It's Time To Sell Your Chametz: This Year We Are Aiming For 100% Participation

I recently received an email from a Rabbinical organization, urging members to support their annual appeal. The email ended with the statement "We are aiming for 100% participation from the membership."

I liked the message, and I liked the approach. I also thought that it would be a great way to talk about the mitzvah of selling our chametz before Passover. Each year, I try to come up with a new way to talk about why this simple and easy step is so important to our observance of Passover. I also want to send the message to every member of the community that we too are aiming for 100% participation.

Understanding the Sale of Chametz: A Key Mitzvah for Passover

We encourage you to sell your chametz. Each year, we send out the Sale of Chametz forms for you to return to the synagogue. Here is the link to the synagogue website where you can download the form right now! Alternatively, it will be included in the annual Passover bulletin that will be mailed to the congregation next week. You will also receive another Passover email packed with resources and the schedule for religious services. The Sale of Chametz form will be available in that email as well.

Today, I want to ensure that everyone understands the significance of this mitzvah, why it is essential, and how it enriches our observance and  understanding of Passover.

What is Chametz?

The Bible prohibits the consumption of leaven during Passover (Exodus 12:15-20). Chametz, derived from the Hebrew word for leavened bread, refers to any food prepared from five species of grain—wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye—that has been allowed to leaven or rise. Matzah, the iconic unleavened bread, is made from these same grains but without leavening.

Why We Remove Chametz

Passover is more than eating matzah and purchasing special foods. It is a profound act of spiritual purification. We are commanded to rid our homes of chametz entirely. This prohibition extends beyond consuming chametz; it includes benefiting from or even owning it. Thus, before Passover begins, all chametz must be removed from our homes.

Modern Challenges with Chametz

Historically, this task was straightforward, as households seldom kept large quantities of food. Food production was simpler, making it easier to comply with the removal of chametz. However, modern conveniences like refrigeration, new food technologies, and complex ingredient lists pose new challenges. Many of the foods we regularly enjoy throughout the year contain chametz and are unsuitable for Passover. While we are commanded to remove chametz, it is virtually impossible to eliminate every trace.

The Solution: Mechirat Chametz

This is where Mechirat Chametz—selling our chametz—comes into play. After diligently searching for and removing chametz, we take the additional step of transferring ownership of whatever chametz we cannot fully discard. This practice allows us to fulfill the mitzvah of Passover observance.

Is it a legal fiction? Perhaps. But its validity cannot be dismissed. Mechirat Chametz is not simply a legal loophole; it is a meaningful observance that bridges the complexities of modern life with our commitment to uphold our heritage and unique holiday obligations. Selling our chametz is a powerful affirmation of our dedication to preserving tradition while adapting to contemporary realities.

Passover: Connecting with Heritage

Passover, in many ways is our most important holiday.  We want to create the conditions that allow us to fulfill the words of the Passover Haggadah "in every generation, it is incumbent upon us to see ourselves as if we personally came out of the land of Egypt."  Doing our best to remove as much of our unleavened products from our possession as possible and then selling our chametz, is one of many important ways to help make that happen.