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GLOSSARY OF COMMON PASSOVER TERMS
Chametz
Fermented or leavened wheat, rye, oats, spelt and barley. When these grains come into contact with water,they leaven within 18 minutes. In the case of hot or salted water, leavening takes place instantly. Chametz may not be consumed either by eating or drinking, and may not be held in one’s possession, nor may any benefit be derived from Chametz. Grain flour is commonly produced from grains that have been washed and tempered. Tempering is the process by which grains are softened by soaking in water, and this flour and all products made with it are, therefore, Chametz.
Kitnios
Leguminous vegetables such as beans, peas, corn and rice. The consumption of these foods is restricted by European Rabbinic tradition, though these foods are not Chametz. Unlike Chametz, benefit from, and possession of kitnios during Passover are permitted. Yemenite, Sephardic and Oriental Jews are not bound to this custom by their traditions. The tradition of the kitniot restriction has been steadfastly maintained by all the Jews of European origin for centuries. This includes the Jews of France, England,Germany, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Austria and the Low Countries.
Matza
Unleavened bread prepared from the flour of grains that have not been washed or tempered, and have been milled under supervision, completely protected from any contact with water. Matza may be prepared only with water that has been stored overnight. It is kneaded into dough either by hand or machine, but only in a cool room, since heat may cause instant leavening. The dough may not be left idle for a period longer than 18 minutes. It is rolled into thin sheets and then baked.
All equipment used in the preparation of matza must be constantly cleaned of dough crumbs, and the oven in which matza is baked must be set at the proper temperature. Insufficiently heated ovens cause leavening to occur. Once matza has been baked properly, leavening can no longer occur, and the product can no longer become Chametz. Therefore, matza products such as ground matza meal, flour and farfel may be cooked in hot water, baked or blended with any variety of Passover ingredients.
Shemurah Matza
Matza used for the seder on Passover eve. All Jews must fulfill the mitzvah of achilat matza – “eating of matza”. This matza is eaten at the seder before the seder meal, at which time the blessings of Hamotzi and Al achilat matza are pronounced. Such matza must be prepared with the expressed purpose of the mitzvah of matza (l’shem matzat mitzvah). It is traditional that the flour from which this matza is prepared should be specially supervised from the time the wheat is cut – shmurah mishaat ketzirah. When this special supervision has been instituted only from the time of milling – shmurah mishaas techinah – matzos prepared from such flour may be used for matzos mitzvah only when the traditional matza shmurah mishaat ketzirah is not available.
Matza Ashirah
“Egg matza” made from flour kneaded with fruit juice or eggs. This matza may not be used for the mitzvah regardless of which flour is used. This type of matza is commonly referred to as “egg matza”, since it is usually prepared with eggs. Water may not be used in the baking of “egg matza” since adding water to the dough would create instant leavening. According to European Halachic tradition, such matza may be consumed on Pesach only by the elderly, sick or young children who cannot digest regular matza. Under normal circumstances, “egg matza” should not be used; both because it is feared that some water may have accidentally been blended into the dough, and in deference to the opinion which maintains that the mixture of flour with any liquid other than water causes immediate Chametz.
Bedikat Chametz
The search for Chametz. Usually this happens on the night of the thirteenth of Nisan. However this year because Pesach begins immediately after Shabbat, it is done on the 12th of Nissan, Thursday, April 17th A search for Chametz is conducted in the home, wherever Chametz may have been brought during the year. The search is conducted in the evening, by candlelight. Chametz found during the search is set aside for burning the next day, Friday, April 18th.
Bitul Chametz
The nullification of Chametz. Since Chametz may not be held in one’s possession during Passover, one may rid oneself of the Chametz by declaring all types of Chametz in one’s possession to be dust and ashes, abandoned property. The bitul (renunciation) is pronounced immediately after the search, to nullify the Chametz that may have been overlooked, and again after the burning in the morning, to include any additional Chametz that may have come into one’s possession in the interim.
Biur Chametz
The destruction of Chametz. All Chametz in one’s possession must be destroyed before Passover, by 11:50 am on the Friday, April 18th . Though any method of complete disposal is permitted,i.e., flushing into sewers or throwing into the sea, it is traditional to destroy Chametz by fire, after which the bitul is pronounced to nullify any Chametz that may have been overlooked.
Mechirat Chametz
Sale of Chametz to a non-Jew. The requirement of biur Chametz is limited to foods under Jewish ownership and possession. Chametz that has been transferred to a non-Jew, need not be destroyed. Such transfer of Chametz, by legal and binding sale with properly executed contract (shtar mechirah) gives the non-Jew full title to all Chametz foods. This transfer is traditionally carried out by engaging the Rabbi to act as agent – with power of attorney to sell the Chametz to a non-Jew – by means of kabbalat kinyan and contract (shtar harsha’ah). The Rabbi, acting as an agent for the owners of the Chametz, then enters into an agreement with a non-Jew for the sale of the Chametz. Chametz that has been sold must be put in a completely sealed-off place, inaccessible during Passover.
Chametz She’Avar Alav Ha’Pesach
Any Chametz held over Passover under Jewish ownership. This Chametz may not be used or sold after Passover, as a penalty for failure to perform the mitzvot of bedikah and biur properly. Selling the Chametz before Passover to a non-Jew avoids Jewish ownership during Passover. The mitzvot of bedikah and biur have therefore not been violated, and the injunction of Chametz she’avar alav ha’pesach is avoided.