Introduction
In preparation for Pesach (Passover), people clean their homes in order to remove all of the chametz (leavened bread).
The special ceremony, done the night before the first seder, is called Bedikat Chametz, searching for chametz.Where does this tradition come from?How do we do it?How do you know that you have removed all of the chametz from your home?
Watch the video below to see how one family does Bedikat Chametz and answer the questions below.
שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים שְׂאֹ֕ר לֹ֥א יִמָּצֵ֖א בְּבָתֵּיכֶ֑ם
No leaven shall be found in your houses for seven days.
The Torah says that chametz should not be in the house during Passover.
- How did the family in the video search for chametz? What "tools" did they use?
Look at the drawing of a family in Amsterdam in the 1700s doing Bedikat Chametz.
- What is similar and what is different in the way that they are performing the ceremony?
From the collection of the National Library of Israel
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל בִּיעוּר חָמֵץ:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the removal of chametz.
In the video, Piera said that chametz, since it is fluffy and puffy, represents our egos.
Getting rid of physical chametz , cereal or pieces of bread, is easy. How do we get rid of thinking too much of ourselves? How do we become more humble while still having self-respect?
Have you ever participated in a Bedikat Chametz ceremony? What was it like? What traditions do your family have?
Suggested activities:
- Draw a picture, make a photo collage or record a video of your family doing Bedikat Chametz.
- Make a Bedikat Chametz kit. Include everything needed for the ceremony.
- Create a how-to video or pamphlet for Bedikat Chametz.
Tech suggestions: