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All the Halachot on this site are written based on the rulings of our leader, glory of the generation, Hagaon Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l
Caution Regarding Chametz Issues
The Prohibition to Eat Chametz
The Torah (Shemot 13) states regarding the holiday of Pesach: “Matzot shall be eaten for seven days; neither leaven nor sourdough shall be seen in your borders.”
Our Sages taught in Masechet Pesachim (21b among other places) through expounding certain verses that not only is Chametz prohibited for consumption on Pesach, it is also forbidden to benefit from Chametz on Pesach, meaning that even if one does not actually eat Chametz on Pesach, he still may not sell it to a non-Jew and the like on Pesach for this would mean that he is benefitting from this sale. Consumption of Chametz on Pesach is punishable by Karet (severance of one’s soul from the Jewish nation).
Chametz on Pesach Cannot Even be Nullified by a Ratio of One to One-Thousand
The prohibition of Chametz on Pesach is so severe that if Chametz gets mixed into other foods, it cannot be nullified even by a ratio of one to one thousand, which is not the case regarding other prohibitions.
For instance, regarding the prohibition of consuming blood, if one gram of blood falls into a pot of food, if there are sixty grams of food present against the one gram of blood that fell into it, the blood is considered nullified and this food is permitted for consumption. Regarding Chametz on Pesach, however, even if the food present is one thousand times the amount of the Chametz that fell into it, for instance if a tiny crumb of Chametz falls into a large pot of food, the entire pot of food becomes prohibited for consumption because of the crumb of Chametz that became mixed into it.
Therefore, one must be extremely careful regarding Chametz on Pesach to buy only food products that one is completely certain do not contain Chametz mixtures and are certified by a reliable Kashrut organization. Similarly, one should not rely on a non-Torah-observant Jew when he tells him that a certain food does not contain any Chametz, for instance if he says that a certain spice does not have any Chametz mixed into it, for it has already occurred that some people have transgressed the prohibition of Chametz because they had relied on a grocer with no believability. Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a writes that it is proper for one not to purchase any food product designated for Pesach use without a reliable Kosher for Passover certification on every single item. The same applies even to things that do not seem problematic such as liquor, Arack, and the like. Nowadays, even products that look “innocent” pose major Kashrut problems during the rest of the year and especially during Pesach, as all products contain a multitude of ingredients, as we all know.
Dishes which have Absorbed Chametz
One may not use the same dishes that he uses during the rest of the year on Pesach, for these dishes have Chametz absorbed in them since when a hot food is inside these dishes, the walls of these dishes absorb its Chametz flavor, just as they absorb dairy or meat flavor. Thus, one must either use dishes that are specially designated for Pesach that have not been used for Chametz or kosher (make kosher for Pesach) his Chametz dishes. This will be better explained in following Halachot.
When One is a Guest
Just as one must take care to eat food that is Kosher for Pesach and from dishes and utensils that are Kosher for Pesach in his home, one must also take care that anywhere else he eats is absolutely kosher. Thus, if one is staying as a guest in his friend’s home or in a hotel for Pesach, he must think this through beforehand in a tedious manner so that a tumultuous situation does not arise that will cause him to eat in an unworthy place. One should be very careful in advance not to be invited to a place that is not absolutely kosher so as not to, G-d forbid, transgress any prohibitions.
An incident once occurred approximately sixty years ago when a righteous Hungarian Jew immigrated to Israel on Erev Pesach. His married son lived in a religious settlement and invited his father to join them for the Pesach holiday. His father asked him, “Are you careful regarding the laws of Pesach?” The son replied, “Certainly!” The father travelled with his wife and unmarried children to spend the holiday together with his married son. On the first night of Pesach, the father was already able to tell that the laws of Pesach were not being observed adequately. He therefore did not eat anything besides for some vegetables. Immediately upon the conclusion of the first Yom Tov of Pesach, the father exclaimed to his wife, “I refuse to stay here for even one extra second!” They told him, “But there is no public transportation at this hour!” The father once again reiterated, “I shall not stay here for even one moment.” He then proceeded to walk for three hours to the nearest active bus stop at which point he boarded a bus to Jerusalem, saddened that his son did not observe the laws of Pesach properly. The rest of the family learned from their father’s actions and mended their ways.
