What is Chametz?

Chametz is any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives, which has leavened (risen). Our sages have determined that flour from any of these five grains that comes in contact with water or moisture will leaven, unless fully baked within eighteen minutes. As we are commanded by the Torah, if a food contains even a trace of chametz, we don’t eat it, we don’t derive benefit from it, and we make sure not to have any of it in our possession for all the days of Passover.

To be certain that a product is kosher for Passover, it must have rabbinical certification. Otherwise it is possible that it contains chametz ingredients, or traces of chametz if it was processed on the same equipment as chametz products. Thus, unless a product is certified Kosher for Passover, we consider it chametz, and make sure not to have it in our possession on Passover.

Note: Matzah used all year round might be pure chametz, and not for Passover use. Only matzahs baked especially for Passover may be used on Passover.

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April 14, 2013

Re: the leap

You are correct that they didn't choose their bread types, but we do know that it was one that would have risen had it been given the chance. This includes five types of grain:wheat, spelt, oats, rye, and barley. That's how we know that any product which the dough can rise is included in this Mitzvah of remembrance.

(Corn is not one of those grains, but is not eaten of Passover by Ashkenazic as part of the rabbinic ban on what is know as kitniyot. See: chabad.org/871998)

Anonymous
NYC

March 27, 2013

How did we make the leap from unleavened to prohibited?

The English Haggadah says: The dough of our fathers did not have time to become leavened before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself to them and redeemed them.

Yet, on Pesach, there is a long list of prohibited items under the category of Chametz; i.e any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives, as well as corn.

Our ancestors did not have time to pick what they should bring along on the journey out of Egypt. They grabbed what they could, including their normal bread dough, and left. The key to achieving matzah was not in the contents of the dough, but in the process: limited leavening time and baking on hot desert rocks.

Why then do we have so much discussion on what is prohibited? None of the modern-day chametz was ever mentioned in the story of Exodus. The Almighty never spoke to Moses saying,"Lead our people Israel out of Egypt, but check them for wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt"

Anonymous
MN

March 22, 2013

You don't need to discard those products, you can put them in the cabinet where you store your chametz and seal and sell it.

Mrs. Chana Benjaminson
mychabad.org

March 22, 2013

do we need to throw out our wheat or barley, or we can sell those as well?

Anonymous

March 6, 2013

Standard baking powder is not Kosher for Passover, you need to purchase one that has a Kosher for Passover certification. You should be able to find it in Kosher food stores and/or the Kosher for Passover section in your supermarket.

Mrs. Chana Benjaminson
mychabad.org

March 6, 2013

baking powder

Is baking powder kosher for passover?

Saul
Florida

April 6, 2012

Soy belongs to a category of food called kitniyot, which is not eaten by Ashkenazic Jews on Passover.

Malkie Janowski for Chabad.org
Coral Springs

April 6, 2012

Thankyou

Thankyou for explaining exactly what Chametz is. Years ago I had trouble understing exactly what constitued Chametz.

Russell Fig
Cambridge, MA

April 6, 2012

Baking soda

Pure baking soda is not chametz, and a new container is permitted for Passover use.

Rochel Chein for chabad.org

April 5, 2012

Soy Products

Are soy nuts acceptable for Passover?

Anonymous
Plantation, Florida/USA

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