Bitul hametz (declaring our hametz ownerless)
After searching for any left overs of hametz (see here) Sunday March 24th at night we pronounce the first declaration of Bitul hametz:
"kal hamira de-ika birshuti dela haziteh vedela bi'arteh libtil veleheve (hefqer) ke'afra dear'a"
The translation is:
"All kind of hametz or fermenting agent that belongs to me, that I haven't seen or that I haven't dispose of, it is considered ownerless, as the dust of the earth."
The reason for the bitul is the following: as we've already said, during Pesah the ownership or possession of hametz is forbidden, even if our hametz is hidden or even if it is not in our house. During Pesah there cannot be any hametz that belong to us. Therefore, through this statement (bitul) we renounce our ownership of any hametz that belong to us and that involuntarily we might not have found or removed. Technically speaking, the hametz will become subsequently ownerless. Therefore, even if any hametz 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 hametz (Getting rid of hametz)
The following day, Monday March 25th, in the morning, after we finish eating hametz (around 10.00 AM), we take the hametz found last night together with all the leftover of the hametz that remained from our last meal and we proceed to its physical disposal (bi'ur). Following the ancient custom, this can be done by burning the hametz (in a safe place!), and it can also be done by disposing it, or throwing it in a river to the fish or by feeding it to the birds. After we disposed of our hametz we pronounce once again the bitul. This time the declaration is more comprehensive:
"kal hamira de-ika birshuti dehaziteh vedela haziteh debi'arteh vedela biarteh libtil veleheve (hefqer) ke'afra dear'a"
The translation is:
"All kind of hametz 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 Monday March 25th, before 11.24 A.M. (the fifth hour of the day). Once this bitul is done no more dealings with hametz is allowed until Pesach is over.
Shabbat Shalom!
Candle lighting in NYC: 6:43 pm
Shabbat Ends in NYC: 7:44 pm