The Torah (Shemot 13) states regarding the holiday of Pesach: “Matzot shall be eaten for seven days; neither leaven nor sourdough shall be seen in your borders.”
Our Sages taught in Masechet Pesachim (21b among other places) through expounding certain verses that not only is Chametz prohibited for consumption on Pesach, it is also forbidden to benefit from Chametz on Pesach, meaning that even if one does not actually eat Chametz on Pesach, he still may not sell it to a non-Jew and the like on Pesach for this would mean that he is benefitting from this sale. Consumption of Chametz on Pesach is punishable by Karet (severance of one’s soul from the Jewish nation).
Chametz on Pesach Cannot Even be Nullified by a Ratio of One to One-Thousand
The prohibition of Chametz on Pesach is so severe that if Chametz gets mixed into other foods, it cannot be nullified even by a ratio of one to one thousand, which is not the case regarding other prohibitions.
For instance, regarding the prohibition of consuming blood, if one gram of blood falls into a pot of food, if there are sixty grams of food present against the one gram of blood that fell into it, the blood is considered nullified and this food is permitted for consumption. Regarding Chametz on Pesach, however, even if the food present is one thousand times the amount of the Chametz that fell into it, for instance if a tiny crumb of Chametz falls into a large pot of food, the entire pot of food becomes prohibited for consumption because of the crumb of Chametz that became mixed into it.
Therefore, one must be extremely careful regarding Chametz on Pesach to buy only food products that one is completely certain do not contain Chametz mixtures and are certified by a reliable Kashrut organization. Similarly, one should not rely on a non-Torah-observant Jew when he tells him that a certain food does not contain any Chametz, for instance if he says that a certain spice does not have any Chametz mixed into it, for it has already occurred that some people have transgressed the prohibition of Chametz because they had relied on a grocer with no believability. Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a writes that it is proper for one not to purchase any food product designated for Pesach use without a reliable Kosher for Passover certification on every single item. The same applies even to things that do not seem problematic such as liquor, Arack, and the like. Nowadays, even products that look “innocent” pose major Kashrut problems during the rest of the year and especially during Pesach, as all products contain a multitude of ingredients, as we all know.
Dishes which have Absorbed Chametz
One may not use the same dishes that he uses during the rest of the year on Pesach, for these dishes have Chametz absorbed in them since when a hot food is inside these dishes, the walls of these dishes absorb its Chametz flavor, just as they absorb dairy or meat flavor. Thus, one must either use dishes that are specially designated for Pesach that have not been used for Chametz or kosher (make kosher for Pesach) his Chametz dishes. This will be better explained in following Halachot.
When One is a Guest
Just as one must take care to eat food that is Kosher for Pesach and from dishes and utensils that are Kosher for Pesach in his home, one must also take care that anywhere else he eats is absolutely kosher. Thus, if one is staying as a guest in his friend’s home or in a hotel for Pesach, he must think this through beforehand in a tedious manner so that a tumultuous situation does not arise that will cause him to eat in an unworthy place. One should be very careful in advance not to be invited to a place that is not absolutely kosher so as not to, G-d forbid, transgress any prohibitions.
An incident once occurred approximately sixty years ago when a righteous Hungarian Jew immigrated to Israel on Erev Pesach. His married son lived in a religious settlement and invited his father to join them for the Pesach holiday. His father asked him, “Are you careful regarding the laws of Pesach?” The son replied, “Certainly!” The father travelled with his wife and unmarried children to spend the holiday together with his married son. On the first night of Pesach, the father was already able to tell that the laws of Pesach were not being observed adequately. He therefore did not eat anything besides for some vegetables. Immediately upon the conclusion of the first Yom Tov of Pesach, the father exclaimed to his wife, “I refuse to stay here for even one extra second!” They told him, “But there is no public transportation at this hour!” The father once again reiterated, “I shall not stay here for even one moment.” He then proceeded to walk for three hours to the nearest active bus stop at which point he boarded a bus to Jerusalem, saddened that his son did not observe the laws of Pesach properly. The rest of the family learned from their father’s actions and mended their ways.
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