Mishneh Torah — Leavened & Unleavened Bread (Chametz u-Matzah) הלכות חמץ ומצה, Chapter 3

כְּשֶׁבוֹדֵק אָדָם וּמְחַפֵּשׂ בְּלֵילֵי אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר מוֹצִיא אֶת הֶחָמֵץ מִן הַחוֹרִים וּמִן הַמַּחֲבוֹאוֹת וּמִן הַזָּוִיּוֹת וּמְקַבֵּץ הַכּל וּמַנִּיחוֹ בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד עַד תְּחִלַּת שָׁעָה שִׁשִּׁית בַּיּוֹם וּמְבָעֲרוֹ. וְאִם רָצָה לְבַעֲרוֹ בְּלֵילֵי אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר מְבַעֲרוֹ:

When a person checks and searches on the night of the fourteenth [of Nisan], he should remove [all] chametz from holes, hidden places, and corners, and gather the entire amount together, putting it in one place until the beginning of the sixth hour and [then,] destroy it. If he desires to destroy it on the night 445) explains that though chametz can be destroyed through any means, some choose to burn it, utilizing the means required to dispose of notar (leftover sacrificial meat). Just as notar cannot be burned until the morning, similarly, those who follow this custom should not burn their chametz at night. of the fourteenth, he may.

הֶחָמֵץ שֶׁמַּנִּיחַ בְּלֵילֵי אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר כְּדֵי שֶׁיֹּאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ לְמָחָר עַד אַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת אֵינוֹ מַנִּיחוֹ מְפֻזָּר וּמְפֹרָד בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא מַצְנִיעוֹ בִּכְלִי אוֹ בְּזָוִית יְדוּעָה וְיִזָּהֵר בּוֹ. שֶׁאִם לֹא נִזְהַר בּוֹ וּמְצָאוֹ חָסֵר צָרִיךְ לְחַפֵּשׂ אַחֲרָיו וְלִבְדֹּק פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת שֶׁמָּא גְּרָרוּהוּ הָעַכְבָּרִים:

The chametz which was put aside on the night of the fourteenth, (Orach Chayim 434:1) explains that the same law applies to the chametz found in the search. Nevertheless, only the chametz set aside for eating is mentioned, for it is possible that no chametz will actually be found in the search. so that it can be eaten on the next day until [the end of] the fourth hour, should not be spread out and scattered in every place. Rather, it should be put away in a utensil or in a known corner, and care should be taken concerning it. cautions that the chametz should be covered by a bowl, placed in a cabinet, or hung from the ceiling. Otherwise, should some be found lacking, he would have to search for it and check [the house] a second time, for mice 9b also mentions the possibility of children taking this chametz. might have dragged it away.

חָל אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת בּוֹדְקִין אֶת הֶחָמֵץ בְּלֵילֵי עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת שֶׁהוּא לֵיל שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר וּמַנִּיחַ מִן הֶחָמֵץ כְּדֵי לֶאֱכל מִמֶּנּוּ עַד אַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת. וּמַנִּיחוֹ בְּמָקוֹם מֻצְנָע וְהַשְּׁאָר מְבָעֲרוֹ מִלִּפְנֵי הַשַּׁבָּת. וְאִם נִשְׁאַר מִן הֶחָמֵץ בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת אַחַר אַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת מְבַטְּלוֹ וְכוֹפֶה עָלָיו כְּלִי עַד מוֹצָאֵי יוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן וּמְבָעֲרוֹ:

