Leavened and Unleavened Bread Chapter 2

מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לְהַשְׁבִּית הֶחָמֵץ קֹדֶם זְמַן אִסּוּר אֲכִילָתוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יב טו) "בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם". וּמִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁבָּרִאשׁוֹן זֶה הוּא יוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר. רְאָיָה לְדָבָר זֶה מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה (שמות לד כה) "לֹא תִשְׁחַט עַל חָמֵץ דַּם זִבְחִי" כְּלוֹמַר לֹא תִּשְׁחַט הַפֶּסַח וַעֲדַיִן הֶחָמֵץ קַיָּם. וּשְׁחִיטַת הַפֶּסַח הוּא יוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אַחַר חֲצוֹת:

There is a positive commandment from the Torah to remove the hametz before the time that it is forbidden for consumption as it says (Shemot 12:15) "On the first day, remove the leavened from your homes." From the oral law, they learned that the first day refers to the 14th of Nissan. A proof to this matter is what is stated in the Torah: (Shemot 34:25) "Do not slaughter the animal with hametz in your possession." This means to say do not slaughter [the korban pesach] while the hametz exists. The day of the slaughtering the korban pesach is the 14th day following midday.

וּמַה הִיא הַשְׁבָּתָה זוֹ הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה הִיא שֶׁיְּבַטֵּל הֶחָמֵץ בְּלִבּוֹ וְיַחֲשֹׁב אוֹתוֹ כְּעָפָר וְיָשִׂים בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁאֵין בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ חָמֵץ כְּלָל. וְשֶׁכָּל חָמֵץ שֶׁבִּרְשׁוּתוֹ הֲרֵי הוּא כְּעָפָר וּכְדָבָר שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ צֹרֶךְ כְּלָל:

And what is this removal that is mentioned in the Torah? It is annulling the hametz in his heart and considering it like dust, and knowing in his heart that it is not in his possession. All the Hametz in his possession is like dust and has no use.

וּמִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים לְחַפֵּשׂ אַחַר הֶחָמֵץ בַּמַּחֲבוֹאוֹת וּבַחוֹרִים וְלִבְדֹּק וּלְהוֹצִיאוֹ מִכָּל גְּבוּלוֹ. וְכֵן מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים שֶׁבּוֹדְקִין וּמַשְׁבִּיתִין הֶחָמֵץ בַּלַּיְלָה מִתְּחִלַּת לֵיל אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר לְאוֹר הַנֵּר. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁבַּלַּיְלָה כָּל הָעָם מְצוּיִין בַּבָּתִּים וְאוֹר הַנֵּר יָפֶה לִבְדִיקָה. וְאֵין קוֹבְעִין מִדְרָשׁ בְּסוֹף יוֹם שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר. וְכֵן הֶחָכָם לֹא יַתְחִיל לִקְרוֹת בְּעֵת זוֹ שֶׁמָּא יִמָּשֵׁךְ וְיִמָּנַע מִבְּדִיקַת חָמֵץ בִּתְחִלַּת זְמַנָּה:

From the Hachamim, one should search for hametz in the hidden areas and cracks, to examine and remove from his boundaries. In addition, it is a Rabbinic injuction to search and destroy hametz on the night of the 14th using a candlelight, since people are usually home and the candle is excellent for searching. One should not establish his learning at the end of the 13th day. The Hacham should not begin to study at this time lest he is drawn, thereby preventing him from searching for hametz at the beginning of this time.

אֵין בּוֹדְקִין לֹא לְאוֹר הַלְּבָנָה וְלֹא לְאוֹר הַחַמָּה וְלֹא לְאוֹר הָאֲבוּקָה אֶלָּא לְאוֹר הַנֵּר. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּחוֹרִים וּבְמַחֲבוֹאוֹת אֲבָל אַכְסַדְרָה שֶׁאוֹרָהּ רַב אִם בְּדָקָהּ לְאוֹר הַחַמָּה דַּיּוֹ. וְאֶמְצַע הֶחָצֵר אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָעוֹפוֹת מְצוּיִים שָׁם וְהֵן אוֹכְלִין כָּל חָמֵץ שֶׁיִּפּל שָׁם:

We do not search [for chametz] by the light of the moon, the light of the sun, or the light of a torch; only by the light of a candle. To what does this apply? to the holes and hidden places. However, for a porch which has much light, searching it by the light of the sun is sufficient. The middle of a courtyard does not need to be searched, because birds are found there, and they eat all the chametz which falls there.

