Chametz question

[kankurette]

What do you do if you accidentally eat chametz during Pesach? Is there any way to atone, eg by giving tzedakah?

Comments

[smofbabe]

I don't believe there is any direct atonement for a given sin possible nowadays. Just add it to your list for Yom Kippur :->

[sinnamongirl]

I think it's just teshuva*, which you've already done by acknowledging the act and wishing to atone for it**?

*I'm not even sure that's the right word.

**While I'm not observant and up on the law, this seems correct, but someone else may have a much better explanation/response. I just wanted to have input.

[orgdotnews]

Shrug and say "lesson learned?" My take on Passover is that it's about mindfulness - using the strictures on eating to think about the themes of passover - liberation vs. oppression, etc., and to connect us to our history. Whether we follow the rules to the letter isn't the point, and what the rules are is up for debate - in fact, it's our obligation to challenge and work through how the laws and strictures can be meaningful to each of us (as is everything in Jewish law). The point is not to overthink it, which I think we all tend to do a little bit. If we overthink the rules of Passover and get hung up on "the five forbiddens" vs "kitniyot," or agonize over whether you can make bread out of peanuts, then we're missing the point. I just avoid the big 5, and use that to make sure I take a moment each meal to remember that connection and that tradition.

Anyway, long story, not really an answer to your question, moving on...

[k_t_bug]

I want to "like" your response. Dang Facebook brainwashing...

[zhelana]

Good question. I just found the words "Not for passover use" printed on my box of Matzoh. WTF other use is there?!

[threnody]

Apparently some people eat it year round. Dunno how they afford it, though, here it's freaking $5 a box.

[zhelana]

Dunno why anyone would want to, either!

[lavendersparkle]

Where I live, there isn't such a large range of kosher certified crackers for eating with cheese as you'd find in the US, so matzah crackers are the easiest option. Also, matzvah counts as bread but doesn't go off for ages, so it's useful to have a box in the kitchen cupboard for emergency 'I need two loaves to make hamotzi on' situations.