When the fourteenth falls on the Sabbath, we search for chametz on the night before Sabbath eve, the night of the thirteenth. We set aside [enough] chametz to eat until [the end of] the fourth hour on the Sabbath day. The remainder should be destroyed before (Orach Chayim 444:2) suggests burning the chametz on Friday morning, to prevent confusion arising in future years. However, if one is prevented from doing so, the chametz may be destroyed later on with no compunctions. the Sabbath.If some of the chametz remains on the Sabbath 49a, the majority opinion accepts this decision only as regards Terumah. In contrast, other chametz need not be destroyed until the appropriate time on the Sabbath.The Beit Yosef (Orach Chayim 444) explains that the Rambam's decision is based on Pesachim 13b, which differs from the opinion in Pesachim 49a. However, even according to the Rambam, the obligation to destroy the chametz before the Sabbath is not a hard and fast rule. On the contrary, our halachah itself states that one is allowed to keep all the chametz he needs for the Sabbath meals. Rather, this can be seen as good advice, facilitating the destruction of chametz, which is much easier before the Sabbath than on that sacred day. day after the fourth hour, he should nullify it and cover it with a utensil 6a, which states such a law as regards chametz discovered on the first day of the festival. until the conclusion of the first day of the festival, and then destroy it. and cannot be moved any longer.A basic question is asked concerning the Rambam's statements: Until the beginning of the sixth hour on Pesach eve, a person may benefit from chametz by giving it to a gentile or feeding it to an animal. Therefore, it should not be considered muktzeh until that time.The Rivosh explains that since eating is the most important use of chametz, it is considered muktzeh once it can no longer be eaten. However, the Bach considers "the fourth hour" a printing error and amends the Rambam's text to read "the fifth hour." All Ashkenazic halachic authorities decide accordingly. Nevertheless, the Magen Avraham justifies the Rambam's statements, explaining that they apply in a situation where there is no gentile or animal to give the chametz to.In practice, the following procedure is suggested when Pesach falls on Saturday night. The transfer of chametz and Pesach pots, dishes, and cutlery is carried out on Thursday night or Friday, and no chametz is cooked afterwards. The Sabbath meals should be totally kosher for Pesach and prepared in the Pesach pots. Four small challot are kept in a special place for the evening and morning meals (two for each meal).They are eaten away from the table, and afterwards, the crumbs are collected and flushed down the toilet. Otherwise, the meals are eaten as all the other meals of the Pesach holiday itself.As mentioned, it is forbidden to eat chametz on the fourteenth of Nisan after the fourth hour of the day (usually around 9:20 AM). To complete the eating of the above-mentioned challot before this hour, certain synagogues may have to conduct their morning services at an earlier time than usual.

הָיוּ לוֹ כִּכָּרוֹת רַבּוֹת שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה וְצָרִיךְ לְשָׂרְפָהּ עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת לֹא יְעָרֵב הַטְּהוֹרָה עִם הַטְּמֵאָה וְיִשְׂרֹף אֶלָּא שׂוֹרֵף טְמֵאָה לְעַצְמָהּ וּטְהוֹרָה לְעַצְמָהּ וּתְלוּיָה לְעַצְמָהּ. וּמַנִּיחַ מִן הַטְּהוֹרָה כְּדֵי לֶאֱכל עַד אַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת בִּלְבַד:

A person who has many loaves of bread that were Terumah and must burn them on the Sabbath eve; he should not mix the pure loaves together with the impure loaves and burn them. to become ritually impure (Rashi, Pesachim 14a). Even though we are destroying the Terumah, we must be careful it does not become impure. Rather, he should burn the pure loaves alone, the impure ones alone, 15b and 20b, the Kessef Mishneh and Rabbenu Manoach explain that the same principles apply when burning Terumah every Pesach eve until the end of the sixth hour. However, afterwards, when chametz is forbidden according to Torah law, no differentiation is made, and both pure and impure Terumah are burned together. and the ones [whose status is] left pending for no purpose is forbidden. Rather, they are left until they are no longer fit for use, and then burned. alone. 15a asks rhetorically: How can we burn the Terumah of questionable status with that which is definitely impure? Perhaps Elijah will come and determine that the former was, in fact, pure.He should leave a sufficient quantity, but no more than necessary, in contrast to other chametz. (See the previous halachah.) Other chametz is fit to be eaten by all people or beasts. In contrast, Terumah can be eaten only by a priest's household. Hence, greater precautions should be taken not to leave over extra amounts (Rabbenu Manoach). of the pure loaves to eat until [the conclusion of] the fourth hour on the Sabbath day.

מִי שֶׁשָּׁכַח אוֹ הֵזִיד וְלֹא בָּדַק בְּלֵיל אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בּוֹדֵק אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בְּשַׁחֲרִית. לֹא בָּדַק בְּשַׁחֲרִית בּוֹדֵק בִּשְׁעַת הַבִּעוּר. לֹא בָּדַק בִּשְׁעַת הַבִּעוּר בּוֹדֵק בְּתוֹךְ הֶחָג. עָבַר הָרֶגֶל וְלֹא בָּדַק בּוֹדֵק אַחַר הָרֶגֶל כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּבָעֵר מַה שֶּׁיִּמְצָא מֵחָמֵץ שֶׁעָבַר עָלָיו הַפֶּסַח מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר בַּהֲנָיָה:

