Torah Portion: Bo
By the first day, you must have your homes cleared of all leaven (Shemos 12:15).
It is a positive mitzvah to clear all leavened food from our dwellings on the day of the fourteenth of Nissan, as is written, By the first day, you must have your homes cleared of all leaven. “By the first day” means “prior to Passover”; meaning, the day before the seven days of Passover.
Among the roots of this commandment: So that we remember the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt, as written with regard to the Pesach offering.
This commandment applies in all places and at all times, to both men and women. One who transgress this commandment and did not clear away all his leavened items violates this positive commandment. One who owns chametzalso transgresses the negative commandment of, no leaven may be found in your homes (ibid. v.19)
