Bitul Chametz (declaring our Chametz ownerless)
After searching for any left overs of Chametz (see HERE Bediqat Chametz) Thursday April 5th at night we pronounce the first declaration of Bitul Chametz:
"Kal Chamira Deika Birshuti Dela Chaziteh Udela Biarteh Libtil Veleheve (Hefker) Keafra Deara"
The translation is:
"All kind of Chametz or fermenting agent that belongs to me, that I haven't seen or that I haven't eliminated, should be considered ownerless, as the dust of the earth."
The reason for the Bitul is the following: as we've already said, during Pesach the ownership or possession of Chametz is forbidden, even if our Chametz is hidden or even if it is not in our house. During Pesach there cannot be any Chametz that belong to us. Therefore, through this statement (bitul) we renounce our ownership of any Chametz that belong to us and that involuntarily we might not have found or removed. Technically speaking, the Chametz will become subsequently ownerless, like the dust of the earth. Therefore, even if any Chametz is still found in our property, is not ours anymore.
For this declaration to be valid, it is necessary to understand every word we are uttering. Thus, one should say it in a language he or she understands. To become absolutely conscious of this declaration, our Sages recommended repeating it three times.
Bi'ur Chametz (Getting Rid of Chametz)
The following day, Friday April 6th, in the morning, after we finish eating Chametz (in our community, every year we stop eating Chametz at 10.00 AM), we take the Chametz found last night together with all the leftover of the Chametz that remained from our last meal and we proceed to its physical elimination (bi'ur). This can be done by burning the Chametz in a safe place, but it can also be done by disposing it, or throwing it in a lake or a river to the fish or by feeding it to the birds. After we disposed of our Chametz we pronounce once again the Bitul. This time the declaration is more comprehensive. It includes not just the Chametz that we have not seen or that we do not know about, but also the Chametz that we have seen and found:
"Kal Chamira Deika Birshuti Dechaziteh Udela Chaziteh Debiarteh Udela Biarteh Libtil Veleheve (Hefker) Keafra Deara"
The translation is:
"All kind of Chametz or fermenting agent that belongs to me, that I have or have not seen and that I have or have not eliminated, should be considered ownerless, as the dust of the earth."
This last Bitul must be done Friday April 6th, before 11.00 A.M. (the fifth hour of the day). Once this Bitul is done no more contact with Chametz is allowed until Pesach is over.
Shabbat Shalom!
Candle lighting in NYC: 7:00 PM
Shabbat ends in NYC: 8:09 PM
Click HERE to read the complete Printable Sephardic Guide for Pesach 2012 and all other Pesach links
