The eve of Passover
Search for Chametz
The process of creating a chametz-free environment comes to its climax the night before Passover. We conduct a veritable “search and destroy” mission to find any remaining chametz in our home and eradicate it. The search is traditionally conducted with a beeswax candle, using a feather, wooden spoon, and a paper bag for collecting any chametz found. It is customary to place ten pieces of bread throughout the house to be “found” during the search. These should be wrapped in paper or some other flammable wrapping (but not silver foil, as it does not burn), and perhaps then in plastic bags to prevent crumbs. It’s a good idea to write down the locations of the hiding places, in case some of the pieces aren’t found.
On the evening before Passover (March, 24, 2013), as soon as the sun is down, gather the household together, light the candle, and recite the following blessing:
Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi
E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom
A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov
Ve-tzi-vo-nu Al Bee-ur Cho-metz.
Or, in translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us concerning the removal of chametz.
Next, hold the lit candle and search for chametz in every room, as well as any other area of the home that may have chametz, such as the basement, attic, garage, or car. Even once a house is thoroughly cleaned, there is often still a bagel crust or a Cheerio hiding in some overlooked cranny.
When you’re done, take all the chametz that was found in the search, wrap and seal it securely, and place it in a conspicuous spot. This chametz will be joined with all remaining chametz in your home, and burned the next morning. Food intended to be sold or eaten later should similarly be carefully put aside.
When you’ve completed the search, and done your best to get rid of any possible chametz, gather the family back together and recite the "Kol Chamira" declaration, translated below, nullifying all unknown chametz and relinquishing it from your ownership.
All leaven or anything leavened which is in my possession, which I have neither seen nor removed, and about which I am unaware, shall be considered nullified and ownerless as the dust of the earth.
Chametz-Eating Deadline
The absolute deadline for eating chametz is the morning before Passover (March,25,2013), two "seasonal hours" before midday (a "seasonal hour" is 1/12 of the time between daybreak and nightfall).
Past this time, is it forbidden to eat chametz until the close of the festival in eight days. You still have one more hour in which you can use chametz for non-eating purposes, and handle the chametz in order to sell it or destroy it.
Fast of the Firstborn
In the tenth and final plague inflicted upon Egypt, G-d killed the firstborn in all of Egypt. But, as in all the plagues brought upon Egypt, the Children of Israel were spared. In the Plague of the Firstborn, not one Jewish firstborn died. To express their gratitude, all firstborn males fast on the day before Passover (Erev Pesach). The fathers of firstborn boys under the age of 13 fast in their stead.
The prevailing custom, however, is for the firstborn to exempt themselves from the obligation to fast by participating in a seudat mitzvah (a meal marking the fulfillment of a mitzvah), such as a siyyum--a festive meal celebrating the conclusion of the study of a section of Torah). Most synagogues host such a celebration after morning prayers.
Chametz's Final Moments
The Burning of the Chametz
On the morning before Passover (March, 25,2013), chametz may be eaten until the fourth hour of the day. After that, only foods that are kosher for Passover are eaten. We don’t eat matzah, though. We’re saving that for the Seder.
Since even a minute amount of chametz is prohibited, we carefully rinse, brush, and floss our teeth, to ensure that we really have gotten rid of all the chametz within us.
Now we’ve got an hour to put away all the chametz utensils, and any other chametz that will be sold over Passover, in their designated areas, and gather the rest of the chametz together for the burning of the chametz.
The Burning of Chametz
On the morning before Passover, before the fifth hour, we burn all the chametz that was found during the search, and anything that was left over from breakfast and not stored with the chametz that will be sold to the non-Jew. (This should have already been arranged with your Rabbi, or online.)
After the chametz has been burnt in the fire, we recite the following declaration:
All leaven or anything leavened which is in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have observed it or not, whether I have removed it or not, shall be considered nullified and ownerless as the dust of the earth.