חוֹר שֶׁבְּאֶמְצַע הַבַּיִת שֶׁבֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ זֶה בּוֹדֵק עַד מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּדוֹ מַגַּעַת וְזֶה בּוֹדֵק עַד מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּדוֹ מַגַּעַת וְהַשְּׁאָר מְבַטְּלוֹ בְּלִבּוֹ. אֲבָל חוֹר שֶׁבֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעַכּוּ"ם אֵינוֹ בּוֹדֵק כְּלָל שֶׁמָּא יֹאמַר הָעַכּוּ"ם כְּשָׁפִים הוּא עוֹשֶׂה לִי אֶלָּא מְבַטְּלוֹ בְּלִבּוֹ וְדַיּוֹ. וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין מַכְנִיסִין בּוֹ חָמֵץ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה:

A hole in the middle of [the wall of] the house between a person and his colleague [should be searched by both individuals], each searching to the extent his hand reaches. [Afterwards,] each must nullify in his heart [any chametz in] the remaining portion. [This applies to a hole in a wall separating two Jewish homes.] However, a hole between [the home of] a Jew and a gentile should not be searched at all, lest the gentile fear that the Jew is casting spells against him. All that is necessary for him to do is to nullify it within his heart. Any place where chametz is not brought in does not need to be searched.

חוֹרֵי הַבַּיִת הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים וְהָעֶלְיוֹנִים וְגַג הַיָּצִיעַ וְרֶפֶת בָּקָר וְלוּלִין וּמַתְבֵּן וְאוֹצְרוֹת יַיִן וְאוֹצְרוֹת שֶׁמֶן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִסְתַּפֵּק מֵהֶן וּבֵית דָּגִים גְּדוֹלִים אֵינָן צְרִיכִין בְּדִיקָה אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הִכְנִיס לָהֶן חָמֵץ. אֲבָל אוֹצְרוֹת שֵׁכָר וְאוֹצְרוֹת יַיִן שֶׁמִּסְתַּפֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ וּבֵית דָּגִים קְטַנִּים וּבֵית הָעֵצִים וּבֵית הַמּוּרְיָס וְחוֹרֵי הַבַּיִת הָאֶמְצָעִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּאֵלּוּ צְרִיכִין בְּדִיקָה שֶׁסְּתָמָן שֶׁמַּכְנִיסִין לָהֶן חָמֵץ. וְאִם יָדַע בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁלֹּא הִכְנִיס שָׁם חָמֵץ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה. וּכְשֶׁבּוֹדֵק הַמַּרְתֵּף בּוֹדֵק מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁתֵּי שׁוּרוֹת הַחִיצוֹנוֹת שֶׁהֵן הָעֶלְיוֹנָה וְשֶׁלְּמַטָּה מִמֶּנָּה:

The upper and lower holes [in the wall] of a house, the roof of a balcony, a cow stall, chicken coop, hayloft, wine cellars or storage rooms for oil when supplies are not taken from them [in the midst of a meal], and storage rooms for large fish, need not be searched unless one brought chametz into them. In contrast, storage rooms for beer, storage rooms for wine from which supplies are taken [in the midst of a meal], storage rooms for salt, candles, small fish, wood, and brine, the middle holes in a wall, and all similar places must be searched, for chametz is usually brought into them. However, if a person knows that he did not bring chametz into these places, they do not have to be searched. When searching a wine cellar, [all that is necessary to] search are the two outer rows—i.e., the highest row and the one below it.

אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא גָּרְרָה חֻלְדָּה חָמֵץ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין מַכְנִיסִין בּוֹ חָמֵץ שֶׁאִם נָחוּשׁ מִבַּיִת לְבַיִת נָחוּשׁ מֵעִיר לְעִיר וְאֵין לַדָּבָר סוֹף. בָּדַק לֵיל אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר וְהִנִּיחַ עֶשֶׂר חַלּוֹת וּמָצָא תֵּשַׁע הֲרֵי זֶה חוֹשֵׁשׁ וְצָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁהֲרֵי גָּרְרָה חֻלְדָּה אוֹ עַכְבָּר בְּוַדַּאי:

We do not suspect that a weasel dragged chametz into a place where it is not usually brought. Were we to suspect [that chametz would be taken] from house to house, we would also have to suspect [that chametz might be taken] from city to city. There is no end to the matter. A person who checked on the night of the fourteenth and placed ten loaves of chametz [on the side] and [later] found [only] nine must suspect [that chametz is present in his home,] and [hence], must search a second time, for definitely it was taken by a weasel or mouse.

