ב"ה
Friday, 28 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 8, 2024

Store Forgets to Sell Chometz

A Jerusalem grocer burned his entire stock after forgetting to sell his Chametz to a non-Jew before Pesach, racking up enormous losses. Full Story

Lakewood’s 11 Nissan Farbrengen

Next Story »

Blessing Among 10,000 Rare Trees

Subscribe
Notify of
35 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
How can we donate to him? Account number?
April 10, 2018 10:49 pm
Abba
April 9, 2018 11:12 pm

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.

Larry
April 9, 2018 12:26 pm

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

And anywhere else
April 9, 2018 11:37 am

In the sale of chometz agreement, it says “and anywhere else” especially for those who forget to mention. Why burn it?

Is there a paypal we can send him?
April 9, 2018 11:19 am
Continued strength and many berachos!
April 9, 2018 10:51 am

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 »

Very Admirable
April 9, 2018 9:54 am

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 & 6
April 9, 2018 9:36 am

#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.

To number 8
April 9, 2018 9:35 am

What this guy did is a huge thing he lost thousands of dollars

Amazing
April 9, 2018 9:32 am

Any way to help him out

If this is real
April 9, 2018 9:22 am

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 »

CHT
April 9, 2018 9:15 am

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?

To #7
April 9, 2018 9:13 am

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

To # 3
April 9, 2018 7:59 am

Leaven that was in a Jews’ possession during Pesach cannot profit him in any way, even the pleasure of giving it away.

מכירת חמץ
April 9, 2018 7:56 am

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

To #7
April 9, 2018 7:24 am

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?

wondering
April 9, 2018 7:23 am

how does one ‘forget’ to sell their chometz?

to #7
April 9, 2018 6:48 am

kitnios isnt chametz, one may own it on pesach

כל הכבוד
April 9, 2018 6:11 am

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.

Unlock store make Hefker, reclaim?
April 9, 2018 5:58 am

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 #s 3 & 7
April 9, 2018 5:45 am

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.

yo #3
April 9, 2018 3:09 am

Chamets thatvbelonged to a jew over pesach is assur behanaah completely

Yiras shamayim
April 9, 2018 2:04 am

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

To #9
April 9, 2018 1:10 am

Email arutz sheva where the story originally appeared.

WOW!!!
April 9, 2018 12:46 am

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?

to #7
April 9, 2018 12:04 am

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

Earn a share in this kidush Hashem
April 8, 2018 11:37 pm

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 did this
April 8, 2018 11:35 pm

I forgot, still had time ti do a bitull. simply had to throw it all out.

Amazing story
April 8, 2018 11:28 pm

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?

Amazing Kiddush Hashem
April 8, 2018 11:17 pm

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

Special
April 8, 2018 10:24 pm

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 !

Sounds like that story
April 8, 2018 10:18 pm

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.

Question
April 8, 2018 10:07 pm

Can it be sold to a goy?

Boruch Hashem!
April 8, 2018 9:51 pm

Your mitzvah is so special to me.

Is there any way we can help him?
April 8, 2018 9:40 pm
X