A person who either inadvertently or intentionally did not search on the night of the fourteenth should search on the fourteenth in the morning. If he did not search on the fourteenth in the morning, he should search at the time for destroying [the chametz]. If he did not search at the time for destroying the chametz, he should search in the midst of the festival. 10b explains that even though by searching for chametz a person exposes himself to the possibility of eating the chametz that he finds, nevertheless, a person searching to destroy chametz is highly unlikely to lose sight of the prohibition against eating it.The obligation to search for chametz in the midst of the festival emphasizes that the Rambam conceives that the mitzvah to destroy chametz applies, not only before Pesach begins, but throughout the holiday. Indeed, this concept can be seen in the Rambam's words describing the mitzvah in the preface to this text. There, he explains that the mitzvah is to destroy chametz "from" and not "on" the fourteenth of Nisan.[It must be noted that the adoption of such a position represents a change of mind for the Rambam. In Sefer HaMitzvot (positive mitzvah 156) and in the earlier handwritten texts of the Mishneh Torah, the Rambam writes that the mitzvah is to destroy chametz "on the fourteenth."]The definition of the term "in the midst of the festival" is the subject of debate among the commentaries. Some define it as "in the midst of Chol HaMoed," explaining that since chametz is muktzeh and cannot be moved or destroyed on the first day of the festival, there is no need to search for it at that time (Rabbenu Manoach).Nevertheless, the Magen Avraham (Orach Chayim 435:1) and the other Ashkenazic halachic authorities require a search on the first day of Pesach itself even though it is Yom Tov. Should chametz be found, it should be covered with a utensil. If the festival passed without his having searched, he should search after the festival to destroy whatever chametz he might find which [he possessed] during Pesach, since we are prohibited against benefiting [from such chametz].

כְּשֶׁבּוֹדֵק הֶחָמֵץ בְּלֵילֵי אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אוֹ בְּיוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הָרֶגֶל מְבָרֵךְ קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּתְחִיל לִבְדֹּק בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל בִּעוּר חָמֵץ. וּבוֹדֵק וּמְחַפֵּשׂ בְּכָל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת שֶׁמַּכְנִיסִין לָהֶם חָמֵץ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְאִם בָּדַק לְאַחַר הָרֶגֶל אֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ:

When a person checks for chametz on the night of the fourteenth, on the day of the fourteenth, 11:3.) and during the festival, he should recite the [following] blessing before he begins to search:Blessed 7b emphasizes that all blessings should be recited before the performance of the mitzvah. are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the destruction of chametz. (ibid.) debates whether the blessing should state על ביעור חמץ (concerning the destruction of chametz) or לבער חמץ (to destroy chametz), and reaches the conclusion stated by the Rambam.Hilchot Berachot 11:15 explains that it is not proper to state "to destroy chametz," since from the moment the person decides to nullify the chametz, the mitzvah to obliterate chametz has been completed according to Torah law. Hence, the expression "concerning the destruction" is more appropriate.The blessing mentions "the destruction of chametz," for that is the ultimate aim of the search.He must check and search in all the places where chametz is brought in, as was explained. If he searches after the holiday, he does not recite a blessing. 57): Fowl were attacked by beasts of prey and wounded to the extent that they would not recover. Even though they did not die immediately, the Sages required that they be slain, lest another Jew not be aware of their wounds and slaughter them to eat as kosher birds. Needless to say, no blessing is required when killing them for these reasons (Shulchan Aruch HaRav).

וּכְשֶׁגּוֹמֵר לִבְדֹּק אִם בָּדַק בְּלֵיל אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אוֹ בְּיוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר קֹדֶם שֵׁשׁ שָׁעוֹת צָרִיךְ לְבַטֵּל כָּל חָמֵץ שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ וְאֵינוֹ רוֹאֵהוּ. וְיֹאמַר כָּל חָמֵץ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בִּרְשׁוּתִי שֶׁלֹּא רְאִיתִיו הֲרֵי הוּא בָּטֵל וַהֲרֵי הוּא כְּעָפָר. אֲבָל אִם בָּדַק מִתְּחִלַּת שָׁעָה שִׁשִּׁית וּלְמַעְלָה אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְבַטֵּל שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינוֹ בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ שֶׁכְּבָר נֶאֱסַר בַּהֲנָיָה:

When he concludes searching, if he searched on the fourteenth at night, or on the fourteenth during the day before the sixth hour, he should nullify all the chametz that remains in his possession 6b states that the Sages feared that even after a thorough search has been conducted, the possibility exists that perhaps, some chametz will have been overlooked. that he does not see.He should say: "All chametz which is in my possession that I have not seen, behold, it is nullified and must be considered as dust."However, if he searched after the beginning of the sixth hour and onward, he can no longer nullify it, for it is not in his possession, since benefiting from it is forbidden.

