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Chabad.org » Jewish Holidays » Passover » How-To » Before Passover » Operation Zero Chametz

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Operation Zero Chametz

Passover is a holiday that mandates our complete involvement, not just during its eight days but for weeks before. Aside from the regular holiday obligations, we are also commanded (Exodus 13:3-7): "No leaven shall be eaten... For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread... and no leaven shall be seen of yours [in your possession]."

We accomplish this by cleaning and inspecting our homes well before Passover, and gradually eliminating chametz from every room and crevice. This intensive cleaning takes place in Jewish homes throughout the world. The following wizard and articles will help you tackle the process in your own home.

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Getting Rid of Chametz Wizard

1. What is Chametz?

2. What to do With Chametz

3. Cleaning the House

4. Preparing the Kitchen

5. Selling Your Chametz

More...

What is Chametz?

Chametz is any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives, which has leavened (risen) or fermented. Find out what not to eat, or have in your house, over Passover...

6 Comments

Kitniyot

The medieval Jewish sages placed a ban on eating legumes (kitniyot) on Passover, because they are similar in texture to chametz...

Getting Rid of Chametz

Any area where one can reasonably suspect that chametz might have been brought throughout the year must be thoroughly cleaned...

Cleaning Checklist

Attic, Arts 'n' crafts, Basement, Bedroom, Bed, Bed frame, Behind furniture, Bookcase, Books, Breadbox, Briefcase, Buffet .... Windowsills, Woodwork, Yard... Also printable in PDF form!

5 Comments

Sell Your Chametz Online

Any chametz left undisposed must be sold to a non-Jew. Use this online form to quickly delegate a Rabbi to sell your chametz for you.

Preparing the Kitchen

We pay special attention to the kitchen, because (a) that's where most of our chametz hangs out during the year, and (b) we will be using our kitchens to prepare our Passover food...

7 Comments

Koshering Utensils for Passover

Koshering is the process by which one makes non-kosher vessels and utensils kosher. Regarding Passover, koshering refers to the process of making chametz vessels and utensils kosher for Passover...

2 Comments

Passover Shopping
Not just Kosher - Kosher for Passover

While shopping for Passover we must be careful that the foods we buy are not only kosher, but are also kosher for Passover — that is, chametz-free...

1 Comment

Reader Comments
Latest Comments:

Posted: Apr 10, 2008

hamotzi

From our Passover Calendar Guide: We make hamotzi on challah, here are instructions on how to go about doing so: Both Shabbat meals should be completely Kosher for Passover with the exception of two ounces of challah per person per meal. (It is forbidden to eat matzah on the day before Passover.)

The challah is carefully consumed over a paper napkin or tissue. Afterwards, the paper, together with any remaining chametz crumbs, is flushed down the toilet. Extra care should be taken that no chametz crumbs should fall on the floor.

At the designated time, one says the 'kol chamira' prayer on Shabbat morning, thus nulliyfing the chametz that we will burn on Friday.

Posted By Chani Benjaminson, chabad.org

Posted: Apr 10, 2008

Shabbat Kiddush this year

If we do biur hametz on Friday morning, and refrain from eating matzah until Seder, how do we do HaMotzei over Shabbat?

Posted By Anonymous

Posted: Mar 30, 2006

thank-you for this website

We only have a very small Jewish community where I live. A friend of mine who is in our Jewish Sisterhood sent me your website address. I am grateful.

Dr. Caplan

Posted By Anonymous, Las Vegas, N.M.