Chametz is “leaven” — any food that’s made of grain and water that have been allowed to ferment and “rise.” Bread, cereal, cake, cookies, pizza, pasta, and beer are blatant examples of chametz; but any food that contains grain or grain derivatives can be, and often is, chametz. Practically speaking, any processed food that is not certified “Kosher for Passover” may potentially include chametz ingredients.
To download a sale of chometz form click here
To fill in a sale of chometz form online click here
Full article: What Is Chametz?
Chametz is the antithesis of matzah, the unleavened bread we eat on Passover to recall the haste in which we left Egypt, and the humble faith by which we merited redemption. Matzah is the symbol of the Exodus, a central component of the Seder rituals, and the heart of the “Festival of Matzot” (as Passover is called in the Torah). And the flip-side of eating matzah is getting rid of chametz — and the egotism and spiritual coarseness it represents.
From the morning of Passover eve until the conclusion of the festival — for approximately eight days and eight hours — we avoid eating chametz or anything containing the slightest vestige thereof. It is also forbidden to own chametz, to derive benefit from chametz in any way, or to have chametz physically present in our domain, during this time.
Because chametz forms such a pervasive part of our lives during the rest of the year (try imagining a human habitat without a single cookie crumb!), getting rid of it for Passover is no easy task. Preparations to make the home “kosher for Passover” begin days, even weeks, before the festival. But for those who make the investment, the reward is an especially meaningful Festival of Freedom.
Attaining a chametz-free Passover includes six basic steps: cleaning the home, setting up the Passover kitchen, and selling, searching for, burning, and nullifying chametz.
Is there some way of avoiding the ownership of chametz on Passover without getting rid of your chametz forever?
There is. Since the commandment to rid one’s domain of chametz is binding only on a Jew, you can sell your chametz to a non-Jew, and then buy it back from him after Passover. The area where the chametz is held is leased to the non-Jew for the duration of the festival. This sale is not symbolic but a 100% legally binding transaction, and must therefore be conducted by a competent rabbi.
Designate the areas where you’ll be placing the chametz you’re selling. These can be cupboards, closets, rooms, or an entire house. Remember that you will not be able to use or enter these areas for the duration of the festival. Rabbi Pink can transact the sale for you, after obtaining power-of-attorney from you to sell your chametz.
Sale of Chametz FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sale of Chametz
Is the online sale as legitimate as going to the rabbi in person to fill out a form?
Leading halachic authorities have ruled that online authorizations are acceptable for the purpose of selling chametz. You are authorizing the rabbi to sell your chametz on your behalf. The rabbi (or his designee) conducts the sale of chametz in person with the non-Jew. Multiple methods of transaction are used to make certain beyond any doubt that the chametz is sold. The traditional and preferred practice, however, is for the authorization transaction to be done in person with the local rabbi.
By what time does the sale have to be performed?
Passover begins on the eve of the 15th of Nissan, but the prohibition of owning chametz begins at the end of “5th halachic hour” on the morning before Passover (the 14th of Nissan). The halachic hours are determined by dividing the time from sunrise to sunset into 12 equal parts. So all chametz in your possession must be sold (or destroyed) by the time 5/12ths of the day (sunrise to sunset) have passed on the 14th of Nissan. Learn when that is in your area here.
On the authorization form, I am asked where I will be the day before Passover. Why is that important?
You need to make sure that you do not own chametz by the time the prohibition takes effect at your location on the morning of the 14th of Nissan. The rabbi needs to know where you will be so that your chametz will be sold before the onset of the prohibition in your specific time zone.
I will be in a more western time zone at the conclusion of Passover. Which means that when the chametz is bought back by the rabbi at my previous location, it will still be Passover at my new location. Is that a problem?
No. Even if the non-Jew sells back your chametz in the earlier pre-Passover time zone, you don’t have to accept it until Passover ends for you. Note that your explicit authorization is only for the rabbi to sell your chametz. After Passover, the rabbi buys back the chametz as a service to you, but he cannot do that against your wishes or interests. It need not become yours until you agree to take ownership of it after Passover has ended in your time zone.
How soon after the end of Passover can I use my chametz?
The rabbi usually buys back the chametz as soon as the holiday is over, but it can take some time. We recommend that you wait until 30 minutes after Passover is over before using your chametz again.
Do you send an email when the chametz is bought back?
We buy the chametz back as soon as possible, right after the holiday. We will do our best to let you know via email, but you can be assured that the chametz is officially yours 30 minutes after Passover ends.
I have a wonderful neighbor who is not Jewish. Can I sell my chametz directly to him?
You wouldn’t sell your home without a lawyer; neither is it advisable to sell your chametz without a rabbi. The laws of acquisition, both halachically and legally, are complex, especially for this type of transaction in which the buyer is likely never to see the items they bought, and the items are not physically moved into the buyer’s domain. Due to the severity of the prohibition of owning chametz, we have a rabbi transact the sale of chametz for us.
What about pets?
If you own a pet who must eat chametz, you must sell the animal to a non-Jew and have the non-Jew feed the animal for the duration of the holiday since a Jewish-owned pet may not be fed chametz on Passover. Our contract stipulates that the animals are included in the general sale, but leaves you to find someone to care for and feed the animal during the course of the eight-day holiday.
Does this service cost anything?
No, it is free. Many, however, have the custom to make a donation to the rabbi for facilitating the sale. According to some opinions, this strengthens the rabbi’s power of agency. Your contribution is very much utilized and appreciated!
I forgot to sell my chametz, and it’s already past the time of the chametz prohibition. Can I still sell it?
Unfortunately, no. And since we are not allowed to keep in our possession any chametz during Passover, you might have to dispose of it right away. But there may be mitigating factors to consider (such as whether you have sold your chametz in past years, etc.), so contact a knowledgeable Orthodox rabbi without delay.
Can I use the chametz after I sell it?
You cannot use the chametz after it’s sold because it is no longer yours. Keep in mind that when you fill out the form, you are merely authorizing the rabbi to sell your chametz on the morning before Passover. Until the rabbi actually conducts the sale, the chametz is yours. Once the rabbi sells the chametz on the 14th of Nissan, it no longer belongs to you, and you cannot use it until it is bought back after Passover.
Does the sale include chametz that comes into the possession of a Jew after the onset of the prohibition?
It does not. You cannot sell something that you do not yet own. Such chametz would be forbidden even after Passover.
What do I do with the chametz after it’s sold?
If you will continue to live in the house where the non-Jew’s chametz is stored during Passover, put it in a designated area and close off access to it. This is done to ensure that nobody will inadvertently eat it during Passover. Locking the rooms or cabinets in which the chametz is stored or closing them with tape should do the job. It is advisable to put a label warning that chametz is inside, and that the contents have been sold.
I sold my chametz last year. Must I do it again this year?
Yes.
Can I sell someone else’s chametz?
Yes, if they authorize you to do so.
Do I need to specify all the places the chametz may be found?
It is preferable to do so. However, the contract is written regarding all of your chametz, wherever it may be found, even if you do not specify the locations.