לְפִיכָךְ אִם לֹא בִּטֵּל קֹדֶם שֵׁשׁ וּמִשֵּׁשׁ שָׁעוֹת וּלְמַעְלָה מָצָא חָמֵץ שֶׁהָיָה דַּעְתּוֹ עָלָיו וְהָיָה בְּלִבּוֹ וּשְׁכָחוֹ בִּשְׁעַת הַבִּעוּר וְלֹא בִּעֲרוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה עָבַר עַל (שמות יג ז) (דברים טז ד) "לֹא יֵרָאֶה" וְ (שמות יב יט) "לֹא יִמָּצֵא" שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא בִּעֵר וְלֹא בִּטֵּל. וְאֵין הַבִּטּוּל עַתָּה מוֹעִיל לוֹ כְּלוּם לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ וְהַכָּתוּב עֲשָׂהוּ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ לְחַיְּבוֹ מִשּׁוּם לֹא יֵרָאֶה וְלֹא יִמָּצֵא. וְחַיָּב לְבַעֲרוֹ בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁיִּמְצָאֶנּוּ. וְאִם מְצָאוֹ בְּיוֹם טוֹב כּוֹפֶה עָלָיו כְּלִי עַד לָעֶרֶב וּמְבַעֲרוֹ. וְאִם שֶׁל הֶקְדֵּשׁ הוּא אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִכְפּוֹת עָלָיו כְּלִי שֶׁהַכּל פּוֹרְשִׁין מִמֶּנּוּ:

Thus, a person who does not nullify [his chametz] before the sixth hour 4b) does maintain that the prohibitions against owning chametz begin on the fourteenth, and they maintain that the Rambam shares this view (See Responsa, Nodah BiYhudah, Orach Chayim 20). and discovers chametz (Pesachim 21a) states that a person does not violate the prohibition against possessing chametz unless he becomes conscious of the chametz in his possession. As long as he is unaware of its existence, he does not violate the prohibition. which he:considered important and [valued] in his (Pesachim 6b) states that the prohibitions only apply when the chametz has an intrinsic value, in contrast to crumbs. heart,then forgot at the time of the destruction of chametz,and hence did not destroy,transgresses [the prohibitions]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found."Behold, he has neither destroyed nor nullified [his chametz], and nullification at this time would not be effective, for [the chametz] is no longer in his possession. Even so, the Torah considers it as if it were in his possession, to obligate him for [transgression of the commandments:] "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be (6b) compares the possession of chametz at this time to digging a pit in the public thoroughfare. The pit does not belong to the person who dug it; nevertheless, he must pay for any damages it causes.Similarly, with regard to chametz, since one is forbidden to benefit from it, it is no longer considered in one's possession and cannot be sold, bartered, or given away. Nevertheless, the person retaining it is still liable for transgression of the prohibitions involved. found."[Therefore,] he is obligated to destroy it whenever he finds it. If he finds it on the day of a festival,, and hence cannot be moved. he should cover it with a utensil until the evening, and then destroy it. as important enough to override the fulfillment of a Torah commandment. Furthermore, the Kessef Mishneh explains that since the person himself desires to destroy the chametz, and the only reason he fails to do so is the Rabbinic commandment, he is not considered to have violated the Torah's prohibitions against possessing chametz.This view is not accepted by all authorities. Many explain that since three Torah mitzvot (the two prohibitions against possessing chametz and the positive commandment to destroy chametz) are involved, their observance overrides the prohibitions of muktzeh. Others maintain that even if the prohibition against muktzeh must be observed, the chametz can be destroyed by burning it in the place where it is located.Nevertheless, in practice, the Magen Avraham (Orach Chayim 446:2), the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, and the Mishnah Berurah do not accept the latter view, and advise waiting to destroy the chametz until after the holiday. They explain that a person is allowed to light a fire on a festival only if doing so increases his festive joy. Hence, they prohibit burning the chametz in that manner. However, they mention that, if it is possible, a gentile may be asked to destroy the chametz. Furthermore, in the diaspora, a Jew is also allowed to destroy chametz he finds on the second day of a festival. [If the chametz] was consecrated property, there is no need to cover it with a utensil, for regardless, everyone shies away from its use.

