Chametz

OU Pesach guidelines:

I found chametz in my house on Pesach! What should I do?

I found chametz in my house on Pesach! 🚨What should I do?

Chag Sameach!

Erev Pesach and holiday times 2026

The joy at the prospect of the seder, at noting the times below, and at keeping the holiday’s mitzvot is accompanied by prayers for the safety of our IDF soldiers fighting at various battle fronts for our safety and security.

Preparing for the holiday:

Koshering the kitchen for Passover

Cleaning the kitchen for Pesach (Passover) should be done more carefully than cleaning the house, to ensure that not even a small crumb of chametz (leavened food) remains. Added links: OU guides to Passover and medications as well as Israeli Health Miinistry guide for medicatiions.

An expensive protest:

Haredi man pays for 83K NIS of beer and pizza and destroys it

A haredi man who visited a spring fair in Haifa over Passover paid the price of all the chametz pizza and 30 kegs of beer and ensured that it all would be thrown in the trash, burned, and poured down the drain.

Building turns into deathtrap

Near disaster while searching for Chametz

A fire that broke out in an apartment in Beitar Illit was found to have been caused by a candle used to search for chametz, which set a sweater in a closet on fire.

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Destroy chametz, gain freedom

Why Clear Out Chametz?

Bitul Chametz: The genius of Rashi

The essence of Pesach is the aspect of renewal, novelty- see how Rashi carries the theme through the intricacies of halakhah.

Watch:

Israel sells its chametz

A special ceremony was held at the Chief Rabbinate Headquarters, during which representatives of the State of Israel sold the state's chametz to a gentile.

Wounded Bedouin officer buys Gush Etzion's chametz

Lt. Col. Hadi Falah, a Bedouin officer in the IDF who was seriously injured in battle in the Gaza Strip and who had asked to purchase chametz from Israeli Jews, makes the purchase from Tel Hashormer Hospital.

Passover:

Matzah's letter of Redemption

Only one letter separates chametz from matza. What does this signify?

Revivim:

Laws and customs for Erev Pesach that falls on Shabbat

When the 14th of Nisan falls on Shabbat, the chametz is checked with a blessing on the night of the 13th of Nisan. On Friday, the chametz is burned. More below.

Revivim:

Enhancing the Mitzvah of Matzot for Seder Night

The matzah comes to remind us of faith, and therefore its entire process of preparation must be done with great care. One must guard the matzot designated for the Seder night in a special manner so that they do not become chametz.

How to clean for Pesach in a day

Remember: "Dirt is not chametz and children are not the Pesach sacrifice,"

Laws of preparing for Pesach

Cosmetics, toothpaste, Passover wafers and cookies, eating quinoa - all the things you need to know for the holiday.

Bedikat Chametz - what do we really want to find?

What is the purpose of finding chametz that we just hid a few minutes ago? How exactly can we call this procedure a “search for chametz”? The answer is a profound insight into what bedikat chametz really means.

Supreme Court rejects petition:

Chametz not permitted on IDF bases on Passover

Supreme Court judges rejects petition of organizations that demanded to allow bringing chametz to IDF bases on Passover and ruled that the army's orders on the matter should not be messed with.

A 9 year old in London celebrates the Jewish People

No matter what, we remain a nation, G-d's nation. Let us celebrate that! Poem.

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu: Sell your chametz immediately, don't wait

Safed Chief Rabbi warns public not to procrastinate and risk forgetting to sell their chametz ahead of Passover.

The Daily Portion / Yes, it's real

What the ambassadors asked at a gathering to learn about Pesach.

By a majority of 51 to 46:

Knesset approves first reading of 'Chametz Law'

The bill, proposed by MK Moshe Gafni, will permit hospital administrators to bar the entry of chametz during Passover.

'Chametz bill' passes in first reading

Bill barring hospitals from calling themselves kosher if they don't ban chametz on Passover condemned by religious Zionist org.

Legislation to ban chametz on IDF bases during Passover

Status quo was established by Ben Gurion, "progressives" seek to overturn it.

Former coalition chair:

Meretz's agenda is that we don't need a Jewish state

'When Secular Forum doesn't succeed by means of democracy, because it's a minority, it turns to the Supreme Court,' MK Idit Silman says.

The blessing for eating Chametz on Pesach

I always wondered what God was doing during the Seder at Bergen-Belsen when the Chief Rabbi of Rotterdam instructed Jews to eat chametz.

Downfall over bread? What a crazy, glorious country this is!

Why should this generation be different from preceding generations? Op-ed.

Chametz as a symbol of arrogance

Turning our attention to the deeper and spiritual meaning of removing Chametz. It is not just ridding our homes of Cheerios and breadcrumbs.

