Passover

==Removing all leaven (''chametz'')==
{{see also|Chametz#Removal of chametz|Eliminating Ḥametz}}
[[File:Biur chametz woodcut.png|thumb|Washing dishes for passover (1657)]]
[[File:BiurChametz2010.jpg|thumb|250px|Burning chametz on the morning before Passover begins]]
Leaven, in Hebrew ''[[Chametz#What is chametz?|chametz]]'' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: <big>חמץ</big> ''ḥamets'', "[[leavening]]") is made from one of five types of grains<ref name=Pomerantz/> combined with water and left to stand for more than eighteen minutes. The consumption, keeping, and owning of ''chametz'' is forbidden during Passover. Yeast and fermentation are not themselves forbidden as seen for example by wine, which is required, rather than merely permitted. According to Halakha, the ownership of such ''chametz'' is also proscribed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oukosher.org/passover/articles/which-foods-are-chametz-2/|title=Which Foods are Chametz?|date=January 23, 2013|website=Kosher for Passover|access-date=April 1, 2020|archive-date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407120816/https://oukosher.org/passover/articles/which-foods-are-chametz-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Chametz'' does not include [[baking soda]], [[baking powder]] or like products. Although these are defined in English as leavening agents, they leaven by chemical reaction, not by biological fermentation. Thus, bagels, waffles and pancakes made with baking soda and matzo meal are considered permissible, while bagels made with sourdough and pancakes and waffles made with yeast are prohibited.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1742/jewish/What-Is-Chametz.htm|title=What Is Chametz (Chometz)?|website=www.chabad.org|access-date=April 1, 2020|archive-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411142053/https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1742/jewish/What-Is-Chametz.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Torah commandments regarding ''chametz'' are:
* To remove all ''chametz'' from one's home, including things made with chametz, before the first day of Passover<ref name="bibleverse||Exodus|12:15|HE">{{bibleverse||Exodus|12:15|HE}}</ref> It may be simply used up, thrown out (historically, destroyed by burning), or given or sold to non-Jews.
* To refrain from eating ''chametz'' or mixtures containing ''chametz'' during Passover.<ref>{{bibleverse||Exodus|13:3|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Exodus|12:20|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:3|HE}}</ref>
* Not to possess ''chametz'' in one's domain (i.e. home, office, car, etc.) during Passover.<ref>{{bibleverse||Exodus|12:19|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:4|HE}}</ref>

Observant Jews spend the weeks before Passover in a flurry of thorough housecleaning, to remove every morsel of ''chametz'' from every part of the home. [[Halakha|Jewish law]] requires the elimination of [[olive]]-sized or larger quantities of leavening from one's possession, but most housekeeping goes beyond this. Even the seams of kitchen counters are thoroughly cleaned to remove traces of flour and yeast, however small. Any containers or implements that have touched ''chametz'' are stored and not used during Passover.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/ultra-orthodox-burn-leavened-food-before-passover-begins-1.356761 |title=Ultra Orthodox burn leavened food before Passover |work=Haaretz |date=April 19, 2011 |access-date=April 17, 2014 |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419023434/http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/ultra-orthodox-burn-leavened-food-before-passover-begins-1.356761 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some [[hotel]]s, [[resort]]s, and even [[cruise ship]]s across [[United States|America]], [[Europe]], and [[Israel]] also undergo a thorough housecleaning to make their premises "kosher for Pesach" to cater to observant Jews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thespruce.com/guide-to-kosher-travel-4050383|title=Get Out of Town: Your Guide to Kosher Travel|first=Miri|last=Rotkovitz|date=May 6, 2016|access-date=April 10, 2017|website=The Spruce|archive-date=April 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410220818/https://www.thespruce.com/guide-to-kosher-travel-4050383|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Interpretations for abstinence from leaven or yeast===
Some scholars suggest that the command to abstain from leavened food or yeast suggests that sacrifices offered to God involve the offering of objects in "their least altered state", that would be nearest to the way in which they were initially made by God.<ref name="Bokser">Bokser, Baruch M. (1992) "Unleavened Bread and Passover, Feasts of" in ''The Anchor Bible Dictionary'', ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday), 6:755–765</ref><ref name="Greenberg">Greenberg, Moshe (1974) "Lessons on Exodus". New York</ref> According to other scholars the absence of leaven or yeast means that leaven or yeast symbolizes corruption and spoiling.<ref name="Bokser"/><ref name="Sarna">Sarna, Nahum M. (1986) "Exploring Exodus". New York</ref>

There are also variations with restrictions on eating matzah before Passover so that there will be an increased appetite for it during Passover itself. Primarily among [[Chabad]] Chassidim, there is a custom of not eating [[Matzah|matzo]]h (flat unleavened bread) in the 30 days before Passover begins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/260800/jewish/The-Laws-Concerning-the-Thirty-Days-before-Passover.htm|title=The Laws Concerning the Thirty Days before Passover|website=www.chabad.org|access-date=April 1, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806062740/https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/260800/jewish/The-Laws-Concerning-the-Thirty-Days-before-Passover.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Others have a custom to refrain from eating matzah from Rosh Chodesh Nissan, while the [[halacha]] merely restricts one from eating matzah on the day before Passover.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishpress.com/judaism/halacha-hashkafa/eating-matzah-before-pesach/2012/03/29/|title=Eating Matzah Before Pesach|first=Rabbi J. Simcha|last=Cohen|date=March 29, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108120339/https://www.jewishpress.com/judaism/halacha-hashkafa/eating-matzah-before-pesach/2012/03/29/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Kitniyot ====
[[Kitniyot]] ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: קִטְנִיּוֹת, ''qitniyyot''; literally "small things") refers to legumes, rice, maize, and other foods that are similar to grains. [[Ashkenazi Jews]] historically refrain from eating kitniyot on Passover, despite there not being a clear commandment to include them in the category of chametz.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Kitniyot? |url=https://www.kashrut.com/Passover/Kitniyot/ |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=www.kashrut.com}}</ref> Since the 19th century, the [[Reform Judaism|Reform movement]] has permitted eating kitniyot, and in 2015 the [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative movement]] followed suit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanchez |first=Tatiana |date=April 21, 2016 |title=Passover to include new food options this year |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/people/sdut-passover-kitniyot-jews-2016apr21-story.html |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Sephardic Jews|Sephardi Jews]] have always permitted eating kitniyot on Passover.

==== Gebrochts ====
Gebrochts ([[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]: געבראקטס, <small>[[Literal translation|lit.]] </small>'broken', also known as [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: מצה שרויה, <small>[[Romanization of Hebrew|romanized]]:</small> ''matzo shruya'', <small>[[Literal translation|lit.]] </small>'soaked matzo') refers to [[Matzah|matzo]] that has absorbed liquid. Some [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidic Jews]] avoid gebrochts as well, to avoid the possibility that a clump of flour that was never properly mixed with water (and thus is still susceptible to leavening) may come into contact with the liquid.<ref>[http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/common/article/keeping_up_with_passover_trenditions/ Keeping Up with Passover Trenditions by Bayla Sheva Brenner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330063056/http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/common/article/keeping_up_with_passover_trenditions/|date=March 30, 2012}} - ¶ 6: Hundreds of Passover Innovations – Oy Gebrocht!</ref>