וְכֵן אִם רָאָה עַכְבָּר שֶׁנִּכְנַס לַבַּיִת וְחָמֵץ בְּפִיו אַחַר בְּדִיקָה צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמָּצָא פֵּרוּרִין בְּאֶמְצַע הַבַּיִת אֵין אוֹמְרִין כְּבָר אָכַל אוֹתָהּ הַפַּת בְּמָקוֹם זֶה וַהֲרֵי הַפֵּרוּרִין אֶלָּא חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא הִנִּיחָה בְּחוֹר אוֹ בְּחַלּוֹן וְאִלּוּ הַפֵּרוּרִין שָׁם הָיוּ. וּלְפִיכָךְ חוֹזֵר וּבוֹדֵק. אִם לֹא מָצָא כְּלוּם הֲרֵי זֶה בּוֹדֵק כָּל הַבַּיִת וְאִם מָצָא אוֹתָהּ הַפַּת שֶׁנְּטָלָהּ הָעַכְבָּר וְנִכְנַס אֵין צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה:

Similarly, a person who saw a mouse enter the house with chametz in its mouth after he searched [for chametz] must search a second time. [This applies] even if he found crumbs in the middle of the house; we do not necessarily presume that it already ate the bread in this place and that these are its crumbs. Rather, we suspect that it left the bread in a hole or window, and that these crumbs were [originally] located there. Hence, he must search again. If he does not find anything, he must search through the entire house. If he found the bread that the mouse took when he entered, he need not search [further].

רָאָה תִּינוֹק שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְבַיִת בָּדוּק וּבְיָדוֹ כִּכָּר וְנִכְנַס אַחֲרָיו וּמָצָא פֵּרוּרִין אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה שֶׁחֶזְקָתוֹ שֶׁאֲכָלוֹ וְאֵלּוּ הַפֵּרוּרִין שֶׁנָּפְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ בִּשְׁעַת אֲכִילָה שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ הַתִּינוֹק לְפָרֵר בְּעֵת אֲכִילָתוֹ וְאֵין דֶּרֶךְ עַכְבָּר לְפָרֵר. וְאִם לֹא מָצָא פֵּרוּרִין כְּלָל צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק:

[A person who] saw an infant enter an already checked house with bread in his hand, followed him inside and discovered crumbs, need not search [again]. We may confidently assume that he ate the bread and that these crumbs fell from him while eating. Infants generally crumble food while eating, though mice do not. If he does not find any crumbs, he must check [again].

הִנִּיחַ תִּשְׁעָה צְבוּרִין שֶׁל מַצָּה וְאֶחָד שֶׁל חָמֵץ וּבָא עַכְבָּר וְנָטַל וְלֹא יָדַעְנוּ אִם חָמֵץ אוֹ מַצָּה נָטַל וְנִכְנַס לְבַיִת בָּדוּק צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק שֶׁכָּל הַקָּבוּעַ כְּמֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה:

Nine piles of matzah and one of chametz were placed [aside]. A mouse came and took [something from one of the piles] and entered a house that had been checked. If we do not know whether it took either chametz or matzah, the house must be checked [again], for every instance where [a doubt arises and the presence of both the permitted and forbidden substances] is fixed, [is judged] as if they were present in equal amounts.