מִי שֶׁיָּצָא מִבֵּיתוֹ קֹדֶם שְׁעַת הַבִּעוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוָה אוֹ לֶאֱכל סְעֻדָּה שֶׁל מִצְוָה כְּגוֹן סְעֻדַּת אֵרוּסִין וְנִשּׂוּאִין וְנִזְכַּר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ חָמֵץ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ. אִם יָכוֹל לַחֲזֹר וּלְבָעֵר וְלַחֲזֹר לְמִצְוָתוֹ יַחֲזֹר וְאִם לָאו יְבַטֵּל בְּלִבּוֹ. יָצָא לְהַצִּיל מִיַּד הַגַּיִס מִן הַנָּהָר מִן הַדְּלֵקָה וּמִן הַמַּפּלֶת יְבַטֵּל בְּלִבּוֹ וְדַיּוֹ. יָצָא לְצֹרֶךְ עַצְמוֹ וְנִזְכַּר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ חָמֵץ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ יַחֲזֹר מִיָּד. וְעַד כַּמָּה הוּא חוֹזֵר עַד כְּבֵיצָה. הָיָה פָּחוֹת מִכְּבֵיצָה מְבַטְּלוֹ בְּלִבּוֹ וְדַיּוֹ:

A person who left his house before the time for destroying chametz in order to fulfill a mitzvah 49a) mentions a person who goes out to slaughter the Paschal sacrifice or circumcise his son. The Rambam postulates that the same applies to anyone who leaves his home to perform any mitzvah. or in order to partake of a feast associated with a mitzvah - e.g., a feast associated with betrothal or marriage 10:1-2.) - and recalls that he possesses chametz at home. If it is possible for him to go back, destroy it, and then return to the fulfillment of the mitzvah, he should return. If not, he should nullify [ownership over the chametz] in his heart. 444:11).Should he go out to save from a troop of attackers, from a [flooding] river, from a fire, from [being buried] under fallen objects, all that is necessary is for him to nullify it in his heart. explains that since human lives are at stake, one should not think of returning, but should nullify the chametz, since according to Torah law, that is all that is required. The Kessef Mishneh goes further and explains that saving the people's lives supersedes all matters. Hence, even if a person has time to return home to destroy the chametz, he should first deal with saving the lives, for that is the primary concern.Though the primacy of saving lives is accepted by all authorities, the Magen Avraham qualifies the matter. If the person knows for sure that he will be able to return home, destroy his chametz, and still have time to save the people's lives, he must destroy his chametz first. Should he go out for his own purposes and remember that he possesses chametz at home, he must return immediately.How much [chametz] must be present [to require] him to return? the size of an egg. If there is less than the size of an egg, it is sufficient for him to nullify it in his heart.

מִי שֶׁהִנִּיחַ עִסָּה מְגֻלְגֶּלֶת בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ וְיָצָא וְנִזְכַּר אַחַר שֶׁיָּצָא וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ וְהָיָה יָרֵא שֶׁמָּא תַּחֲמִיץ קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּבֹא הֲרֵי זֶה מְבַטְּלוֹ בְּלִבּוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁתַּחֲמִיץ. אֲבָל אִם הֶחְמִיצָה אֵין הַבִּטּוּל מוֹעִיל כְּלוּם אֶלָּא כְּבָר עָבַר עַל (שמות יג ז) (דברים טז ד) "לֹא יֵרָאֶה" וְ (שמות יב יט) "לֹא יִמָּצֵא" וְחַיָּב לְבַעֵר מִיָּד כְּשֶׁיַּחֲזֹר לְבֵיתוֹ:

A person who put aside a rolled dough at home, 7a, describes a situation which occurs after the sixth hour on the fourteenth of Nisan or later, when chametz has become forbidden. [forgot about it,] went out and remembered after he had left [home]: Should he be sitting before his teacher (Orach Chayim 444:8) states: "Were he busy with other matters," implying that the law applies even when one's intent is not necessarily associated with a mitzvah. and fear that the dough will become leavened before he can come [home], behold, he may nullify [ownership over the dough] in his heart before it becomes leaven..)However, if [the dough] has already become leavened, his nullification is not at all effective, for he has already violated [the prohibitions]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found." He must destroy it immediately when he returns home.

