14 Chametz Leaven Facts Every Jew Should Know

As Passover approaches, families around the world are busy ridding their homes of chametz, leaven, the holiday’s forbidden substance. Read on for 14 facts about this antithesis of matzah whose deficiency gives Passover its distinctive flavor.

1. Most Foods With Grain Are Chametz
   Chametz is defined as any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt that has come into contact with water and been allowed to ferment and rise. In practice, just about anything made from these grains is considered chametz: flour, cake, cookies, pasta, breads, and items with a chametz ingredient such as malt.
2. It May Not Even Be Owned on Passover
   On Passover, it is forbidden to consume chametz, derive benefit from it (such as feeding it to a pet or gifting it), or even retain it in your possession. This prohibition is repeated several times in the Torah.
3. It Commemorates the Haste of the Exodus
   After the Plague of the Firstborn, Pharaoh chased the Jews out of Egypt, not even giving them enough time for their dough to rise. To commemorate the haste of the Exodus, we are instructed to only eat matzah (unleavened bread) on Passover, and to refrain from consuming chametz.
4. Clean in Advance, But Don’t Overdo It
   In the weeks and days preceding Passover, Jewish homes around the globe are given a thorough cleaning to remove any trace of chametz. Don’t overdo it, though: It’s chametz you’re after, not dust. Standard spring cleaning can be done after the holiday or omitted altogether, as far as Passover is concerned.
5. Sell What You Won’t Expel
   Not all chametz must be eliminated. If you have large quantities of this imminent contraband or otherwise do not wish to get rid of it, there is an alternative endorsed by Jewish law: selling your chametz before Passover to a non-Jew and purchasing it back once the holiday is over. This sale is a 100% legally binding transaction and must be conducted by a competent rabbi. All sold chametz must be stored away for the duration of the holiday.
6. It Is Searched for at Night ...
   The night before Passover, a candlelit search is conducted for any remaining or forgotten chametz. Any area in the house where chametz might still be found is searched. In addition to looking for previously ignored bagel crusts and Cheerios, it is customary to hide 10 carefully wrapped pieces of bread throughout the house for the searcher to find.
7. ... and Burned the Next Morning
   The next morning, the eve of Passover, a fire is prepared (following all necessary safety precautions) into which any chametz discovered the night before is tossed, along with any leftover chametz that will not be sold. Following the burning, a declaration is made renouncing ownership of any chametz that somehow evaded discovery and is found somewhere in your possession. (A similar declaration is made the night before after concluding the search.)
8. The Prohibition Begins the Morning Before
   The deadline for chametz consumption is the morning before Passover begins, two halachic hours before midday. (A halachic hour is calculated by dividing the daytime hours into 12 equal parts.) After this time, non-consumption methods of benefit are permitted for one additional halachic hour, after which the prohibition of chametz is in full force.
9. It Requires a Menu Makeover
   Due to the ubiquitousness of chametz in our cuisine, preparing Passover food requires a complete overhaul. When going Passover shopping, make sure all manufactured items—including ones not obviously chametz—feature not only a kosher symbol, but a kosher-for-Passover one too. Luckily, Jewish women have been cooking Passover dishes for millennia; recipes and ideas abound, ensuring your family will enjoy delectable, chametz-free meals throughout the holiday.
10. It Is First Cousins With Matzah
    What is chametz’s closest relative? Matzah, of course! Made of flour and water, only a few minutes of fermentation differentiate between leavened dough and Passover’s iconic cracker-like food. Matzah is prepared following strict procedures and guidelines to ensure it does not become chametz.