Israel
Rivlin sells his Chometz in run-up to Pesach
In the run up to Pesach, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin carried out the deeply symbolic and religious ritual of selling of leavened goods ahead of Pesach on Sunday. He is pictured with the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
ANT KATZ
In the brief ceremony, the President appointed Chief Rabbi Amar to act as an emissary of the President in selling all goods not suitable for Passover to a non-Jewish person before the beginning of the festival.
The same ritual is happening around the Jewish world this week.
RIGHT: Rivlin with director general of the President’s Office, Harel Tubi, appointed Chief Rabbi Amar to sell all Chometz which may be found in the offices of the President, and in the halls and meeting rooms.
While Jewish law famously forbids the consumption of bread during Pesach (unleavened Matza is eaten instead), according to Jewish tradition, throughout the holiday ownership of any leavened goods (known as Chometz) is not permitted.
Therefore, homes, offices, and public buildings are cleaned and all goods not suitable for Pesach are removed and sold to avoid any ownership or benefit that could be had from the Chometz over the festival.
This year Pesach begins on Friday night 22 April, when the Seder meal is eaten, and the story of the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt is retold.
The especially religious days of the eight-day festival are from Friday evening to Sunday evening, and then again from Thursday evening next week to Saturday evening.