to Od Yosef Chai, an institution in Israel that distributes money on Purim, and partly to locally needy people. To contribute to that fund please send in your donations, marked for "Purim Distribution" or "Matanot la'Evyonim," before Purim.

It is a Mitzvah to have an extra-large meal on Purim day. Specifically, one should do this with other people, whether friends or family, in order to enhance the joy of the meal.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 695:1; Mishneh Berurah 695:9)

And finally, see here for a discussion of the laws of the Purim Seudah when Purim occurs on Friday, as it does this year.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Matanot laEvyonim and Maaser Kesafim: Two different avenues of Tzedakah

Hi,

More about Purim and Matanot la'Evyonim:

Money spent on the Mitzvah of giving to the poor on Purim does not count towards the year-round obligation to give 10% of one's income to charity.

For example: A person earning $100,000 (after income taxes) per year is obligated to give $10,000 per year to Tzedakah, over and above the amount given to the poor on Purim.

(Mishneh Berurah 694:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Matanot laEvyonim: No Background Checks on Purim

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim.

Regarding the Mitzvah of giving to the needy on Purim: One should not examine people who come requesting money on Purim; one should give without any background check.

[This is most unusual; giving tzedakah usually requires that we ascertain the neediness of the recipient. However, this is not like the usual mitzvah of tzedakah.]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 694:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Highest Purim Priority: Matanot laEvyonim

Hi,

One of the Mitzvot of Purim is Matanot la'Evyonim, in which we give gifts of money to at least two needy people, on Purim day.

It is best to spend most of one's Purim expenditures on this Mitzvah, as opposed to the Mitzvot of sending food to friends (Mishloach Manot) and having a Purim feast.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 694:1; Mishneh Berurah 694:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Purim Torah Reading

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim.

On Purim morning we read a special passage from the Torah, preceding the Megilah reading. This portion contains story of the Amalekite nation's attack on the Jews. Right after the Jews came through the Red Sea, before they even got to Sinai, Amalek came and attacked them from behind, unprovoked. Gd instructed the Jews to remember this hatred for all generations, and to strive to eradicate it.

We read this on Purim because Haman is traditionally viewed as a biological descendant of the nation of Amalek, since he is identified in the Megilah as a descendant of Agag, who was a king of Amalek.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 693:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Al haNisim

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim.

We recite a special "Al haNisim ('On the miracles')" paragraph as part of the Amidah, and the Birkat haMazon (Blessing after Meals), on Purim. One who realizes he has omitted it need not repeat the Amidah or the Blessing after meals.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 693:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Fast of Esther, when Purim is Sunday

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and the Fast of Esther.

In a year when Purim Day is Sunday, the fast is moved back to the preceding Thursday. We don't move it to Friday, because involvement in the rites of the fast day would distract from preparation for Shabbat.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 686:2, Mishneh Berurah 686:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Taant Esther - The Fast of Esther

Hi,

On the day before Purim, we fast the "Fast of Esther" to commemorate the way that Jewish soldiers fasted before going to war to defend us on the original Purim.

The fast begins at first light. We end the fast after megilah reading that night, even if megilah is read after full night has fallen, lest we get into a meal and miss megilah reading.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 686:2; Mishneh Berurah 686:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Talking during Megilah Reading

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and Megilah reading.

One may not speak during Megilah reading, even to discuss matters of Torah.

However: One who spoke but still managed to hear every word of the Megilah did fulfill his obligation.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 692:2; Mishneh Berurah 692:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The blessings upon the Megilah

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim and Megilah reading.

We recite three blessings before reading the Megilah. The first thanks HaShem for the Mitzvah of reading the Megilah, the second thanks HaShem for performing miracles on our behalf on this date (Purim), and the third is the 'Shehechiyanu' which thanks HaShem for bringing us to this day of celebration and this once-a-year Mitzvah.

The third blessing is not just a thank-you for the Mitzvah of reading the Megilah - when we recite this blessing on Purim day, we keep in mind the other once-a-year Mitzvot of the day: Eating a Purim feast, giving to the poor, and giving Mishloach Manot gifts of food to our friends.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 692:1; Mishneh Berurah 692:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Megilah with nikud (vocalization dots)

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and Megilah reading.

Like a Torah scroll, the leader's Megilah must be written on specially treated parchment, with specially prepared ink.

Unlike a Torah scroll, one is permitted to write in the vocalization dots, as well as the notes for the tune, although this is not an ideal practice.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 691:1,9; Mishneh Berurah 691:25)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Hearing megilah in the synagogue, specifically

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and Megilah reading.

One is supposed to hear the Megilah read in the largest group possible, in order to glorify the Mitzvah and elevate the level of thanks we express to Gd on Purim. Special emphasis is placed on hearing the Megilah in a synagogue - even if one has 100 people in his house, he should go the synagogue to hear the Megilah read.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 690:18; Mishneh Berurah 690:62)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Making the Megilah more 'real'

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and Megilah reading.

We take several steps to make the story of the Megilah more 'real' during Megilah reading:

*The reader should pause for no more than a breath between sentences, like a courier reading aloud a royal decree from a scroll.

*When the reader reaches the words, 'This scroll,' he picks up the Megilah like a scroll, and displays it.

*The reader uses a single breath to recite the names of the ten sons of Haman (who led his armies and were killed when the Jews defended themselves), because they were all killed at once.

*When the reader reaches the words (Esther 6:1), 'On that night,' referring to the night when Achashverosh could not sleep and he remembered the way Mordechai had saved his life, the reader should elevate his volume; this is the point when the redemption of the Jews began to get rolling.

None of these actions are requirements, such that omitting them would disqualify the reading.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 690:15; Mishneh Berurah 690:52)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reading Megilah for others

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and Megilah reading.

Just like with any Mitzvah which one person performs for another, the person reading the Megilah aloud must have in mind that he is doing it for the sake of the listeners' Mitzvah, and the people who are listening must have in mind that the reader is reading the Megilah for their Mitzvah.

The key time for this mental focus is during the blessings at the outset; the same mindset is then assumed to continue throughout the reading, until explicitly contradicted.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 690:14; Mishneh Berurah 690:48)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A Kosher Megilah

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and Megilah reading.

The whole Megilah is to be read from the text of a Kosher Megilah (written on parchment, with proper ink, and with several other requirements).
As such:
1. It is a good idea to have a Kosher Megilah with which to follow the Megilah reading - this way, one can always make up any words missed due to noise or distraction.
2. One who is not holding a Kosher Megilah should be careful not to read along out loud, lest he keep himself or other people from hearing the leader read it from a Kosher Megilah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 690:3,4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Children and Megilah Reading

Hi,

We have been learning about Purim, and Megilah reading.

We specifically bring children to shul for megilah reading, to train them in publicizing the miracle of Purim. We alter the reading, having certain sentences read by the entire community - separate from the official reader - in order to keep children involved.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 689:6; Mishneh Berurah 689:16)

Have a great day,
Mordechai