Practical Pesach Pointers I – 5782/2022

How to clean for Pesach, perform the search for leaven the night before the Seder, burn the chametz, and choose your matzot.

Husband of coalition chair: 'Conversion reform won't happen'

Shmulik Silman, husband of MK Idit Silman, says, 'Everyone has red lines, she won't sell her portion in the World to Come.'

Passover 2022

Coalition chair: No chametz in hospitals on my watch

Health Minister gives directive to hospitals to allow chametz during Passover. Silman: "He must respect the Israeli public."

Supreme Court to rule on chametz on IDF bases during Pesach

Hiddush, Secular Forum: "Current regulations damage rights of secular soldiers who don't care about kosher laws. Some aren't even Jewish."

The Festival of Freedom and Faith

The prohibition of ḥametz on Pesacḥ is designed to root out a person’s pride vis-à-vis his Creator, his God..

'He had a lot of respect for the Jewish community and tradition'

For over 40 years, this man bought millions of dollars of New York’s leavened bread products before Passover.

Chief rabbi to A-G: 'Freeze ruling allowing hametz in hospitals'

Chief Rabbi Yosef asks Attorney General Mandelblit to prevent implementation of ruling allowing desecration of Passover in hospitals.

Supreme Court orders to allow chametz in hospitals on Passover

Judges accept Secular Forum and Adalah organization petition. Transport Minister: 'Court continues to destroy principles of Jewish State.'

A Graphic Haggadah Novel – Batman was never like this!

Israeli Hospitals to reserve 'Chametz only' zones?

Gov't broaches compromise after policy of forbidding Chametz in hospitals on Passover became a hot-button issue.

Grocer burns entire stock after forgetting to sell Chametz

Israeli store-owner burns entire stock after forgetting to sell his wares to a non-Jew. 'I don't regret it-Jewish law is Jewish law.'

Smotrich:

'A small, noisy, and extremist secular faction'

'Secular Forum' claims soldiers forced to eat unhealthy food after IDF kitchens prepared for Passover.

Knesset sells its chametz

Knesset speaker, Director-General sell all chametz owned by Knesset ahead of Passover.

Veteran journalist to Meretz MK: 'Shame'

Yaakov Ahimeir responds sharply to MK Tamar Sandberg, who is working to annul Chametz law.

Leftist MK: Get rid of 'chametz law'

Opposition MK pushes to allow leavened products to be publicly displayed during Passover holiday, says current law harms democracy.

Is your post-Passover bread really kosher?

To avoid eating chametz owned by Jews over Pesach, Rabbi Karelitz publishes fresh product code: 6122

Provocation? Man sells bread in Bnei Brak on Passover

Police take rogue chametz seller into custody. Suspect: I'm not forcing anyone to eat it.

Passover is coming

Israel's chametz has been sold

In official ceremony, Finance Minister gives Chief Rabbis authority to sell state's chametz to Abu Gosh resident.

Minister admits: 'I eat bread on Passover'

Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz says he 'loves tradition,' but refuses to give up chametz on Passover.

Why Was Chametz Sold at the Main Jerusalem Gates on Pesach?

Councilman King explains how his attempt to block Arab vendors from offending Jewish sensibilities was shot down by Mayor Barkat.

Watch: Israel's Chametz Has Been Sold

Netanyahu sells leavened goods to a non-Jew ahead of Passover, after intervention by Chief Rabbi Lau.

Jerusalem Inspectors Shut Down Old City Bread Carts

Jerusalem inspectors have closed down dozens of food carts in the Old City where chametz was being sold.

Sweet and Sour

Israel Scrambles to Prepare the Fish in Final Passover Rush

When Israeli Jews reach the Passover seder, some of their fish will swim in chametz-free ponds. Others will join their guests at the table.

Haifa’s ‘Chametz Hotline’ for Passover

Deputy mayor invites Haifa residents to report illegal sales of leavened bread.

Lapid Skips Chametz Sale

Finance Minister Lapid skips pre-Passover tradition, raises suspicions he is ‘afraid to have picture taken with hareidi.’

MK: Israel's Water Guaranteed 'Chametz-Free'

Israelis will again drink underground "well water" this Passover, because of fears that the Kinneret may contain chametz.

Arab Announces in the Market: Jews! Sell me Your Chametz!

A new video clip by Chavruta shows an “Arab” in the marketplace, humorously reminding passersby that he is willing to buy any and all chametz.

Buyer of IDF Chametz is a No-Show

Traditional purchaser doesn't show up at the legal ceremony to ensure that Jews don't violate Biblical ban on owning leaven on Passover.