Bedikas Chametz – Where to Check

These halachos of Bedikas Chametz, searching for Chametz, are based on the rulings of the Mishna Berura, reflecting Ashkenazi practice.

Where to Check

One needs to look for Chametz in any room of the home, any cupboard, storage container, bag etc that one may have brought or put Chametz in over the course of the year, even if one may just have done this coincidentally and not on a regular basis.
Therefore, all rooms of the house typically require searching as do shelves, ledges etc within reachable height, but storage spaces which aren’t used for chametz and where one would never have entered mid-meal, even as a one-off, or ledges etc which are not within reachable height or are slanted downwards, do not need searching (SA 431:1, MB4, SA 433:3-5, MB13).

By default one does not need to do bedikas chametz in outside spaces such as a courtyard etc, as birds etc can be assumed to have eaten chametz that may have been left there unless the Chametz was put in holes or crevices as the birds may not then have eaten it (presumably if the chametz was in a container or wrapper this leniency also would not apply).
However, if one definitely knows there was chametz in these outdoor spaces at the start of the night of the 14^th of Nissan, one must do bedikas chametz there, as birds may not eat that chametz in time for Pesach; some are strict even if one was aware that there was definitely chametz there within the 30 days preceding Pesach. The same applies to doing bedikas chametz in animal enclosures where they are sometimes fed chametz (SA 433:6, MB 27, MB 443:5, SHT 6).
However, a mirpeset should be searched and all the more so if it has some sort of covering; its regular usage means it should be treated as another room in the house (PT 433:5, per MB 433:25 who says flat rooves of a house that are used require checking even though they are outdoors)

If there are crevices in one’s wall etc, one must do bedikas chametz up to the point where one’s hand can reach and one can then rely on the bittul chametz performed later to cover any Chametz beyond this point. This is true unless one had intentionally put the chametz there, in which case it must be removed. (SA 433:7, MB 29, Dirshu 27, MB 438:15).
The custom to use a feather as part of bedikas chametz is to assist in cleaning and remove chametz from crevices (MB 433 SK47).

If eg part of a wall has collapsed over an area which may have chametz, or if the wall had chametz in its crevices, if any chametz would be buried by three tefachim (23-30cm) of rocks etc then one need not search under the rubble and can rely on the bittul chametz one will perform.
- However, if it may be less than three tefachim below the surface, one should search under the rubble.
- Where there is a risk of there being poisonous animals eg scorpions etc in the rubble, one needn’t search it unless one is sure there is chametz within three tefachim of the surface, in which case one must look for the chametz and take the necessary precautions to remain safe.
- Any Chametz that one is not obligated to search for is dealt with by the bittul chametz performed later (SA 433:8, MB 32, 34- 35)).

Pockets of adults’ and children’s garments need checking for (or shaking out of) chametz even if one does not remember putting chametz in them, as this is often done without paying much attention to what one is doing. One should check these as part of bedikas chametz and (if one used the clothes thereafter) also shake them out the following morning when doing biur chametz, in case one put chametz in there from the food one ate after bedikas chametz (R 433:11, MB 47-48).

Mishna Berura says that even areas which one ensured were chametz free before the night of the 14^th of Nissan must still be searched as part of bedikas Chametz on the 14^th. However, many poskim (including Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rav Elyashiv) say that nowadays where we thoroughly clean and check the house before the 14^th of Nissan, one does not need to re-check each area in detail on the night of the 14^th – rather the purpose of bedikas chametz becomes to confirm that every area of the house was indeed cleaned carefully and that chametz wasn’t brought in thereafter
- (Rav Elyashiv maintains that it is obligatory (rather than just being a custom) to put 10 pieces of bread around the house before bedikas chametz nowadays, as otherwise there presumably is already no Chametz present, though Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach argues that the process of ensuring everywhere in the house was indeed cleaned is enough reason to justify the bracha).
- However, not all poskim agree with this so practical guidance should be sought from one’s Rav (MB 433:45, Dirshu 38, 432:19, PT 431:8).

If there are entire rooms of one’s home that one is selling (/renting) to a non-Jew for Pesach, the accepted ruling is that one has no requirement to perform bedikas chametz in those rooms, even though the sale only comes in to force in the daytime of the 14^th, after the time one is obligated to perform the bedikah (MB 436:32).

Going away for Pesach: Those who are going away for Pesach and leave their home within 30 days of Pesach need to do bedikas Chametz in their home before travelling, unless an adult member of the household remains at home who can do bedikas chametz on the night of the 14^th of Nissan. This should be done the night before one travels, in the same manner as regular bedikas chametz – by candlelight, performing bittul chametz afterwards etc, though a bracha is not said on this bedikas chametz. (SA 436:1, MB 1,3)
However, when one will be selling the Chametz in one’s home, it is advisable to consult with one’s Rav about whether one needs to do bedikas chametz before one leaves (it may also depend on whether one will have one’s personal area where one is staying so that one will be able to fulfil the mitzva of bedikas chametz there or not) (MB 436:32, see PT 3).
- It is also advisable to inform one’s Rav that one is doing so as they may wish to arrange the sale to occur on the 13^th of Nissan (ie prior to the night of bedikas chametz) if they rule one does not need to do the bedikah.

The Gabbaim of a shul or beis hamedrash are responsible to ensure that bedikas chametz is performed there on the night of the 14^th. They should discuss with the Rav if a bracha can be made on the bedikah done there and if bittul is required (SA 433:10, MB 43, Dirshu 36, see PT 6).