Mitzvah —
110
Not to eat Chametz all seven days of Passover
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וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶל־הָעָ֗ם זָכ֞וֹר אֶת־הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצָאתֶ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֔ים כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד הוֹצִ֧יא יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יֵאָכֵ֖ל חָמֵֽץ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת בֹּא
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Exodus 13:3 - "Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, when you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for with a mighty hand, the Lord took you out of here, and [therefore] no leaven shall be eaten."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holidays – חֲגִים
Do not eat chametz during all seven days of Pesach.
This mitzvah forbids eating chametz (leaven) for the entire duration of Passover. The prohibition applies equally in all places and at all times during the festival. Instead, matzah is commanded to be eaten as a reminder of the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt, with no time for their dough to rise. This mitzvah ensures that every Jew experiences Passover as a reenactment of the Exodus, internalizing its lessons of faith and redemption.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Chametz U’Matzah 1:1): Chametz is strictly prohibited during all seven days of Pesach, and even the smallest amount is forbidden.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 11): The root is to recall the miracles of the Exodus and cultivate humility, as matzah represents simplicity and dependence on Hashem.
- Talmud (Pesachim 21a): Establishes that chametz is prohibited by both eating and deriving benefit, underscoring its severity.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
