WHAT IS CHAMETZ?

Although Chametz is often translated as “leaven,” the term has a much more precise definition. Chametz means wheat, barley, oats, spelt, or rye that has become wet and allowed to remain for a short period of time (18 minutes) so that it begins the leavening process. The matzah that we eat would be Chametz but for the fact that it is baked within the allotted time. Halacha (Jewish Law) records many measurements of the beginning of leavening other than “wet time.” As a result, we are very strict about using only grain products specifically prepared for Passover use. Jews may not eat, own, or benefit from even small amounts of Chametz during Pesach.

EATING CHAMETZ

The Torah prohibits eating Chametz on Pesach, beginning on the afternoon before Pesach. On Pesach, this applies not only to pure Chametz, but also to derivatives and mixtures of Chametz. One should make certain that all food used during the holiday is approved for Pesach use as explained in the following pages.

OWNING CHAMETZ

Jews may not own Chametz during Pesach. One way to avoid violating this prohibition is to sell your Chametz to a non-Jew before the holiday. Because this sale is a highly complex and technical matter of Jewish law, you should appoint a Rabbi with appropriate expertise as your agent. The Va 'ad Office does not handle the sale of Chametz. Note that the final sale arrangements for this year must be completed by the morning of Sunday, March 28, 2010. Please make arrangements with your Rabbi as early as possible. A list of Va’ad Member Rabbis selling Chametz and a sale of Chametz form can be found here.
For the holiday, sold Chametz is put away in a closed off and clearly marked place. During the holiday, this Chametz is the possession of the non-Jew who purchased it. Utensils used during the year for Chametz that are not koshered for Passover (see section on koshering) must also be stored away in this manner.

Your Chametz is purchased back after the holiday, and may be used again beginning about one hour after the conclusion of Pesach (approximately 9 pm, April 6, 2010). Please check with the rabbi who sells your Chametz for exact times.

 

Important Notes:

In some rare instances, something goes wrong and the buy back of the Chametz is delayed. Please monitor Va'ad and Synagogue announcements.

Inform the Rabbi if you intend to be in a different time zone for Pesach, since your Chametz may not be bought back if it is still Pesach where you are.

BENEFITING FROM CHAMETZ

During Pesach, in addition to not eating or possessing it, Jews may not derive any benefit from Chametz. Consequently, it may not be sold or used, even in business transactions or in items such as pet food. Even some cosmetics must be Chametz-free. The Va'ad list contains items known to be free of Chametz. Consult your rabbi as to the use of other products.

BUYING FOOD BEFORE PESACH

Purchasing food items for Pesach without proper Pesach supervision is generally not recommended. This applies even to foods that have regular (year round) kosher endorsement. Foods listed in this Guide or in other reliable sources as Pesach acceptable without special supervision are the exception, not the rule. Foods that do not generally require any kosher supervision – such as fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables - (unless they are themselves Chametz for all, or Kitniot for Ashkenazim), also do not require supervision during Pesach.

Chametz ingredients are not always obvious. Many foods contain grain alcohols, flavoring components, or even colors derived from Chametz or Kitniot. Reading labels does not give the full story by any means. Also, things change from year to year. In today’s global economy, many ingredients once thought Chametz free in America may not be. This is especially true of grain alcohols and sweeteners. It is important to check current lists and to consult with reliable rabbinic authorities.

In all items where there is real and edible Chametz, meaning if in the ingredients there is wheat or any of the five grains, these foods should not be eaten on Pesach. This is so even if the amount is minute and it is annulled in the one-sixtieth formula before Pesach, even though as a rule we don’t hold of Hozer Veneor, (meaning that the mixture revives itself and it is as if the mixture was actually made on Pesach). Since the Halachot of this nullification are very complex, they are beyond the scope of this booklet – please contact your rabbi about such products.

All items containing Chametz that are not edible, even by a dog, lose their status of Chametz. If the product containing such a material is made and purchased before Pesach it is permitted. Specific differences in Ashkenazic and Sephardic practices which depend on different applications of Halachic principles are indicated in all the lists. One major source of difference is the Sephardic rabbi’s use of Hozer Veneor (see above) to permit products that have a doubtful presence of Chametz.

Consult your Rabbi for any practical rulings on these matters.

BUYING FOOD AFTER PESACH

The Torah penalizes Jews who own Chametz during Pesach by prohibiting its use even after the holiday. Jewish grocers, bakers and other food merchants who deal in Chametz must sell it before Passover (this includes both finished goods and raw materials). If they fail to do so, this Chametz is forbidden even after Passover (it becomes Chametz sh’avar alav haPesach). In these cases, purchases of Chametz goods may not be made for the period of time it normally takes to consume and replenish the stock. (Note that in major supermarkets, stock rotation commonly takes up to two weeks). It is therefore preferable when purchasing from a Jewish merchant to deal with a proprietor who is known to have sold his Chametz before Passover, and who sells no Chametz during the holiday.

The prohibition against owning Chametz also applies to all such products prepared or baked during Passover. This means, for example, that you may not purchase bread baked on Pesach by a Jewish owned firm at any time (so special care must be taken to ensure that all preparation has been done after the end of the holiday).

Unless otherwise announced, all Chametz from Va'ad establishments will be permitted about an hour after the holiday.

For a very complete discussion of the rules of Chametz she avar alav haPesach (rules governing Chametz possessed by Jews during the holiday, see http://www.star-k.com/kashrus/kk-passover-purcpesach.htm.)

Back to Passover Main Page