Dear Rabbi Simon
As Pesach approaches, I find myself overwhelmed and bamboozled every year regarding the Halachot of cleaning. Some public websites are too machmir (stringent) and some don’t provide any practical guidance. For instance, some say you don’t need to clean toys/clothes, others say you must and some say nothing at all!
With young kids at home, I find that Pesach prep has become more difficult and certain chumras of cleanliness that I was particular about are no longer practical. I remember that some years ago Kesher circulated a handy guide/sheet of Pesach. Could you perhaps recirculate an updated sheet that’s readily available or if it’s not readily available do you have practical recommendations as to which website guide to use that is very detailed and clear, down to each household item, but at the same time is practical in prescribing the halachically required measures without marginal (or even fashionable) stringencies?
Wishing you a Chag Pesach Kasher v’sameach
Gad
Hi Gad
Nice to hear from you and thank you for the prompt to address a subject which is worthy of attention once again.
First, don’t miss next Wednesday’s Zoom seminar, Pesach to Perfection (8:00pm 25 March 2026, bit.ly/keshershiur).
Written guidance: The info we have circulated in the past derives from the notes prepared from the teachings of the late Rav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg (1910-2012) from Adar 1989. I know it sounds like ages ago, but that is actually part of the point. The notes were subsequently updated, but that was mostly to backtrack on some of the lenient rulings mentioned here. Sometimes, the original is best. In any case, the circumstances of a modern household have not changed dramatically from the 1980’s. Rav Scheinberg’s approach represents a halakhic standard upon which Kesher members and friends may rely with confidence. Here is the link:
https://www.anshe.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/pesach-cleaning-notes-harav-scheinberg-5749.pdf
(The link is to the website of a shul in Los Angeles. The rabbi there happens to be a friend of mine from yeshiva, but the link is publicly available in any case.)
Of course, I am happy to advise on specific situations that may arise.
I hope this is helpful.
עם ישראל חי
Rabbi Rashi Simon