Biur Chametz and hefsek

Question

On the evening of the day before Pesach, we search for Chametz and put aside what we find so that we may destroy it in some way the next morning. Before we start, we make the bracha "al biur chametz" (on the "removal/burning/destruction" of the Chametz).

But we don't destroy the Chametz until the next day. We simply put it aside (and may even consume chametz the next morning). The bracha which we made is on the completion of the act (which might, according to this answer, stretch out until the chag begins), the destruction.

As far as I have seen in siddurim, though, the concern about hefsek, an interruption, relates to the time between saying the bracha and starting the search, as per #13 here.

If the bracha actually applies to an action taken the next morning, why wouldn't there be an concern of hefsek from the moment one makes the bracha, until the moment the fire/destruction completes the act (or, as per that other answer, the holiday begins, completing the obligation)?

N.B. -- the issue might relate to the use of "al biur" according to those opinions which say that the formulation indicates imminent completion of the commandment, though it seems that some do not agree with that distinction (as per here). Also, there seems to be an idea that the search is not the completion.

Answer 1

Great question!

The Rosh Pesachim 1:10 addresses this:

“אמר רב יהודה אמר רב הבודק צריך שיברך. דלא תימא אינה כל כך מצוה כיון דאינה אלא לבער את החמץ מן הבית. ומה שאין מברכין על ביעור בשעה חמישית בשעה שהוא מוציא החמץ מן הבית והוא מצוה מן התורה כדכתיב ביום הראשון תשביתו שאור מבתיכם ודרשינן לעיל דביום הראשון היינו בי״ד. אומר אני דהוצאת חמץ מן הבית קודם זמן איסוריה לא נפיק מתשביתו דהא אמר רבי עקיבא לעיל (פסחים דף ה:) תשביתו היינו שריפה. ולא צותה תורה לשורפו אלא אחר שכבר נאסר. מידי דהוה אנותר. לקמן (פסחים דף כז:) אבל בעוד שהוא מותר באכילה לא ישרפנו ומה שמוציאין אותו מן הבית היינו שלא יעבור עליו בבל יראה ואין מפורש בו מצות עשה מן התורה שיהא מצוה לברך עליו. ומן הראוי שיברך קודם בדיקה על בדיקת חמץ ותקנו לומר על ביעור חמץ לפי שלאחר הבדיקה מיד הוא מבטל והיינו ביעור לחמץ שאינו ידוע לו ומצניע את הידוע לו ואוכל ממנו עד שעה חמישית ואז מבערו מן הבית ועל עסק זה נגררה הברכה של בדיקה שהיא תחלת הביעור ונגמר בשעה חמישית.”

The way I understood this Rosh is that the bracha (על ביעור חמץ) that we say before bedika is really a bracha for the bedika, and not the ביעור! The difficulty is that the lashon of the bracha is על ביעור חמץ (so there are many Rishonim who say that it's not difficult since the bedika is the start of the process). So then one may ask, but isn't the whole mitzvah to destroy the chametz ( תשביתו)? The answer is תשביתו only applies after the זמן איסורו, and there is a big discussion in the Rishonim as to when the time of tashbitu is. Therefore according to this, there is no problem of a hefsek after finishing the bedika because you finished the mitzvah already (bedika), the ביעור only becomes a mitzvah after the zman isuro which doesn't require a bracha.

Answer 2

The search is the beginning of the Biur. (If one does not search for the chometz one won't be able to burn/get rid of it.) the Bracha he makes is on the whole process of "search and destroy Chometz"

The most critical hefsek is the one between the Bracha and the start of the process. Making sure that the process begins immediately after the Bracha connects the Bracha to the process, which validates the Bracha.

Similarly one may not make a hefsek between making a Bracha and starting the process of eating food on which he made that Bracha. Once he has partaken of some food, he may interrupt, speak get up for a short break and come back, as long as the break is not long enough to be considered to be disassociated with the Bracha. When he determines he is finished his meal (benches or washes may'im achronim, etc) then the eating process has concluded and he may no longer eat without saying a new Bracha.

Here, you make the Bracha on the process of " Search and destroy", start with the search, put the found Chometz away and store it in a bag or collect it to a known place in the morning, setting aside (normally) some food for the morning chometz-dig breakfast. You go back in the morning, eat breakfast, join any left over Chometz to the bag or collection of items found in the search and then burn/get rid of it. This is the end of the process as determined not by each individual but by Chazal, so there is no need to make a new Bracha. See ShA 432/1 and MB (for detail see my comment below)