כֵּיצַד בִּעוּר חָמֵץ. שׂוֹרְפוֹ אוֹ פּוֹרֵר וְזוֹרֶה לָרוּחַ אוֹ זוֹרְקוֹ לַיָּם. וְאִם הָיָה הֶחָמֵץ קָשֶׁה וְאֵין הַיָּם מְחַתְּכוֹ בִּמְהֵרָה הֲרֵי זֶה מְפָרְרוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ זוֹרְקוֹ לַיָּם. חָמֵץ שֶׁנָּפְלָה עָלָיו מַפּלֶת וְנִמְצָא עָלָיו עָפָר שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים אוֹ יוֹתֵר הֲרֵי הוּא כִּמְבֹעָר וְצָרִיךְ לְבַטֵּל בְּלִבּוֹ אִם עֲדַיִן לֹא נִכְנְסָה שָׁעָה שִׁשִּׁית. נְתָנוֹ לְעַכּוּ"ם קֹדֶם שָׁעָה שִׁשִּׁית אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְבָעֵר. וְאִם שְׂרָפוֹ קֹדֶם שָׁעָה שִׁשִּׁית הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לֵהָנוֹת בַּפֶּחָמִין שֶׁלּוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַפֶּסַח. אֲבָל אִם שְׂרָפוֹ מִשָּׁעָה שִׁשִּׁית וּלְמַעְלָה הוֹאִיל וְהוּא אָסוּר בַּהֲנָיָה הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יַסִּיק בּוֹ תַּנּוּר וְכִירַיִם וְלֹא יֹאפֶה בּוֹ וְלֹא יְבַשֵּׁל. וְאִם בִּשֵּׁל אוֹ אָפָה אוֹתָהּ הַפַּת וְאוֹתוֹ הַתַּבְשִׁיל אָסוּר בַּהֲנָיָה. וְכֵן הַפֶּחָמִין שֶׁלּוֹ אֲסוּרִין בַּהֲנָיָה הוֹאִיל וְשׂוֹרְפוֹ אַחַר שֶׁנֶּאֱסַר בַּהֲנָיָה:

How must chametz be destroyed? It may be burned; crumbled and tossed to the wind; or thrown into the sea. 27b) explain that this applies only when destroying chametz before it becomes forbidden. Once it is forbidden, it can be destroyed only by burning. If the chametz is hard and the sea will not cause it to dissolve speedily, one should crumble it and then throw it into the sea. 2:1), the Rambam writes that dried bread should be crumbled "a lot" before being thrown to the sea. Pesachim 28a records a debate among the Sages whether it is necessary to crumble all chametz before throwing it to the sea. There is extensive debate among the commentators regarding the Rambam's interpretation of this passage. Most halachic authorities (Taz, Orach Chayim 445:1) require chametz to be crumbled even before it is tossed into the sea.If other substances fell upon chametz and it was covered by three handbreadths or more of earth, 31b) states this law applies when "a dog will no longer search for it." The Gemara explains that a dog will not search more than three handbreadths deep. it is considered as having been destroyed. [Nevertheless,] one must nullify [ownership over] it in one's heart if the sixth hour has not arrived. ibid.).A person who gave it to a gentile before the sixth hour need not destroy it. 5b notes that Exodus 13:7, the verse prohibiting the possession of chametz, states: "No chametz will be seen for you." The addition of the latter phrase implies that there is no prohibition against chametz that belongs to a gentile being found in one's domain during Pesach. The following chapter discusses this subject in depth.If one burns it before the sixth hour, he is permitted to benefit from the charcoal that remains during Pesach. 21a explains that once chametz has been burned to the extent that it is not fit for a dog to eat, there is no prohibition involved in its use. However, if he burns it from [the beginning of] the sixth hour and onward, since benefit may not be derived from it, it should not be used as fuel for an oven or range. 38b defines a range as an earthenware vessel in which coals can be placed, with two holes upon which to place two pots, and an oven as a larger structure. One may not bake or cook with it.If one did bake or cook [using the chametz as fuel], it is forbidden to derive benefit from that loaf or that dish.). Similarly, it is forbidden to derive benefit from the charcoal that remains from it, because it was burned after benefit from it became forbidden. 34a states that we may benefit from the ashes of any substance that must be destroyed by burning. In contrast, if a substance may be destroyed by other means, we are prohibited from benefiting from its ashes.