HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Pesach 2: Taanit Bechorim In the Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chaim 432:2, Rema notes that “The practice is to put pieces of chametz in a place where the one searching will find them, so that his berakha will not be for naught. If he did not place [the pieces], however, this does not withhold [the fulfillment of the obligation], for everyone's intention in the berakha is to destroy [chametz] if it is discovered.” Added the Ari, z”l we specifically use twn piece of bread for this purpose.
However, the Vilna Gaon offers, what he calls "irrefutable proof" to the fact that one need not place pieces of chametz before the search - since the Shulchan Aruch rules that if one failed to perform bedikat chametz before Pesach, he must search with a beracha during chol ha-mo'ed. Needless to say, one does not place pieces of chametz before searching on Pesach itself!
The Mishna Berura [Shulchan Aruch, ibid. note 13] rules that, strictly speaking, one need not place pieces of chametz, but "it is not worthwhile to do away with the custom of Israel." In the Sha'ar Ha-tziyun [ibid. note 12], he adds that nowadays, when we thoroughly clean the house ahead of time, according to the Emek Halakha one must place pieces of chametz even according to the strict letter of the law, and not merely by force of custom.
Of course, one should ensure that this practice yields the desired benefit, and not the opposite. Some people place the pieces of chametz right in the middle of the room, and the one conducting the search simply collects all the pieces from all the rooms and thereby completes the bedika. This obviously undermines the entire bedika, transforming it into a ceremony of collecting pieces [see Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 111:8].
One final note - as a safeguard, it is best to use smaller pieces of bread (less than a kezayit) so that if one of them is not found, the bittul declaration will suffice to avoid violating the porhibition of chametz on Pesach!
For even more halachic information, visit www.congkins.org/pesachlaws DVAR TORAH Towards the end of the maggid section of the haggadah, we read the words of Rabban Gamliel: "anyone who has not said these three things on Pesach has not fulfilled his obligation, and these are them: the Pesach (sacrifice), matzah, and marror."
But why these three? What about the other mitzvot of the seder? And what does it mean to "say"? Is it enough to say these three words, and that's all?
In his commentary to the haggadah, Baruch SheAmar, Rabbi Baruch Halevi Epstein, ztz "l offered the following explanation. According to Rabban Gamliel, all mitzvot require "kavanah," [intention], i.e., if we can't explain why we are doing a mitzvah, then we haven't truly fulfilled it properly.
However, these three mitzvot of Pesach, matzah, and marror are different. Because these three Mitzvot demand both kavanah and some form of verbal expression of why we are performing them - "al shum mah." As we find in the Ritv"a's commentary to the haggadah - the Torah was particular in teaching that we need to "say things" at the Pesach seder because it's only when we verbalize G-d's miracles will we fully appreciate His redemption. .
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MAZAL TOV * to Azi and Shari Feifel on the engagement of their daughter Eliana to Jason Selesny (Israel). * to Robert and Lee Matanky on the engagement of their Jack to Ariella Samantha Rothschild (Israel.) Mazal Tov to grandmothers Trude Matanky and Sharon Frankel. * to Rabbi Ari and Rebecca Zucker on the birth of their daughter, Gila Riva. * to Mrs. Sonia Goldberg on the birth of great granddaughter, Adele. The proud parents are Talia and Dan Zohar (Israel.) * to Henry and Lisa Goldberg on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Asher Goldberg. Special Mazal Tov to great grandmother, Mrs. Sonia Goldberg. * to Roseanne and Howard Benn on the birth of a great-granddaughter, in Israel.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Etai Rimel – Etai Yaakov ben Tzipporah, who is recovering in rehab.
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KINSMain kiddush is sponsored by Rabbi Ari & Rebecca Zucker in honor of the birth of their daughter.
DAYTIME DIALOGUES: will not meet this week 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA, will not meet this week
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM,– will not meet this week
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR– will not meet this week
TALMUD CLASS – will not meet this week
SEFER EZRA – Sundays 9:00am - will not meet this week
BIRTHDAYS Avraham Neikrug (4/16) Judah Cohen (4/17) Meital Matanky (4/17) Mr. Barry Semer (4/19) Mr. Kenny Landsman (4/21) Jonah Strahlberg (4/21) Mrs. Keren Dukes (4/22) Shimon Halpert (4/22)
ANNIVERSARIES Rabbi Yechiel & Davina Bresler (4/19) Sam and Shuli Medow (4/23) Dr. Stephen and Cheryl Karesh (4/28)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM,
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