#1: Cleaning for Pesach (Part 1)

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. The Torah forbids owning any chametz during Pesach, even if one does not intend to eat it (Rambam, Hilchot Chametz Umatzah 1:2). Therefore, one is required to clean their home before Pesach to ensure that no edible chametz remains in their possession over the festival. While many people take the opportunity to do a full “spring cleaning” before Pesach, the actual obligation is only to remove chametz, not dirt or dust.
  2. Only chametz that is edible by a dog falls under the prohibition of ownership during Pesach. Chametz that has become moldy, rotten, completely covered with dust, or otherwise entirely inedible – that even a dog would not eat— is exempt from this prohibition and does not need to be removed (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 442:2; Mishnah Berurah 10).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.