שְׁנֵי צְבוּרִין אֶחָד שֶׁל חָמֵץ וְאֶחָד שֶׁל מַצָּה וּשְׁנֵי בָּתִּים אֶחָד בָּדוּק וְאֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ בָּדוּק וּבָאוּ שְׁנֵי עַכְבָּרִים זֶה נָטַל חָמֵץ וְזֶה נָטַל מַצָּה וְאֵין יָדוּעַ לְאֵי זֶה בַּיִת נִכְנַס זֶה שֶׁנָּטַל הֶחָמֵץ. וְכֵן שְׁנֵי בָּתִּים בְּדוּקִין וּצְבוּר אֶחָד שֶׁל חָמֵץ וּבָא עַכְבָּר וְנָטַל וְאֵין יָדוּעַ לְאֵיזֶה בַּיִת נִכְנַס. אוֹ שֶׁיָּדַע שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְאֶחָד מֵהֶן וְנִכְנַס אַחֲרָיו וּבָדַק וְלֹא מָצָא כְּלוּם אוֹ שֶׁבָּדַק וּמָצָא כִּכָּר. אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ תִּשְׁעָה צְבוּרִין שֶׁל מַצָּה וְאֶחָד שֶׁל חָמֵץ וּפֵרַשׁ כִּכָּר מֵהֶן וְאֵין יָדוּעַ אִם חָמֵץ אִם מַצָּה וּבָא עַכְבָּר וְנָטַל הַכִּכָּר שֶׁפֵּרַשׁ וְנִכְנַס לְבַיִת בָּדוּק בְּכָל אֵלּוּ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁאֵין כָּאן קָבוּעַ:

There were two piles: one of chametz and one of matzah, and two houses: one that had been searched and one that had not been searched. Two mice came; one took chametz and one took matzah [and they entered the houses] without our knowing which house the mouse holding the chametz entered... Similarly, there were two houses which had been checked, with one pile of chametz before them. A mouse took [from the pile and entered a house]. However, we do not know which house he entered... or we saw which one he entered, a person followed him, checked [for chametz], and did not find anything... or he checked and found bread... Similarly, when there were nine piles of matzah and one of chametz, and a loaf became separated from the piles, and we do not know whether it was chametz or matzah: If a mouse took the loaf that became separated and entered the house that had been checked: In all of these cases, there is no need to check a second time, because the presence of the forbidden substance is not fixed.

הִנִּיחַ הֶחָמֵץ בְּזָוִית זוֹ וּמְצָאוֹ בְּזָוִית אַחֵר אוֹ שֶׁהִנִּיחַ תֵּשַׁע חַלּוֹת וּמָצָא עֶשֶׂר. אוֹ שֶׁבָּא עַכְבָּר וְנָטַל הֶחָמֵץ וְסָפֵק נִכְנַס לְבַיִת זֶה אוֹ לֹא נִכְנַס. בְּכָל אֵלּוּ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק:

A person who placed chametz in one corner and discovered it in another... or who put aside nine loaves and found ten... or a mouse came and took the chametz, and there is a doubt whether he entered this house or not... In all these cases, he must search [the house again].

נִכְנַס עַכְבָּר לְבַיִת וְכִכָּר בְּפִיו וְיָצָא עַכְבָּר מִשָּׁם וְכִכָּר בְּפִיו אוֹמְרִים הוּא הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁנִּכְנַס הוּא הָאַחֲרוֹן שֶׁיָּצָא וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק. הָיָה הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁנִּכְנַס שָׁחוֹר וְזֶה שֶׁיָּצָא לָבָן צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק. נִכְנַס עַכְבָּר וְכִכָּר בְּפִיו וְיָצְאתָה מִשָּׁם חֻלְדָּה וְכִכָּר בְּפִיהָ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק. יָצָאת מִשָּׁם חֻלְדָּה וְעַכְבָּר וְכִכָּר בְּפִיהָ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק שֶׁזֶּה הַכִּכָּר הוּא שֶׁהָיָה בְּפִי הָעַכְבָּר. נָחָשׁ שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְחוֹר וּפַת בְּפִיו אֵין חַיָּב לְהָבִיא חֲבָּר לְהוֹצִיאוֹ:

A mouse entered a house with a loaf in its mouth. Afterwards, a mouse left there with a loaf in its mouth; we presume that the same mouse who entered originally was the one which ultimately left, and [the owner] need not search [again]. If the first mouse which entered was black and the one which left was white, he must search [again]. If a mouse entered with a loaf in its mouth and a weasel left there with a loaf in its mouth, he must search [again]. If a weasel left there with a mouse and a loaf in its mouth, he does not have to search [again]. [We may presume] that this is the loaf which was in the mouse's mouth. If a snake enters a hole with a loaf in its mouth, there is no obligation to bring a snakecharmer to remove it.

