In this halacha-focused episode preparing for Pesach, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe reviews key laws from Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 117. He begins with Bitul (nullification): normally, a prohibited item is nullified in a 1:60 ratio of permitted food, allowing the mixture if the prohibited amount is tiny and mixed immediately (e.g., a drop of milk in chicken soup). On Pesach, however, the rules are stricter: before Pesach (until nightfall), chometz follows standard Bitul (discard the kernel and the rest is kosher for Pesach). Once Pesach begins, even a minute amount of Chometz prohibits the entire mixture for eating and benefit (hana'ah)—one cannot sell, feed animals, or derive pleasure from it; a rabbinic authority must be consulted.

Additional laws include: avoiding singeing fowl over grain-straw (concern for Chometz flavor); prohibiting Kitniyot (legumes/rice/corn etc.) for Ashkenazim due to potential grain mixture or confusion with chometz flour (a binding custom, not followed by Sephardim); caution with dried fruits/spices (cloves/saffron often forbidden); permitting matzah ashira (kneaded with fruit juice/eggs/milk) only in pressing need (e.g., for the ill), but not for the Seder mitzvah of matzah (requires water-kneaded); restrictions on benefiting from chometz (no profit from rental/transport of chometz items, no feeding animals chometz); and special leniencies (e.g., telling a non-Jewish worker to buy/eat chometz with repayment, or renting space/animals without specifying chometz use). The episode stresses consulting a rav for specifics and notes modern ease with certified kosher-for-Passover products.

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The Everyday Judaism Podcast is dedicated to learning, understanding and appreciating the greatness of Jewish heritage and the Torah through the simplified, concise study of Halacha, Jewish Law, thereby enhancing our understanding of how Hashem wants us to live our daily lives in a Jewish way.
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This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Marshall & Doreen Lerner

• Download & Print the Everyday Judaism Halacha Notes:
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This episode of the Everyday Judaism Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH is dedicated to my dearest friends, Marshall & Doreen Lerner! May Hashem bless you and always lovingly accept your prayer for good health, success and true happiness!!!

Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studio (B) to a live audience on March 8, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
Released as Podcast on March 23, 2026
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• Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes
• Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes
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• Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes
• Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes
• Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes

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