Ketaim – קטעים
The procedure for Bedikas Chametz is filled with tradition. We are used to using a candle, because candlelight can penetrate into deep recesses. The feather and wooden spoon for gathering the crumbs seem to be present for practical purposes, rather than for any esoteric reason. They are all burned together with the chametz. Some have the custom to include their esrog and lulav in the fire. The procedure for Bedikas Chametz is as follows: Ten pieces of chametz, leaven, are placed in key places in the house. Why ten pieces? Minhagei Yeshurun explains that, in the Purim story, the Persian scribes copied the decree to destroy the Jews on the thirteenth of Nissan. According to tradition, these ten scribes were none other than Haman’s ten sons. Thus, we burn ten pieces of bread on the fourteenth of Nissan to show that we overcame the calamity these men had plotted against us.
Taamei HaMinhagim explains that the true purpose of Bedikas Chametz is to remove the spiritual chametz/dross, the yetzer hora, evil inclination, from our hearts. The Kabbalists teach that Hashem created ten types of angels in ascending levels of merit, and, also, in contrast, ten levels of impurity to which man can plummet. Through the ritual of searching for the ten pieces of bread, we demonstrate our desire to search ourselves and destroy these spiritual flaws. Last, we see that, regardless of how much we have cleaned our house, chametz is still to be found. Likewise, no matter how much a person attempts to lead a good life, perfection eludes him.
