Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

What is Chametz? (It’s not Yeast)

Chametz is any food that contains wheat, barley, oats, spelt, or rye that has fermented. These particular grains will ferment by themselves in the presence of water. This process can begin in as little as 18 minutes. Obvious foods such as breads, cakes, pastries, pasta, cookies, crackers, pretzels, breaded foods, etc. must be consumed or disposed of before Pesach. However, as we are not permitted to consume, derive a benefit from or possess any chametz we need to look a bit further. As such, to make sure that we have no chametz in our possession it is important to review all packaged products or processed foods. If they are not certified kosher for Passover, assume they are not. All raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and kosher meats are kosher for Pesach. Sephardic Jews and now more and more Ashkenazi Jews do not remove or limit the use of legumes (kitniyot) for Pesach. But what about Yeast? Ex 12:33-34, 39 (NASB 1995 update) 33 The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders. … 39 They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become...