Chapter 13. The Laws of Chametz After Pesach

Chametz that was not sold to a gentile

Alef Chametz belonging to a Jew that was not sold to a gentile is forbidden after Pesach both for eating and for deriving benefit 1 .

Doubt as to whether it was sold to a gentile

Bet Even when there is doubt whether the chametz was sold or not, it is forbidden to eat it 2 .

Chametz sold in accordance with halachah

Gimel Chametz that was sold to a gentile in accordance with halachah is, according to the basic law, permitted to eat 3 , however the Gra 4 and Rabbi Akiva Eiger 5 were stringent not to eat it, because one must be concerned that perhaps the sale was not carried out properly.

In our times

Dalet In our times, when the legal validity of the sale is subject to discussion, it is best in practice to be stringent and not rely on the sale.

Flour that remained over Pesach

He With regard to flour as well, it should at least be viewed as doubtful chametz; therefore one should be stringent also with flour and not rely on the sale. Although flour is less severe than actual chametz, one should be stringent also with flour and not rely on the sale.

Those for whom this is difficult

Vav Those who find it difficult to be careful not to use chametz that was sold to a gentile may rely on the basic law, according to which it is permitted; however, care must be taken that the sale was carried out properly and in accordance with halachah.

Baking improvers and other ingredients

Zayin Even when the flour is dry or from dry milling, often the baking improvers, or other substances containing chametz, were sold to a gentile; and sometimes their status is like that of a ma’amid or something that is avid leta’ama, which are forbidden even when in a mixture, even if there is sixty times their amount against them. There is room to be stringent with these as well.

Chet As stated, when this is difficult one may rely on the basic law, that the sale is effective.

How one can know

Tet In sealed products under the supervision of the Edah HaChareidis, on which the wording appears, “from dry flour,” or “from flour milled after Pesach,” this means that in this product all the ingredients are from after Pesach. However, when the wording “produced after Pesach” appears, it means that the flour was sold in the chametz sale.