Page 46 - cRc Pesach Guide 2021

morning falls on Shabbos, when it will be forbidden to whether I have removed it or not, should be nullified and
employ the usual methods of destruction. For this reason, we become ownerless, like dust of the earth.”
are instructed to destroy the chametz on Friday, leaving only It is extremely important that this statement is understood.
what one anticipates will be eaten before the z’man habiur One who does not understand it in its original Aramaic must
of Shabbos morning. (See “Erev Pesach Which Occurs on recite it in whatever language is familiar to him or her. If
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Shabbos”, pages 47-49, for specific guidelines for this year.)
no translation is available, one must simply state that he or
Although Friday is not the actual morning before Pesach, she disowns all chametz or leaven that exists in his or her
the burning should nonetheless take place before the end of possession.
the 5 halachic hour (11:41 AM in the Chicago area). The This statement may also be found in a siddur, machzor, or
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ideal manner of destroying chametz is by burning it. If that haggadah.
is impractical, any of the following may also be employed:
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pouring inedible detergent (such as bleach) over it, crumbling NOTE: Be careful not to get this confused with the similar
it up and flushing it down the toilet, or throwing it away in statement that is said after the search for chametz. The
a publicly-owned garbage can or Dumpster. As mentioned instructions in the siddur/machzor/haggadah should indicate
previously, in order to burn the chametz efficiently and safely, that this is the statement for after the chametz is destroyed.
it is advisable to first remove it from any foil or plastics.
As a community service, F.R.E.E. of Chicago – The Bellows ADDITIONAL HALACHOS
Center will hold a public biur chametz between 8:00 AM and
11:00 AM on Friday, March 26, 2021 in their parking lot at WORK RESTRICTIONS
2935 W. Devon Ave. in Chicago. As of the print date of this The specific Erev Pesach work restrictions are not in effect
Guide, the Agudah had not yet been able to confirm whether this year, since all work is naturally curtailed on Shabbos.
they will have a public biur chametz this year. We will post
updated information on our website if and when it becomes FOOD RESTRICTIONS
available.
On Shabbos, March 27 2021, it is forbidden to eat matzah
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BITUL CHAMETZ – NULLIFYING THE CHAMETZ the entire day starting from dawn until the Seder. Note that
baked foods containing matzah meal are also forbidden, but
In addition to destroying or selling all known chametz, every cooked foods made from matzah meal (such as kneidlach)
Jewish person over the age of bar or bas mitzvah must remain permitted. In addition, during the late afternoon, it
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declare his or her chametz as ownerless. is forbidden to eat any satisfying volume of any food so that
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NOTE: During a regular year, this declaration is recited at the one has an appetite for the Seder. (See “Erev Pesach Which
same time we burn our chametz and is naturally associated Occurs on Shabbos”, pages 47-49, for specific guidelines of
with it. This year however, the chametz burning is pushed back how to fulfill the mitzvah of eating the Shabbos meals.)
a day to Friday, while the statement is recited on Shabbos Sof z’man achilas chametz is the end of the time when one
morning. Therefore, it will not have its usual association, and may eat chametz before Pesach. This year, sof z’man achilas

one must be especially vigilant to remember to recite it. As chametz is 10:27 AM in the Chicago area. Once this time has
always, it must be recited before sof z’man biur chametz which passed, it is forbidden to eat chametz in any form. 29
this year is March 27 at 11:41 AM in the Chicago area.
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Note that if one is destroying all the chametz in his or her TAANIS B’CHORIM – FAST OF THE FIRSTBORN
possession on Friday and relying on other means to fulfill the Technically speaking, all firstborn males, whether firstborn to
Shabbos meals, Kol Chamira is said after biur chametz on Friday. his father or firstborn to his mother, beginning at the age of
Of course, if this was forgotten on Friday morning, it may still bar mitzvah, have a requirement to fast on the day prior to
be recited up to sof z’man biur chametz on Shabbos morning. Pesach. This year, since it will fall on Shabbos, the fast is
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Bitul chametz is accomplished by reciting the following scheduled for the previous Thursday. Traditionally, the fast
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statement: is curtailed by participating in a siyum, a celebration that
,התרעב אלדו התרעבד ,התזח אלדו התזחד ,יתושרב אכאד אעימחו ארימח לכ" marks the completion of a Sefer of Tanach that was studied

"אעראד ארפעכ רקפה יוהלו לטבל in-depth with the Rishonim (primary commentaries), a
tractate of Gemara, or a Seder of Mishnah, or by attending
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“Any chametz or leaven that is in my possession, whether a seudas mitzvah (meal held in honor of the fulfillment of a
I have recognized it or not, whether I have seen it or not,

44 www.ASKcRc.org / www.cRcweb.org cRc Pesach Guide Preparation For Pesach