Owning Chametz on Pesach

From Halachipedia

It is forbidden to own chametz on Pesach and one who does violates the Biblical commandment of Baal Yiraeh and Baal Yimaseh, not owning or having chametz in your possession that is possible to be seen.

Rentals and Deposits

  1. If someone rents their house to another Jew on Pesach and no one does bedika or bitul chametz, there is a dispute whether the owner violates Baal Yiraeh and Baal Yimaseh. Additionally, there is a dispute whether the renter violates those prohibitions. Certainly, the one who has it in his property should get rid of it before Pesach.[1]
  2. Similarly, if someone has a deposit of another Jew's chametz in his property on Pesach he must get rid of it and there is a discussion if the one who has it deposited by would violate Baal Yiraeh and Baal Yimaseh.[2]

Storing Chametz in a Non-Jew's Property

  1. A Jew who owns Chametz may not give it to a non-Jew to keep as a deposit even if it is stored in the non-Jew's property. If he does so he will violate owning Chametz on Pesach since in essence it is still his property.[3]
  2. A Jew who owns flour and gives it as a deposit to a non-Jew to store and the non-Jew makes it into Chametz on Pesach, the non-Jew has made it forbidden Chametz and owes the Jew the value of the flour.[4]

Storing a Non-Jew's Chametz

  1. It is forbidden for a Jew to store a non-Jew's Chametz on his property if he accepts any responsibility for its loss or theft.[5] Some say that it is forbidden even if he accepts any responsibility even if it is just responsibility for his negligence.[6]
  2. It is forbidden for a Jew to store a non-Jew's Chametz even if he does not accept responsibility if the non-Jew will force him to have to pay in the event of theft or loss.[7] Some think this is permitted since the Jew didn't willingly accept any responsibility.[8]

Sources

  1. ↑
    • The Gra 443:11 writes that if someone has chametz of another Jew in your property you violate Baal Yiraeh and Baal Yimaseh. He proves it from Rashi Pesachim 5b. Peni Yehoshua there and 4a agrees. See Or Chadash 4a who disagrees and argues based on Rashi Pesachim 46b. Rav Soloveitchik in Mesorah v. 3 p. 7 answers this proof of the Or Chadash. The fnt. on Maharam Chalavah Pesachim 4a fnt. 26 cites also the Bet Meir 443, Torat Chaim 4a, and Tzlach 5b who hold like the Gra.
    • The Maharam Chalavah 4a s.v. hamaskir and Meiri 4a s.v. vkol hold that both the renter and owner don't violate Baal Yiraeh since the chametz isn't both entirely in their property as well as belong to either of them. Nonetheless, there is a rabbinic obligation to get rid of the chametz. Tosfot Chachmei Engliya 4a is explicit that the Jew who has Chametz of another Jew in his property doesn't violate Baal Yiraeh and that Rashi 5b isn't conclusive. Fnt. to Maharam Chalavah cites the Rabbenu Dovid, and Ran who agree.
    • The Bach 443:5 writes that someone who has a deposit of someone else's chametz doesn't violate Baal Yiraeh and Baal Yimaseh. Magen Avraham 443:5 agrees. However, they do state that the one who has the chametz in his property should get rid of the chametz of his fellow to protect him from violating Baal Yiraeh and Baal Yimaseh.
  2. ↑ Bach 443:5 and Magen Avraham 443:5 state that the one who has the chametz deposited by him wouldn't violate Baal Yiraeh but the owner would violate Baal Yiraeh, while the Gra 443:11 disagrees. Meiri Pesachim 4a s.v. vkol implies that in fact neither the owner or the one who it is deposited by would violate Baal Yiraeh.
  3. ↑ Rosh Pesachim 1:4 cites the Geonim who permitted giving his Chametz to a non-Jew as a deposit since it is physically outside his property. Their proof is a Mechilta. The Rosh disputed their position and quotes Rabbenu Yonah who also rejected the Geonim for other reasons. See Taz 440:4 for an explanation of Rabbenu Yonah. Tosfot Chachmei Angliya Pesachim 5b also agree with the Rosh. Shulchan Aruch 440:4 follows the Rosh.
  4. ↑ Tosfot Chachmei Angliya Pesachim 5b quoting Rashi
  5. ↑ Rosh Pesachim 1:4 citing the Ri, Rambam Chametz Umatzah 4:3, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 440:1
  6. ↑ Bahag cited by Rosh Pesachim 1:4
  7. ↑ Rambam Chametz Umatzah 4:4, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 440:1. Regarding the Raavad's questions from the Gemara and from logic how a Jew could voilate owning Chametz of a non-Jew if he didn't accept any responsibility, the Midgal Oz (Chametz Umatza 4:4) answers that in Pesachim 6a it is clear that a Jew can be responsible for Chametz of a non-Jew even if he isn't formally considered his property. See Even Haezel for another approach in that the Jew accepted the responsibility by paying for the loss or theft. Maharit Bechorot 2:17 explains that the Rambam is only speaking about a rabbinic prophibition since it appears like his property in that he is paying for loss or theft. He compares it to the Rashba Chullin 39b s.v. chazinan.
  8. ↑ Raavad Chametz Umatza 4:4
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