Mitzvah #216 - Last day Pessach is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on the last day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on the 7th day... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:8)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 148

- Danny
Sunday, 12 Elul 5770

Erratum: A Peruta is only 0.025 grams of pure silver; currently less than 2 US pennies.

Mitzvah #215 - First day Pessach is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on the first day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on the 15th of the first month... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:6)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 147

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 9 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #152 - Fresh grains before Pessach

Fresh grains from produce which sprouted roots before the 2nd day of Pessach may be eaten as soon as harvested.

Grain which was not planted before the 2nd day of Pessach, or had not yet taken root, may not be eaten until after the 2nd day of Pessach

Applies to the 5 types of grain, traditionally translated as "wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye".

At the time of the Bet Hamikdash, new grain becomes permitted after the Omer sacrifice is brought on the 2nd day of Pessach.

Nowadays, until the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt, new grain is forbidden the entire 2nd day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere according to some opinions; in Israel-only according to other opinions

Verse: "...and fresh grain do not eat until this day" (Vayikra 23:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 103

- Danny
Sunday, 10 Sivan 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for

  Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה

Mitzvah #149 - Bread from new flour before Pessach

Bread made from grain that sprouted roots before the 2nd day of Pessach may be eaten as soon as it's harvested.

Bread made from grain that was not planted before the 2nd day of Pessach, or had not yet taken root, may not be eaten until after the 2nd day of Pessach

Applies to the 5 types of grain, traditionally translated as "wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye".

At the time of the Bet Hamikdash, new grain becomes permitted after the Omer sacrifice is brought on the 2nd day of Pessach.

Nowadays, until the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt, new grain is forbidden the entire 2nd day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere according to some opinions; in Israel-only according to other opinions

Verse: "And bread and roasted kernels and fresh grain do not eat until this day" (Vayikra 23:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 101

- Danny
Sunday, 3 Sivan 5770 - 47th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #78 - Refrain from work on last day of Pessach

It's a Mitzva to not do Melacha (certain types of work) on the last day of Passover.

Work involving food preparation is allowed, within certain parameters.

Lighting fires from an existing flame as well as carrying without an Eruv is allowed.

Outside Israel this applies to the 7th and 8th days of Pessach, by Rabbinic decree.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: 'The 7th day shall be Holy" (Vayikra 23:8)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 27

Shabbat Shalom
- Danny

Thursday, 6 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #75 - Count the Omer

There's a Mitzva to count 7 week from the time the Omer sacrifice was brought in the Bet Hamikdash.

The Omer is counted every night, starting from the second night of Pessach - 16 Nissan.

One needs to count both days and week.

The counting should be done standing, and a Bracha is said beforehand.

Applies to males, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Count 7 complete weeks" (Vayikra 23:15)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 26

- Danny
Monday, 3 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #72 - Refrain from work on first day Pessach

It's a Mitzva to not do Melacha (certain types of work) on the first day of Passover.

Work involving food preparation is allowed, within certain parameters.

Lighting fires from an existing flame as well as carrying without an Eruv is allowed.

Outside Israel this applies to the first 2 days of Pessach, by Rabbinic decree.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "The first day shall be a sacred Holiday" (Vayikra 23:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 25

- Danny
Wednesday, 27 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #66 - When is it a Mitzva to eat Matza?

It's a Mitzva to eat Matza on the first night of Pessach.

Matza can only be made from the "5 grains", traditionally translated as "wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye".

If a child is old enough to eat Matza, there's a Mitzva to educate him in the Mitzva and feed him some.

By Rabbinic decree one is forbidden to eat Matza on Erev Pessach, in order to have an appetite for it at night.

Applies to everybody, everywhere on Seder night.

Verse: "On that night you shall eat Matza" (Shemot 12:18)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 23

- Danny
Tuesday, 19 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #8 - Not to eat food that contains Chametz on Pessach

During Pessach one may not eat any mixture of foods that include Chametz (leaven).


If the quantity that one ate included an olive-worth of Chametz, then one has transgressed this Mitzvah.


Applies to everybody, everywhere during Pessach.


Pasuk: Any mixture of Chametz do not eat (Shmot 12:20)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 5

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny,
 Erev Shabbat, 28 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #7 - Do not derive benefit from Chametz on Pessach

One may not eat nor drink Chametz (leaven) on Pessach.

One may not even derive benefit from Chametz during Pessach (e.g. by burning it and enjoying the heat).

One who eats an olive-worth of Chametz on Pessach on purpose, gets punished with the heavenly punishment of Karet. If one eats it accidentally one owes a Chatat-sacrifice when the temple will be rebuilt (speedily in our days).

Applies to everybody, everywhere during Pessach.

Pasuk: ...and do not eat Chametz... (Shemot 13:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 4

- Danny,
 Thursday, 27 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #5 - No Chametz should be found on Jewish property

No Chametz (leaven) should be located on Jewish property during the 7 days of Pessach. (8 days in the Diaspora.)

One who buys Chametz and hides it, or who makes Chametz-dough on Pessach, transgresses twice: once for seeing leaven and once for having it on his property.


Chametz belonging to a non-Jew for which one has no responsibility, may be allowed into one premises during Pessach.

Applies to males, females, everywhere during Pessach.

Pasuk: Seven days leaven should not be found in your homes (Shmos 12:19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 3

- Danny
 25 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #3 - No Chametz should be seen on Jewish property during Pessach

No Chametz (leaven) is allowed to be seen on Jewish property during the 7 days of Passover. (Eight days in the Diaspora.)

This applies to Chametz belonging to a Jew, as well as Chametz belonging to a non-Jew for which the Jew is responsible for.

Applies to males and females everywhere, during Pessach.

Pasuk: No Chametz may be seen in your property... for seven days (Shmos 13:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 2

- Danny
 25 Tishrei 5770