Question:
- When it comes to selling chometz what are the different categories that people differ with their customs (ex. chometz mamash vs. other chometz)?
- In addition, would there be any specific issue with selling sourdough starter?
Answer:
Hello,
- A person who sells his chometz to a gentile, and the gentile owns the chometz for the duration of Pesach has fulfilled the commandment to rid himself of his chometz as he now doesn’t own any chometz. This is true, if the gentile took the persons chometz, paid him for it, and had it in his property for Pesach. There are those who are not happy with the way we do our mechiras chometz, because the chometz stays by the Jew, the Jew may not feel, that he is actually selling it, rather seen as a ceremony. Additionally, the gentile doesn’t really feel that he bought and now owns the chometz. Besides, it is possibly that the sale of the chometz isn’t a legally recognized sale. Although in halacha it is considered a sale, because the seller and buyer agreed to the sale, etc. nevertheless, there are those who do not want to rely on the sale of real chometz, such as bread, whiskey, and will only rely on the sale of chometz for chometz that isn’t so edible, or mixtures of chometz, but not for “real chometz”. It should be clear though, that it is permitted to sell real chometz, especially if there will be a large financial loss, i.e. for storeowners, etc., and not selling chometz is considered a chumrah.
- Sourdough starter is what makes other doughs chametz, which is called “se’or”, which is real chametz, and selling it would depend on if you sell real chametz or not.
Best wishes
Sources:
מעשה רב שכן נהג הגר"א זי"ע, איגרות סופרים סי' מ"ח בשם הגרע"א זי"ע אורחות רבנו פסח אות כ"א וכ' בשם החזו"א והגרי"י קניבסקי זצ"ל.
