United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston Bulletin, April 2000 Page: 4
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BASIC SEDER REQUIREMENTS
THE SEARCH FOR CHOMETZ
BURNING OF CHOMETZ
SETTING THE SEDER TABLE
Three matzoh, especially baked for the seder use, are set before the head of the house and covered with a cloth. On a tray
(Seder Plate) are set these things:
I Z’roah: the roasted shankbone of a lamb or a chicken neck, symbol for the roasted paschal lamb of Temple days.
All chometz in one’s possession, including that which was gathered the evening before in the search for Chometz, that has
neither been sold nor destroyed, should be burned on the morning following the search, this year on Wednesday, April 19 by 11:00
a.m.
The night before the first Seder, immediately after dark, a final search for leaven called “Bedikas Chometz” should be made in
every home. This year we will search for the chometz on Tuesday, April 18. This search should be made by the light of a candle
or a flashlight. The search should be thorough even though usually the house has already been cleaned of chometz by this time.
The search is conducted with the house in complete darkness except for the single candle or flashlight in the father’s hand as he
trudges through the house with all his children trailing behind. In some homes, it is customary for the mother to hide several
pieces of bread in the house so that the father and children will find something in their search. Before the search, a spcial
blessing is said, “Blessed art Thou, O Lord Our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and
commanded us to remove the leaven.” After the search a special declaration renouncing ownership in any chometz not found
during the search is said. Following is the declaration transliterated and its translation: Kol Chamirah Va-cha-mee-ah Di-ikah
Vir-Shusi De-lah Chamisai U D’Lah Bee-Arti Ud-Lah Yedanah Lai, Lee-Batail Velehevai Hefker Ke-Afrah De-ar-ah...”Any
kind of leaven which is in my possession, which I have not seen and not removed, shall be regarded null and void and shall be
considered as dust of the earth.” All chometz found during the search should be gathered together, tied in a cloth, and burned the
following morning. This year we burn the chometz no later than 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19.
MATZOH: The Mitzvah of eating matzoh at the Seder is one of the most important of all our ritual commandments. We eat
matzoh at three specific times:
a) Motzi-Matzoh (Step #7 in the order of the service);
b) Korech-Sandwich of Matzoh and Maror (Step #9);
c) Afikomen-Dessert (Step #11).
The eating of the Matzoh is a requirement by Torah Law (D’oraita). The tradition is to double the minimum amount necessary
to be eaten during the Motzi-Matzoh ritual, which means that we must eat a double portion of Matzoh. We refer to each portion
as a “K’zayit” (the size of an olive). How much is actually a K’zayit? Opinions vary. However, we recommend the following:
eat the equivalent of 2/3 of a standard piece of machine baked Matzoh. This should be eaten immediately after the appropriate
prayers are recited.(Step 7)
MAROR (Bitter Herbs): The eating of bitter herbs is another Seder Night Mitzvah, reminding us of the bitterness of slavery.
Both men and women must eat the equivalent of a K’zayit. To properly fulfill this religious obligation, we recommend that if
horseradish is used for the Maror, 1 ounce be the minimum amount used for each of the two times bitter herbs are eaten at the
Seder. If romaine (leaf lettuce) is used for Maror, we suggest a piece the size of 3/4 of a matzoh.
THE FOUR CUPS (Arba Kosot): Another of the Seder Night Mitzvot is the drinking of Four Cups of Wine, in tribute and as a
toast to the Almighty for the four promises made and fulfilled concerning the redemption (See Exodus VI:6-7). Men and women
are obligated to drink the Arba Kosot. The obligation is discharged if more than half of each cup is consumed (Rov Kos). Grape
juice or diluted wine may be substituted for the wine for those unable to drink the large quantity required for the holiday
observance. How much wine is required for each of the 4 cups? The technical Hebrew term is a “Reviit”. This is
approximately 3-5 fluid ounces. Women and children may use a smaller cup (3 oz.) Health permitting, one should use a 4-5
ounce cup.
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United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston. United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston Bulletin, April 2000, periodical, April 2000; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1417211/m1/4/: accessed June 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.