HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Pesach 1: The 10 Pieces of Bread 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 beracha 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 beracha is to destroy [chametz] if it is discovered.” Added the Ari, z”l we specifically use two pieces of bread for this purpose. However, the Vilna Gaon offers, what he calls "irrefutable proof" 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 Halacha 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 prohibition of chametz on Pesach!
For even more halachic information, visit our website www.congkins.org/pesachlaws DVAR TORAH Our parasha opens with mitzvot associated with childbirth, including the commandment of brit milah. Why is this mitzvah repeated here when it was already told to Avraham Avinu and recorded in Breishit?
R' Zvi Yehuda Kook ztz"l suggested an answer based on a comment of the Rambam in his commentary to the final mishna in chapter seven of Chulin. "Know that the fact that we distance something or draw it close is because G-d commanded Moshe thus at Har Sinai, not because it was spoken to an earlier prophet. We do not circumcise ourselves because Avraham circumcised himself and his household. Rather, because G-d commanded Moshe, we should do so just as Avraham did. This rule is apparent from the Sages' statement that: "613 commandments were given to Moshe at Sinai."
However, said Rav Kook, Rambam's explanation seems to contradict a midrash quoted in Sefer Menorat Ha'maor. That midrash quotes Devarim 33:4, "Moshe commanded the Torah to us, an inheritance to the congregation of Yaakov," and notes: "Have we been holding on to the Torah only since the time of Moshe? Not according to this verse. Rather we have been holding on to the Torah since the time of the Patriarchs!"
But the answer, explained Rav Zvi Yehuda, is that our spiritual attachment to the Torah dates back to the Patriarchs, and brit milah is no exception. Even the blessing we recite at a brit - is "to bring him into the covenant of Avraham. " However, the reason we observe the laws - is because G-d commanded us at Mt. Sinai to do so.
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MAZAL TOV * to Shlomo and Becky Starck on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Ayden. Mazal Tov to grandparents Israel and Ethel Starck, Phyllis Simon and Ronald Simon z’l. * to Dr. David and Rachel Spindel on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Eliyahu Musbacher, son of Rabbi Yosef and Leah Musbacher, Ramat Beit Shemesh. * to Sonia Goldberg on the birth of a great granddaughter. The proud parents are Talia and Dan Zohar (Israel). * to Dr. and Mrs. Mark Freedman on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Adam Kahnrose, son of Margo and Yoni Kahnrose. * to Allan and Rosanne Arnet on the engagement of their daughter, Eliana, to Josh Benchaya from Montreal.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Etai Rimel – Etai Yaakov ben Tzipporah, who is recovering in rehab.
MECHIRAT CHAMETZ @ KINS There are four ways to sell your chametz
In-person: Rabbi Matanky, Rabbi Leibtag and Rabbi Bresler will be available after minyanim to purchase your chametz in person in the traditional format, with a kinyan.
By mail or email: Click here for the 5782 Mechirat Chametz form submit it either by mail or scan it and email to the K.I.N.S. Office congkins@congkins.org by April 13, 2022
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here.
Main Kiddush this week is sponsored by Shlomo and Becky Starck in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Ayden.
The Week of Learning is sponsored by Trude Matanky and Kalman and Ethel Shiner in commemoration of the yahrtzeits of their fathers Jacob Shiner and Harold Miller z’l and by Frae and Samuel Saltzbeg in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of their parents Yetta and Theodore Saltzberg z’l.
DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays, 12pm 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA, Wed. 8:00p and Shabbat 8:30a
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM, Wednesday 8:15p
SHABBAT AFTERNOON WOMEN'S SHIUR - 5:00p
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat, 45 minutes before mincha
SEFER EZRA – Sundays 9:00am
BIRTHDAYS Benjamin Ross (4/2) Atara Bachrach (4/3) Yitzchak Wilens (4/3) Meira Campbell (4/5) Olivia Bernstein (4/6) Rivka Greenberg (4/6) Mr. Eli Kleinman (4/6) Shira Perl (4/6) Dr. Dean Isaacs (4/7) Tari Porush (4/7) Mrs. Aviva Matanky (4/8)
ANNIVERSARIES Randy and Robyn Cohen (4/4) Larry and Sharon Chambers (4/5) Henry and Lisa Goldberg (4/6) Howard Rieger & Beverly Siegel (4/7) Hillel and Leah Shapiro (4/8)
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, Wednesday 8:15p
SHABBAT AFTERNOON WOMEN'S SHIUR - 5:00p
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat, 45 minutes before mincha
