Pesach- March 26-April 2, 2013

Pesach is a Jewish holy day and festival commemorating the Jewish people’s release from enslavement in Egypt. Pesach begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan (equivalent to March and April in Gregorian calendar), the first month of the Jewish calendar’s festival year according to the Torah. In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that G-d inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Jewish slaves, with the tenth plague being the killing of all of the firstborn, from the Pharaoh’s son to the firstborn of the dungeon captive, to the firstborn of cattle. The Jews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, G-d passed over these homes, hence the term “Passover”. When Pharaoh freed the Jews, they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for their bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is called “The Festival of the Unleavened Bread”. Matzoh (unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday. This bread that is flat and unrisen is called Matzoh. Together with Shavuot (“Pentecost”) and Sukkot (“Tabernacles”), Passover is one of the three pilgrim festivals (Shalosh Regalim) during which the entire Jewish populace historically made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Products for Pesach

May one own or eat spoiled chometz?

• Spoiled chometz that a person would not eat but a dog would eat is still considered chometz. One may not eat or own such chometz.
• Chometz that is thoroughly spoiled t the extent that even a dog would not eat it is no longer considered chometz. One may own such chometz but not knowingly eat it (except for medicinal purposes).

May one use thoroughly spoiled chometz?

• It is permitted to own and benefit from items that contain chometz if they are inedible to a dog. Therefore, shoe polish, floor cleaner, and laundry detergent can be used on Pesach even if they do not have a hechsher and may contain chometz.

May thoroughly spoiled chometz be applied onto the body?

• Yes. Therefore, it is permitted to use soap, shampoo, and creams, even if they do not have a hechsher for Pesach. Some have a custom to be stringent and do not use these items unless they have a hechsher.

Do medicinal creams require a hechsher?

• No. Even those who follow the stricter opinion regarding soaps and creams permit their use for medicinal purposes, even if they contain chometz.

Do medicines require a hechsher?

• Bitter or tasteless tablets, capsules, and liquids may be taken o Pesach, even if they contain chometz. This is considered to be thoroughly spoiled chometz,, and may be taken for medicinal purposes. Many people try to obtain a chometz-free equivalent, if this is easily available. Where no alternative is available, it is forbidden to put one’s health at risk by refusing to take such medicine.

What about pleasant tasting tablets and liquids?

• Tablets that are swallowed without chewing or sucking have the same rule as tasteless medicines.
• Tablets that are chewed or sucked must be supervised for Pesach. The same applies to liquid medicine that is pleasant tasting. This is common with children’s medicines.

What about eye drops, eardrops, nose drops, and throat sprays?

• These are all permitted and do not require a hechscher.

May vitamins be taken on Pesach?

• According to many opinions, vitamins are considered to be food and should be taken only if they are supervised for Pesach. If these are not available, one may be lenient to take regular vitamins only if:
  • They are bitter tasting or tasteless and
  • They are medically prescribed

May cosmetics be used on Pesach?

• One may use all cosmetics that are not liquids. Since they are inedible to a dog they are permitted, even if they contain chometz. This includes all powders, stick deodorants, eye shadow, mascara, blush, rouge, and lipstick. Some have the custom to use only cosmetics that are supervised for Pesach.

Is a fresh stick of lipstick required?

• Many use a fresh stick. Strictly speaking, it is sufficient to clean or remove the top of the old one.

May one use flavored lipstick?

• Such lipsticks may not be used unless they are supervised for Pesach.

May one use liquid cosmetics, e.g. perfume?

• There is much debate about this. The problem concerns certain types of alcohol that may be made from grains, e.g. ethyl alcohol. In addition, some perfumes may contain vitamin E or wheat germ that is chometz. According to some opinions, this may be ignored since the final product is unfit for eating. Other opinions do not consider this to be thoroughly spoiled chometz, since there are people who will drink it by diluting it or by making other improvements to its taste. Strictly speaking, one may be lenient and use all liquid cosmetics. However, there is a widespread custom to use only products that are supervised for Pesach, and include non-supervised products in the sale of chometz. This applies to perfume, cologne, shaving lotion, mouthwash, spray and roll-on deodorants, and hair spray. Liquid cosmetics that do not contain alcohol, vitamin E or wheat germ are permitted according to all opinions.

May one use air-freshener sprays?

• Yes. Even if they contain alcohol they are permitted, since they are not applied to the body.

Does toothpaste require a hechsher?

• Although toothpaste is unfit for eating, the widespread custom is to use only one that is supervised for Pesach.

Does soap for dishes require a hechsher?

• This too is unfit for eating, but the custom is to use only soap that has a hechser for Pesach.