Navigating Pesach: Balancing Halacha and Joy

Chumros Are Not Always Right!

“A PERSON IS OBLIGATED [BY TORAH LAW]¹ TO BE HAPPY AND IN GOOD SPIRITS ON THE YOMIM TOVIM; THE HUSBAND, HIS WIFE, AND THEIR CHILDREN…”

– SHULCHAN ARUCH ORACH CHAIM 529:2-

April, 2022

Unfortunately, in spite of the above requirement, not only do many women not enjoy Pesach, but they often dread its arrival.  The sad irony is that chazal teach that Pesach and the geulah it comes to celebrate are owed specifically to the Jewish women and their merits (Sota 11b).

Rabbanim have seen all too often the joy of Pesach sullied, the anticipation for this yom tov frustrated by unnecessary behavior done in the name of halacha.

We must put Pesach chumros in perspective.

There was a famous frum psychologist in Monsey who used to write to the Steipler Gaon regarding interesting cases. Many of those published letters discuss people with certain compulsive disorders hiding behind stringency in halacha. Of course, I am not suggesting a comparison, but it’s a useful metaphor that while there is room and even great importance for certain chumros, if left unchecked Pesach could be abused for unwarranted self-harm.

         It should be said at the outset that there are various wonderful chumros relating to Pesach, as well as innumerable minhagim, all of which must all be observed in their respective homes. We all know the words of the Arizal that he or she who is careful about even a trifle of chometz will be protected from sin throughout the year (See Baer Heitev, siman 447:1; See also Zohar, parshas ki seitei as brought in Kaf HaChaim).

What follows are a few rules of chumros that one must keep in mind:

Chumros do not exist in a vacuum bound by no rules whereby they can potentially metastasize into adversities that are unrecognizable even to their creators. Chumros too are restricted by halacha. In fact, we need to be machmir regarding chumros, to learn when chumros are unnecessary and, sometimes, even forbidden.

In addition, by confusing chumros with real halacha we can create an atmosphere where what has to be done is eclipsed by what one desires to be done, leading to unhealthy consequences. In the words of the Netziv, “…we run away from the fox but into the mouth of a lion.”⁴

What follows is meant as informational; all final ruling must come from one’s own personal rav (See introduction of Rav Yosef Karo to his Kesef Mishna and his Beis Yoseph. See also Maharal, Nesivos Olam, Nesiv HaTorah 15).

   RULES RELATING TO CHUMROS

1. A chumrah must have a source – All chumros – aside for one’s familial/ group’s minhagim – must have a source, a singular opinion, for instance, found in the poskim, and it certainly cannot go against a ruling of chazal. A stringency made up out of whole cloth is not acceptable unless it is a specific tradition (by tradition, we don’t mean “well, I did it last year”).^{6, 7}  
2. A chumrah cannot conflict with a clear halacha – If a newly decided-upon chumrah would be in direct conflict with a clear halacha it must be abandoned. Examples abound, and halacha is vast, so a rav should always be consulted. In my view,  this includes taking on a new chumra that could severely harm one’s simchas Yom Tov and/or shalom bayis.⁸
3. Chumros relating to medicine in pill form –When Rav Moshe Feinstein, Chazon Ish, Ksav Sofer, etc. were asked about pill-form medications that was known to contain chometz, they all allowed it on Pesach. This is because a pill is not edible to a dog (and is in fact produced to be that way) which the Torah itself allows. While we can’t be stricter than the Torah (baal tosif), there is a minority view (the Rosh) who posits that there would still be a rabbinical concern when such permissible chometz is actually consumed, and not just in one’s home (achshivei). Yet, even if one wished to follow this minority/rabbinic concern, the poskim explain that it would only be in effect when such indelible chometz is eaten, not when swallowed whole. While some kedoshim wish to still be machmir, one should not be machmir and refrain without speaking to a rav. That’s the only shailah they should ask about pills -if they are allowed to be machmir! Personally, I am trying to say every word of pesukei d’zimra, and work on my middos, before assuming a chumrah on a derabbanan that can impact one’s very health, and that the poskim do not reccomend.
4. Taking on a chumrah for someone else – One cannot take on a chumrah for someone else – or for one’s wife (see Igros Moshe eh’e 2:12 at end, et al., that a husband cannot be machmir against the basic din when it affects only his wife).

      If a husband desires to take on chumros  -especially when it comes to cleaning for Pesach – that are new and not a part of standard practice in their family, he is more than welcome to do so, and his wife should show him where the cleaning supplies are kept. Yes, we must be vigilant, machmir even, when it comes to the laws of Pesach, but never at the expense of others.

• A wife foregoing her family minhagim for her husband – the concept that a wife forgoes her family customs so as to follow the minhagim of her husband is not as simple – or as ancient – as many assume. There are times when she would not, could not. This topic was explored several years ago here, and one should speak to their rav.
• Cleaning for Pesach–
• If one fears there may be chametz behind a large appliance or shelf space (e.g. a bookshelf) that cannot be moved without great effort (e.g. unscrewing panels, or very tricky lifting) there is no need to remove it, especially if any chametz there would be inedible (Shulchan Aruch HaRav, some understand his words as applying to even large pieces of chametz).
•  While it is praiseworthy to clean seforim / books of tiny crumbs, it is not an obligation (Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, et al.). Nevertheless one should not bring unchecked seforim to the table where a crumb could fall into food (Rav Moshe Feinstein). Pockets of clothing, however, must be checked (Rema).
• All areas of one’s home and property (e.g. car) must be cleaned of chametz, save for an area where one is certain no chametz has entered. In homes where young children are present, even such spaces must be checked unless the children have no way of entering.
• All areas that are to be sold/rented to a non-Jew for Pesach need not be checked or cleaned for chametz (Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach; cf. Mishnah Berurah 436:32). Nevertheless, any such chametz must be out of view over Pesach (behind a mechitzah / barrier of at least 38 inches high). Regarding one who is selling their entire home, speak to a rav.

Deracheha darchei noam -the Torah and its laws are pleasant. We must never forget that. As chazal teach, just as one gets schar for doing, they sometimes also get schar from pulling back (Kiddushin 57a).

    Wishing everyone a chometz-free and anxious-free home this Pesach!