Chapter 2:

Chametz: Introduction

Chapter 2:

Chametz: Introduction

  1. What Is the Chametz Prohibition?
  2. All flour derived from the 5 species of grain (wheat, barley, oats, spelt, rye), which is mixed with water and allowed to ferment before being baked, falls under the definition of “chametz.”1 When evaluating priorities, it is important to keep in mind that these are the specific 5 grains we are commanded by the Torah to avoid.
  3. Any food item without proper Pesach supervision that contains one or more of the 5 grains is prohibited on Pesach because it may be assumed that the ingredient(s) is halachically “leavened” or “fermented.”
  4. The prominent commandments regarding the prohibition against chametz on Pesach are:

1) the prohibition against possessing and owning chametz (bal yeiraeh u’bal yeimatzeh)2

2) the positive commandment to remove all chametz from one’s property (tashbitu)3

3) the prohibition against eating chametz (or mixtures with chametz) on Pesach (achilat chametz)4

4) the [prohibition] against benefiting from chametz on Pesach (hanaah)5

Notes

  1. See S”A OC 453:1.

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  2. Shemot 12:19,13:7, MT Chametz U’Matzah Hakdama and Ch. 1, S”A OC 440:4.

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  3. Shemot 12:15, MT ibid.

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  4. Shemot 13:3 MT ibid.

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  5. MT Chametz U’Matzah 1:2 derived from Shemot 13:3.

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