Sale of Chametz Form

Rather than eat all one's Chametz or burn it before Pesach, it is possible to sell the Chametz in your house to a non-Jew. If he so wishes, he is entitled to come and collect it; and were this to happen, you would be amply recompensed after Yom Tov. Normally, all the community's Chametz will be sold centrally.

All Chametz should be set aside in a marked box or cupboard - and sealed to prevent access until after Pesach. The Rabbi should then be authorised to act for you and sell the Chametz. This is most easily achieved by completing and returning the form below. During Pesach, the Chametz will belong to a non-Jew and for you to use it would be an act of theft. If it has not been claimed, then the Chametz reverts to you (and the non-Jew is given back his deposit).

Though it is seen as a legal fiction, the sale of Chametz is of halachic importance. The prohibition on owning Chametz over Pesach is very severe and there is a Rabbinic ban on eating Chametz after Pesach, which had been owned in violation of the festival (Chametz She'avar Alayv HaPesach). The sale of Chametz (Mechirat Chametz) is an easy and effective way of dealing with one's stocks of dried pasta, whisky, packet soups etc.

DELEGATION OF POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SALE OF CHAMETZ

I, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Jack Engel and / or Shai Kiel to act in my place and stead, and in my behalf to sell all CHAMETZ possessed by me (knowingly or unknowingly) defined as claimed by The Torah and Rabbinic Law (e.g. Chametz, questionable Chametz, and all kinds of Chametz mixtures), as well as Chametz that tends to harden and to adhere to a surface of inside of pans, pots and cooking and usable utensils, and all kinds of live animals that have been eating Chametz or mixtures thereof, and to lease all places wherein the Chametz owned by me may be found, especially in the premises indicated below and elsewhere. Rabbi Jack Engel and / or Shai Kiel has the full right to sell and to lease by transactions, as he deems fit and proper and for such time which he believes necessary in accordance with all terms detailed in the general authorization contract which is in the possession of Rabbi Jack Engel and / or Shai Kiel authorizing him to sell Chametz; on behalf of others. I hereby give the said Rabbi Jack Engel and / or Shai Kiel full power and authority to appoint a substitute in his stead with full power to sell and lease as provided herein. The above given power is in conformity with all Torah, Rabbinical regulations and laws, and also in accordance with the laws of the New Zealand.