It is forbidden to have in your possession any chametz on Pesach. In actuality, there are different types of chametz. There is good chametz which is meant to be eaten. There is chametz which is not meant to be eaten but is still edible. There is also chametz which is not edible.

The first category will include any food product that the chametz is either the main ingredient, or if there is an amount of chametz is equal to an olive worth mixed into an amount of food equal to four eggs. Crackers, pasta and liquor are examples.

The next category is when the chametz is meant to serve another purpose besides eating, but is nevertheless edible. The Mishna in Pesachim 42a lists examples. Their glues were included in this category. This category too must be gotten rid of (or sold) by Pesach.

The last category is nonedible chametz. Soaps, shampoos, and hand creams are examples. Poskim argue as to the status of these products. Some permit to use, while others forbid. The reason being that anything used to rub onto your body might be as beneficial as eating. There is a machlokes R’ Moshe Feinstein and R’ Tzvi Pesach Frank regarding if nonedible chametz can be made edible on Pesach. Products that contain ethyl alcohol such as some perfumes, even though they are not edible, but can be distilled to become edible. R’ Moshe is stringent, and R’ Tzvi Pesach Frank was lenient. There are those who say that R’ Moshe came to his ruling because he lived on the lower east side which is near the bowery, and saw that some people will do anything to get alcohol. Whereas R’ Tzvi Pesach lived in Yerushalayim and was not privileged to see such people.

Rabbi Tzvi Aryeh Hyman, Mir Yeshiva
If you have any questions or comments please send them to:
[email protected]