כְּזַיִת חָמֵץ בִּשְׁמֵי קוֹרָה מְחַיְּבִין אוֹתוֹ לְהָבִיא סֻלָּם לְהוֹרִידוֹ שֶׁפְּעָמִים יִפּל מִשְּׁמֵי קוֹרָה. הָיָה חָמֵץ בְּבוֹר אֵין מְחַיְּבִין אוֹתוֹ לְהַעֲלוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא מְבַטְּלוֹ בְּלִבּוֹ וְדַיּוֹ:

When chametz is [discovered] on a very high beam, [the owner] is obligated to bring a ladder and remove it, for it might fall from the beam. If chametz is in a pit, [the owner] is not obligated to bring it up. All that is necessary is for him to nullify [ownership over it] in his heart.

כִּפַּת שְׂאוֹר שֶׁיִּחֲדָהּ לִישִׁיבָה אִם טָח פָּנֶיהָ בְּטִיט הֲרֵי זוֹ בְּטֵלָה וּמֻתָּר לְקַיְּמָהּ. בָּצֵק שֶׁבְּסִדְקֵי הָעֲרֵבָה אִם יֵשׁ כְּזַיִת בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד חַיָּב לְבַעֵר. וְאִם לָאו אִם הָיָה עָשׂוּי לְחַזֵּק בּוֹ שִׁבְרֵי הָעֲרֵבָה אוֹ לִסְתֹּם בּוֹ נֶקֶב בָּטֵל בְּמִעוּטוֹ וְאִם לָאו חַיָּב לְבַעֵר. הָיוּ בּוֹ שְׁנֵי חֲצָאֵי זֵיתִים בִּשְׁנֵי מְקוֹמוֹת וְחוּט שֶׁל בָּצֵק בֵּינֵיהֶם רוֹאִין כּל שֶׁאִלּוּ יִנָּטֵל הַחוּט נִטָּלִין עִמּוֹ חַיָּב לְבַעֵר וְאִם לָאו אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְבַעֵר:

A block of yeast which was designated to be used as a seat: If its surface was coated with mortar, it is [considered as] destroyed and we are permitted to keep it [on Pesach]. The dough in the cracks of a kneading trough: If a size of an olive [of dough] exists in one place, one is obligated to destroy [the dough under all circumstances]. Should there be less than that amount: If it serves to reinforce the broken pieces of the kneading trough or to plug a hole, it is [considered] negligible because of its minimal size. If not, one is obligated to destroy it. Two [quantities of dough, each] half the size of an olive were found in separate places, and a string of dough connects them: We check whether the [pieces of] dough themselves are lifted up when the string of dough is picked up. If they are, one is obligated to destroy [them]. If not, one is not obligated to destroy [them].

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בַּעֲרֵבָה אֲבָל בְּבַיִת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאִם יִנָּטֵל הַחוּט אֵין נִטָּלִין עִמּוֹ חַיָּב לְבַעֵר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁפְּעָמִים מְקַבֵּץ אוֹתָן. הָיָה חֲצִי זַיִת בַּבַּיִת וַחֲצִי זַיִת בָּעֲלִיָּה. חֲצִי זַיִת בַּבַּיִת וַחֲצִי זַיִת בָּאַכְסַדְרָה. חֲצִי זַיִת בְּבַיִת זֶה וַחֲצִי זַיִת בְּבַיִת שֶׁלִּפְנִים מִמֶּנּוּ. הוֹאִיל וְאֵלּוּ הַחֲצָאֵי זֵיתִים דְּבוּקִין בַּכְּתָלִים אוֹ בַּקּוֹרוֹת אוֹ בַּקַּרְקָעוֹת אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לְבָעֵר אֶלָּא מְבַטֵּל בְּלִבּוֹ וְדַיּוֹ:

To what does the above apply? to [pieces of dough stuck to] a kneading trough. However, [if a similar situation is discovered] within a house, one is obligated to destroy [the dough] even if, when the [connecting] thread [of dough] is lifted up, the pieces of dough are not raised up with it. [This stringency was instituted] because the [smaller portions] may sometimes be brought together. If half of an olive size [of dough] was found in a house and another half in the second storey; or if half of the size of an olive was found in a house and another half in [the adjoining] porch; or if half of the size of an olive was found in a room and another half in an inner room; Since these portions of dough which are less than the size of an olive are found stuck to the walls, beams, or floors [of the house], one is not obligated to destroy them. All that is necessary is to nullify them in one's heart.

