Keeping Kosher for Passover Pesah

PASSOVER PREPARATION 2008…
Passover is celebrated from Friday Morning, April 18, through Sunday night, April 27. The Sederim are held on Saturday and Sunday night, April 19 & 20. All cleaning and preparations to make the house Pesadik (Kosher for Passover) must be completed by 11 am, Friday, April 18. If you have any questions, please consult with the Rabbi.
1. What is Hametz? If one of the five grains-wheat, oats, rye, barley or spelt-comes in contact with water after being cut off from the ground, it becomes fermented or Hametz.
2. Why do Ashkenazim not eat “Kitniyot”- beans, rice, corn, or peas on Pesach? Although these are not among the five species of grain that can become Hametz, the Rabbis forbade their use because flour was made from them. Ashkenazic Rabbis ordained that “Kitniyot” (legumes listed above) not be used at all. Sephardic Jews do not observe these restrictions. Non-flour products, such as peanut oil, may be used if they are prepared under Rabbinic supervision and properly certified.
3. Why must we clean our house so thoroughly before Pesah?
The rule against Hametz applies not only to eating, but to enjoyment (hana’ah) and also involves removing all the Hametz from one’s home. No Hametz is even allowed to be in our possession during Passover. To facilitate this cleaning, the following rituals are part of the Passover preparation. The text for this ceremony can be found in the Haggadah:
a) Bedikat Hametz – After the house has been cleaned on Thursday night, April 17, we search once again for any crumbs of Hametz we may have missed. “Searching for Hametz” is a great family activity. We use a candle, a feather, and a wooden spoon. This symbolizes that all the Hametz which we could see was removed.
b) Bittul Hametz – We recite a formula renouncing any Hametz left that we may have inadvertently missed, canceling our responsibility for it, and thus symbolically removing it from our homes. The formula for Bittul Hametz is recited whenever you stop eating Hametz, either before Shabbat or after Shabbat.
c) Be’ur Hametz – On the morning before Passover, we burn or throw out the Hametz that has been found during the search the night before. This ceremony should take place by 11am on Friday, April 18.
d) Michirat Hametz – We do not destroy or get rid of all the Hametz as
that would be wasteful. The Rabbis ordained that a symbolic sale is made of all Hametz to a non-Jew in the community, who then sells it back to us after Pesach. The Hametz is then no longer “in our posses-sion.” This is done by filling out the form at the end of this article or at the Temple office. Incidentally, it is only necessary to sell foodstuffs; dishes and utensils are simply locked away in storage for the duration
of Passover.
4. What foods may not be used during Passover? All these foods are considered Hametz and may not be used: leavened bread, cake, biscuits, crackers, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, rice, peas, dry beans, and liquids which contain ingredients made from grain alcohol.
5. What foods require Rabbinic supervision for Passover? Matzah, noodles, candies, cakes, beverages, canned and processed foods, jam, hard cheese, jelly, relish, wines, liquors, salad oils, vegetable gelatin, shortening, and vinegar. A “Kosher L’Pesach” label or tag without product name and Rabbinic signature is of no value. This applies to products made in America, Europe or Israel.
6. What goods require no certification? Pure natural coffee (instant or ground), sugar (not confectioners or powdered), brown sugar, sac- charin, tea, salt, pepper, vegetables (dry beans and peas are forbidden; string beans permitted), pure garlic and onion powder, dried fruit, honey, Hershey’s cocoa, pure unadulterated safflower or soybean oil, natural peanut butter, dish detergent, and scouring powder. All these items should be bought before Passover and left unopened until Passover begins.
glassware is permitted after thoroughly scouring. There is also a practice of soaking glassware for 72 hours before Passover. Follow the custom used in your family.
C. Fine translucent chinaware, if not used during the previous year, is permitted. D. Metal pots and pans used for cooking purposes only (but not for baking) if made wholly of metal may be used during Passover if thoroughly scoured and immersed in boiling water. Kashering is done in the following way: fill a large pot with water and heat to boiling; take the utensils, tie a string to it and immerse it completely in boiling water. For small items, a cord netting can be used to dip several at once. This process renders utensils pesadik and parve.
12. How may the stove be kashered? The stove is prepared by thoroughly scrubbing and cleaning all parts and turning on full flame or use the clean cycle in the oven and all the grates.
13. How may a microwave be kashered? Microwave ovens present a special case since the inside surfaces do not become hot. There is a difference of opinion as to whether or how one can be kashered. We recommend a thorough cleaning, then placing a dish of water into the oven and allowing it to boil as a symbol of kashering.
14. How may a dishwasher be kashered? A dishwasher may be used for Passover after running it empty for two cycles, one with soap and one without.
15. How may a refrigerator be kashered? Remove all Hametz food. Clean thoroughly with boiling water and scour the racks. In a freezer, frozen Hametz foods should be put in a special closed-off section.