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If it is too
difficult to search the whole house on one night the search can be started
earlier according to the laws of bedikat chametz.
However, the blessing is only said on the night of the 14th.
THE BLESSING
Before the search the blessing of 'al biur chametz' is recited as
found in the Haggadah or Siddur. From the time the blessing is said until the
after the search one should not say anything not relevant to the search.
When there is more than one building to search, one blessing suffices. One
person says the blessing for all the searchers, they listen to the blessing
and say "amen." Then they split up and search the different buildings.
THE DECLARATION
Any chametz not found during the search is declared null and ownerless (hefker):
"All chametz, leaven and leavened bread, that is in my possession which I have
not seen, removed or is unknown to me, should be annulled and considered
ownerless like the dust of the earth." This declaration is traditionally said
in Aramaic as found in the Haggadah or Siddur. However, one who doesn't
understand Aramaic must say it in a language he understands.
THE SEARCH
The search should be conducted by the light of a candle, in order to look
in all the nooks and crannies. If the candle might cause damage, such as a
carpeted area, one may use a flashlight.
It is preferable that the owner of the property conduct the search himself.
Nevertheless, he may appoint someone else to search on his behalf.
Any place chametz might have been put during the year must be searched.
Therefore, one must also check one's pockets.
There is a custom that ten pieces of chametz are "planted" in the rooms to
be searched. If you hide ten and find nine, just keep searching! The ten
pieces remind us of the ten plagues.
NULLIFICATION AND BURNING
The following morning, it is forbidden to eat chametz after the fourth
hour. One may continue to derive other benefit from the chametz until the end
of the fifth hour. Before this time, the chametz must be burned and again
nullified. Since the times vary from city to city, an Orthodox rabbi should be
consulted for the exact times in your area.
The second nullification is: "All chametz, leaven and leavened bread, that
is in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have removed it
or not, should be annulled and considered ownerless like the dust of the
earth."
Chametz is symbolic of the "evil inclination" which we "seek and destroy."
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