Pesach

Pesach (Passover) is just around the corner and I'm already starting to prepare my house. I have said I will get a head start this year on my cleaning so I'm not waiting until the last minute. There are a lot of things to do for preparation. It is now the Jewish Year 5769 and Pesach begins at sunset April 8, 2009 - nightfall April 16, 2009. There are many things that have to be done in preparation for Pesach and here are some of those:


Removal of Chametz
When wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt come in contact with water after being cut off from the ground, it becomes fermented or chametz. Any dishes and utensils that have come in contact with chametz food during the year.

Matzah
Matzah is made from barley, oats or rye but because it is mixed with water and baked in less than 18 minutes it can be eaten.

Ashkenazim and Sephardic Jews
There are Ashkenazim and Sephardic Jews and during Pesach Ashkenazim Jews do not eat beans, rice, corn or peas. Sephardic Jews do. I tend to go towards the Ashkenazim beliefs since most of the Jews I know are. The rabbis for Ashkenazim Jews did not allow these to be eaten because in the past flour was made from them. Peanut oil may be used if prepared under rabbinic supervision and properly certified because they aren't considered legumes.

Homes must be cleaned thoroughly
Removing all chametz from your home. We are not allowed to even have it in our possession during Pesach. There are rituals that people partake in for this preparation.

Bedikat Chametz: Tuesday night, April 7
Families will normally play a game with the children (if any are in the home) where they search for chametz using a candle, feather and disposable spoon. This is done to ensure all chametz is removed. I have mostly seen this activity done on the first night of Pesach but it should be done on the eve of Pesach.

Burning of Chametz
The burning of chametz is to be completed Wednesday morning. A prayer called Be’ur Chametz is then said. After this has been completed no chametz, dishes, pots or utensils used for chametz are allowed to be used.

Mechirat Chametz
Since it may not always be financially economical to get rid of all the chametz the rabbis ordained a symbolic sale and later buy-back of chametz. You can sell or buy back your chametz after Pesach. Another work around I have seen used is removing the chametz to a sealed container and placing in an unutilized room and not entering the room during Pesach. This is what I do or I move it to my parents house and bring it back after Pesach. Face it when you have to remove all these items and when I learned how many things have corn/corn oil in them that is a lot of food to remove. This is why I start now not buying foods with these products in them.

There are several foods that require rabbinic supervision.
Some of them are: Matzah, noodles, candies, cakes, beverages, canned and processed foods, butter, jam, cheese, jelly, relishes, wines, liquors, salad oils, canned vegetables, gelatin, shortening and vinegar. If the “Kosher L’Pesach” label or tag is not on the item then it is not considered Kosher.

The foods that are not to be used during Pesach are:
leavened bread, cakes, biscuits, crackers, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt, rice, peas, dried beans and liquids which contain ingredients made from grain alcohol.

There are foods that do not need certification and they are:
Natural coffee, sugar (but not confectioners or brown sugar), saccharin, tea, salt, pepper, vegetables (dried beans and peas are forbidden, string beans are permitted), garlic, onion powder, dried fruit, honey, Hershey’s cocoa, safflower or soy bean oil, nuts (except legumes), dish detergents and scouring powders. We are to buy these items before Pesach and are to remain unopened until Pesach. Fresh fruits and vegetables are permitted for Pesach or if they are packaged in water or their own juices.

Tuna and Salmon can be used provided:
It is packed in spring water and not packed in oil.

Milk without a kescher label may be used provided:
It is purchased before Pesach beings but is not to be bought during Pesach. This is a hard one for me because I love milk but I manage.

Plates, Pots, Pans and Utensils
Which have not been used for over a year may be used if cleaned in very hot water.

Glassware
Glasses are permitted after thoroughly cleaning and some people soak their glasses for 72 hours before Pesach.

Ovens/Microwave Ovens
These need to be thoroughly cleaned. Some people put a bowl of hot water in the oven and allowing it to boil.
Dishwasher
You are to run your dishwasher with nothing in it twice - once with detergent and once without.
Electrical Appliances
If the parts came in contact with chametz they are to be cleaned thoroughly.
Refrigerator/Freezer
Removal of all chametz food and opened packages. Then you are to clean with boiling water and scour the racks.


Here are some pronunciations of some of the Hebrew words that are used (please remember depending on where one lives can affect the pronunciation). Blogger is being stubborn so I have listed each word in Hebrew first, then the meaning and finally the pronunciation.
Pesach Passover PAY-sahkh or PEH-sahkh
Matzah Unleavened bread MAHTZ-uh
Chametz Leavened things KHUH-mitz
Seder Dinner at a home 1st 2 nights SAY-d'r
Haggadah Book read during the seder huh-GAH-duh


So this is what takes place prior to Pesach. There is much more to come on this topic as for what is done at Seders. This is by no means everything and as I researched the best way to describe what is entailed I took bits and pieces from various sources (one being my synagogue's instructions - hopefully they don't mind) and tried to put this into the easiest translation for those not familiar with Pesach to understand. If you are Jewish then this should be familiar to you and you may have begun or are beginning to prepare for Pesach as I have. For those unfamiliar with Pesach this probably seems over the top so to speak and you may wonder how can one do all this. My response is it takes a lot of discipline and effort but once you get used to doing this each year it becomes natural and just habit. Admittedly, it is hard the first few times and it is something you have to get in the routine in doing.