A Jerusalem grocer burned his entire stock after forgetting to sell his Chametz to a non-Jew before Passover, racking up enormous losses.
The custom of selling chametz allows Jews to fulfill the religious obligations of the holiday and not have chametz in their possession while at the same time not taking a critical financial loss.
The sale contract stipulates that if the purchaser does not pay the balance by the end of Passover the ownership reverts back to the original owner, in a scenario that is agreed upon by both sides.
Gavriel, who owned the store in Jerusalem, said that he forgot to sell his Chametz due to the absence of his brother, who had been responsible for the sale for many years. After consulting with his rabbi, he was told that he had no recourse other than to burn everything he owned.
“I worked almost continuously to clean until the holiday came clean and I did not have time to think about the extra task that I had this year. During the holiday, my Rabbi came to me and asked me why I did not come to sell chametz this year. Then I remembered that I had actually forgotten to sell the chametz,” recounted Gavriel.
“We took out the Chametz and completely burned it. I was left with a loss of NIS 50,000 but Jewish law is Jewish law,” he continued.
Gavriel told the Kol Berama radio that he hoped that his actions, which he called “a sanctification of Gods name”, would make up for his monumental financial loss. “This was a sanctification of Gods name here and I hope that God will make up my loss from someplace else. I don’t regret it,” he said.
718-594-2765
Please send a text to this number with the words “reminder to sell”and I’ll add you for a list for next year.p to remind you to sell.
unfortunately I went through the same experience once forgot to sell and came home and threw out everything I was told later On there was no need for that being that when the Rabbi sells he sells with everyone in mind just in case such a situation occurs
In the sale of chometz agreement, it says “and anywhere else” especially for those who forget to mention. Why burn it?
Can’t just make it “hefker”. It’s assur d’rabbanan to eat or benefit from chometz owned by a Yid on pesach. As for when the rov sells on behalf of others. Really one needs to do it themselves. Some rabbonim will sell on behalf of individuals. I don’t believe that includes whole businesses though. That gets much more complicated. For an individual, sure you’re renting them the space and if the goy wants to take some or buy it later they certainly can. For an operating business though, if they buy it, they’re running in, getting the profits, etc.. can’t just… Read more »
This is truly admirable, and shows tremendous faith in Hashem from the store owner. However, I can’t help but think of the tremendous Baal Tashchis and waste here. Was there no loophole, to even donate it to non-Jews, or something? (I guess not, since he asked a Rav! Just a shame to see so much food go to waste, where there are places in the world where people barely have food).
#4 it’s a great story. However very different. There he poured it out before pesach. One cannot keep chometz in his reshus during pesach.
#6. I think the rov is a great lamdan. Not sure your lamdonus and what you referring to and if it actually works.
What this guy did is a huge thing he lost thousands of dollars
Any way to help him out
This Yid reached the level of uvchol meodecha! A level of mesiras nefesb our grandparents were forced to live with on a regular basis back in the old country… wherever that old country may be. This is one article I want to share with my grandchildren, to teach them what self-sacrifice is. We should be proud that we don’t eat gebrocts or store bought nosh on pesach, it’s only a little mesiras nefesh to show our love of our Torah and minchagim. So, since after a fire comes great wealth,, may this Yid and his family be blessed with great… Read more »
May be this is what he had to do by halacha but I violently disagree that this is “sanctification of Gods name” and if need to be done has to be done in quite. In my opinion, food destruction (I dont mean symbolic amounts at biur hometz) is a MAJOR HILLUL HASHEM.
Just curious, could he just gave it away to non-Jew? Follow up question – can you really disowne something during past time ownership?
You can check with a rov, but owning kitniyos on Pesach is ok
In fact, this year in Israel, bec isru chag was shabbos, one cannot buy back the chometz, but many ppl (Ashkenazim) enjoyed kitniyos
Leaven that was in a Jews’ possession during Pesach cannot profit him in any way, even the pleasure of giving it away.
I Once forgot To sell my chometz It was at the end of the day Erev Pesach i came to reb Zalmen shimon He told me I shouldn’t worry because he really sells the fchometz For all members of the community even for those Who forgot to come to him
You left it where? When you sell your chometz, you sell all the chometz in your house. Where were these packages? Not in your house?
how does one ‘forget’ to sell their chometz?
kitnios isnt chametz, one may own it on pesach
I can’t express how much I respect this guy, and I wish him all the brachos, may hashem bless him with much success!
I do wonder if hefsed merubah has any place in this discussion, and if so did the rav care to take this into account.
Could he not have just made Hefker? Whole think Doesnt sound right… usually lots of precautions are taken and over the years lots of Heterim discovered…
To #3, no it is forbidden to derive any benefit from it, which obviously includes selling or giving as a gift..
To #7, ask your local orthadox rabbi.
Chamets thatvbelonged to a jew over pesach is assur behanaah completely
This is what I call real yiras shamyim and a yid that can be trusted! If he was a shochet I would buy from him!
If he was a chef I wouldnt question his kashrus
May we all have such strength in our yidishkeit and deep trust in Hashem
Email arutz sheva where the story originally appeared.
But here in Israel, the Chief Rabbis sell all the chametz in the country to the Mayor of Abu Gosh, a Muslim – not Arab- village just outside Jerusalem. Isn’t that supposed to cover anyone inadvertently forgetting to sell?
Kitniyos is not sold with the chometz.
But I guess you have to know if it wos free of all chometz. Time to check with your orthodox Rabbi
I don’t know how to do it but can someone set up an account where people can make contributions to help him cover his loss. Please post details. Thanks
I forgot, still had time ti do a bitull. simply had to throw it all out.
By the way, we left a packet of frozen peas and corn not sold. I was wondering if you can eat kitniyos after Ppesach that was not sold before pesach?
Yet Hashem cares about Yiddens money. Most Rabbonim, at least Chabad, stipulate in their Mechirat Chametz that they are also including all the Chametz of the previous year. Was this indeed not the case? Was the Rabbi who answered this man a Poshuteh Yid and not so much a lamdan. Chaval to see such a loss of money which maybe wasn’t necessary
Mr Gavriel the Grocer is a pure Jew and the Kiddush Shem Shamayim he caused is truly inspiring.
I’m sure it was not easy for him to burn his stock but his Emunah p’shuta made him do the right thing.
Chazak !
Of the Yid who owned a kretchme and the local galach convinced everyone not to buy his mashke… He ended spilling it all out after Pesach. I think the end of the story was that he was bentched with a baby boy after being childless…. Something like that.
Can it be sold to a goy?
Your mitzvah is so special to me.