WHEN ALL CHOMETZ WAS SOLD TO A NON-JEW The question is whether the requirement to destroy this chometz applies to our communities, where the custom is to include all chometz in the sale to the non-Jew, regardless of its location. If one sold all one’s chometz, the chometz found on Pesach belongs to the non-Jew and should not need to be destroyed. In fact, taking the chometz to destroy it makes matters worse. For as long as the chometz remains the non-Jew’s property there is no transgression. But when the Jew picks up the chometz with the intent to destroy it, it is theft and he then acquires the chometz6 and is in violation of Bal Yeiro’eh/Bal Yimotzei. Therefore, one should move the chometz to the closed area where all of the sold chometz is stored7. If found on Shabbos or Yom Tov, the chometz should be covered with a utensil until after Shabbos or Yom Tov, and should then be moved to the closed area where the sold chometz is stored. It should be noted that when moving the chometz in this case, where it is not for the purpose of destroying the chometz, the chometz may not be handled with one’s hands out of concern that one may inadvertently eat the chometz. Only when moving the chometz for the purpose of destroying it, is one allowed to move it with one’s hands. However, when moving it to transfer it to the non-Jew’s domain, one should use a stick to push it into the closed area where the sold chometz is stored8. Some poskim suggest, however, that even when all the chometz was sold, the chometz found on Pesach should still be destroyed. The reason for this is because the non-Jew surely does not mind if the Jew burns this chometz, and it is not considered theft and there is no acquisition taking place when taking the chometz to destroy it9. CHOMETZ DELIVERIES ON PESACH If a package containing chometz arrives at one’s property on Pesach, one should have specific intent not to acquire it. Even with such intent, the chometz may not be left there as is. On Shabbos and Yom Tov, it should be covered with a utensil, and on Chol Hamoed, it should be destroyed. Even if all of one’s chometz was sold before Pesach, chometz purchased or acquired on Pesach is not included in the sale and must be destroyed. Customers of product subscription services such as Amazon Subscribe & Save are reminded to cancel or reschedule chometz product deliveries that would otherwise occur on (or shortly prior to) Pesach. 13
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