Torah Portion: Bo
For seven days, leaven may not be found in your houses (Shemos 12:19).
It is a negative commandment that chametz not be found in our possession at any time during the seven days of Passover, as is written, For seven days, leaven may not be found in your houses. Our Sages explain that the words, “in your houses” is not literal, as anyone who has chametz in his possession transgresses this prohibition. Also, although the Torah writes “leaven,” which is the agent that causes dough to rise, it is not limited to just that form; rather, the same prohibition applies to all forms of chametz (i.e., leavened food in general).
Among the roots of this commandment: So that we remember forever the miracles that were done for us during the Exodus from Egypt, as written with regard to the Pesach offering. And so that we remember what happened to us in this matter; that because of the haste of leaving Egypt we baked the dough unleavened—since they could not wait until it would rise—as is written, They baked the dough that they took out of Egypt into unleavened cakes, for they could not be leavened, for they were driven from Egypt for they could not delay, nor had they made provisions for themselves (Shemos 12:39).
This commandment applies to both men and women, in all places and at all times. One who transgress this commandment and intentionally kept chametz in his possession violates two negative commandments: leaven may not be foundand, no chametz may be seen in your possession (ibid. 13:7).