הַמַּשְׂכִּיר בַּיִת סְתָם בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר הֲרֵי זֶה בְּחֶזְקַת בָּדוּק וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק. וְאִם הֻחְזַק זֶה הַמַּשְׂכִּיר שֶׁלֹּא בָּדַק וְאָמְרוּ אִשָּׁה אוֹ קָטָן אָנוּ בְּדַקְנוּהוּ הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ נֶאֱמָנִין שֶׁהַכּל נֶאֱמָנִים עַל בִּעוּר חָמֵץ. וְהַכּל כְּשֵׁרִין לִבְדִיקָה וַאֲפִלּוּ נָשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים וּקְטַנִּים וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה קָטָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ דַּעַת לִבְדֹּק:

A person who rents out a house on the fourteenth [of Nisan]: Behold, [the tenant may operate] under the presumption that it has been searched and he need not search. [Furthermore,] even if we must assume that the person who rented out the house did not search [it], should a woman or a minor say: "We have searched it," they are believed, for everyone's statements are accepted with regard to the destruction of chametz. Everyone is acceptable to search [for chametz], even women, slaves, and minors. The latter applies only when the minor has sufficient understanding to search.

הַמַּשְׂכִּיר בַּיִת לַחֲבֵרוֹ אִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא מָסַר לוֹ הַמַּפְתֵּחַ חָל אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר עַל הַמַּשְׂכִּיר לִבְדֹּק. וְאִם מִשֶּׁמָּסַר הַמַּפְתֵּחַ חָל אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר עַל הַשּׂוֹכֵר לִבְדֹּק. הַמַּשְׂכִּיר בַּיִת בְּחֶזְקַת שֶׁהוּא בָּדוּק וְנִמְצָא שֶׁאֵינוֹ בָּדוּק עַל הַשּׂוֹכֵר לִבְדֹּק וְאֵינוֹ מִקָּח טָעוּת. וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁבּוֹדְקִים בְּשָׂכָר שֶׁהֲרֵי מִצְוָה הוּא עוֹשֶׂה:

A person who rents a house to a colleague: If the fourteenth [of Nisan] falls before [the landlord] gave the keys to [the tenant], the landlord is responsible for searching. If the fourteenth falls after the keys have been transferred, the tenant is responsible for checking. When a person rents out a house under the presumption that it has been searched and [later, the tenant] discovers that it has not been searched, [the tenant] is responsible for searching it and [cannot nullify the transaction by claiming that it was carried out] under false premises. This applies even when it is customary to hire people to search, since, behold, he is performing a mitzvah.

הַמְפָרֵשׁ בַּיָּם וְהַיּוֹצֵא בְּשַׁיָּרָא תּוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם זָקוּק לִבְדֹּק. קֹדֶם שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק. וְאִם דַּעְתּוֹ לַחֲזֹר קֹדֶם הַפֶּסַח צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק וְאַחַר כָּךְ יֵצֵא שֶׁמָּא יַחֲזֹר עֶרֶב הַפֶּסַח בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לוֹ פְּנַאי לְבַעֵר. וְאִם אֵין דַּעְתּוֹ לַחֲזֹר אֵין צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק. וְכֵן הָעוֹשֶׂה בֵּיתוֹ אוֹצָר. תּוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם זָקוּק לִבְדֹּק וְאַחַר כָּךְ כּוֹנֵס אוֹצָרוֹ לְתוֹכוֹ. קֹדֶם שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם אִם דַּעְתּוֹ לְפַנּוֹתוֹ קֹדֶם הַפֶּסַח צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק וְאַחַר כָּךְ עוֹשֵׂהוּ אוֹצָר. וְאִם אֵין דַּעְתּוֹ לְפַנּוֹתוֹ קֹדֶם הַפֶּסַח אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק:

A person who sets out to sea or one who leaves in a caravan within thirty days [of Pesach] is obligated to search [for chametz]. [If he leaves] before thirty days [prior to Pesach], he is not obligated to search. However, if he intends to return before Pesach, he must search before departing, lest he [be delayed and] return Pesach eve at nightfall, when he will have no opportunity to destroy [the chametz]. However, if he does not intend to return, he does not have to search. Similarly, a person who makes his house a storage room: If he does so within thirty days [of Pesach], he is required to search and then bring in the goods he wants to store. Over thirty days before Pesach: If he intends to remove the goods before Pesach, he is required to search and then bring in the goods he wants to store; if he does not intend to remove the goods before Pesach, he does not have to search.