Even the biggest fan of Passover has to admit that cleaning your house before the holiday can be a) a little daunting and b) a little annoying. As a kid, I hated the month or so before Passover because food would become and more scarce around the house, and my after school routine of eating a snack in front of the TV was halted when the living room became a “No Food Zone.”
Now that I’m adult (They let me vote!), I’m always worried about cleaning for Passover. I just remember how much effort was put into my house and I know that I just can’t match it.
So, like many others, I’m going home for the holiday. But if you’re like me, you should know something very important.
Just because you are closing down your house/apt., that does not mean you do not have to clean for Passover! Many people think they can just sell the contents in their house to a non-Jew for the 8 days and be over with it. Sadly, that’s not the case.
In Paul Steinberg’s
Celebrating the Jewish Year
, he gives instructions on what to do if you will not be home for Passover.
“If they plan to leave 30 days or less before the start of Passover and will not return until after Passover ends, they clean the house, arrange for the sale of hametz, and do the formal search. They do not say the nullifying blessing until Erev Passover (from wherever they are), and the burning of hametz is not done at all. No other acts are necessary, assuming no one will be eating in the house during Passover.”
I know. I’m crying to.
hametz
Pronounced: khah-METZ or KHUH-metz, Origin: Hebrew, bread or any food that has been leavened or contains a leavening agent. Hametz is prohibited on Passover.
