Best of: Mishnah Pesachim

(1) On the evening of the fourteenth [of Nissan] we check for chamets [leavened grain products] by candlelight. Any place into which we do not bring chamets does not require checking. And why did [the Sages] say [that we must check up to] two rows in the wine cellar? [It is] a place which we bring leavened bread into. Beit Shammai says, "Two rows upon the entire wine-cellar." But Beit Hillel says, "The two outer rows, which are the uppermost."

(2) We do not need to be concerned [that] perhaps a weasel dragged [chamets] from [one] house to [another] house, or from [one] place to [another] place. Since if [we were to be concerned, we would also need to be concerned that chamets was dragged] from [one] courtyard to [another] courtyard, and from [one] city to [another] city — there [would be] no end to the matter.

(2) If there exists chamets of a gentile, which [was in existence] during Pesach, it is permitted to benefit from it [after Pesach]; but [if it were] of an Israelite, it is forbidden to benefit from it [after Pesach], as it is stated (Exodus 13:7), "And there shall not be seen any leaven to you."

(7) We may not soak bran for chickens [on Pesach]; but we may scald it. A woman may not soak the bran which she takes with her to the bathhouse, but may rub it on her body [when it is] dry. One may not chew [grains of] wheat and place them [as a salve] on his wound, because they will become leavened.

(1) [With] these items [we] would be transgressing on Pesach [since they are considered chamets]: Babylonian ‏kutach [a type of bread pudding], Median beer, Edomite vinegar, Egyptian ale, bran water [used by] dyers, working dough [used by] cooks, and glue [used by] scribes; Rabbi Eliezer says, "Also the adornments [used by] women." This is the general rule: whatever is [made] from a type of grain [and is leavened], behold [with] this, [one] transgresses on Pesach; behold these [incur the penalty attached to the transgression of] an admonitory precept, but they do not [bring about] karet [Divinely imposed punishment consisting in severance from Heaven and/or the Jewish people‎].

(4) Rabban Gamliel says, "Three women may knead [their dough] at once, and bake it in the same oven, one after the other [on Pesach]." But the Sages say, "Three women may occupy themselves with their dough [at once, but in the following manner:] one kneads [it], one fashions [it] and one bakes [it];" Rabbi Akiva says, "Not all women, and not all wood, and not all ovens are the same. This is the general rule: if [the dough] becomes inflated, she pounds [it] with cold [water]."

(7) If one is walking to go and slaughter his Pesach sacrifice, [or] to circumcise his son, [or] to attend a betrothal meal at the home of his father-in-law, and he remembers that he has chamets in his home; if he can return, destroy [it], and return to his mitzva, he should return and destroy [it]; and if not, he must annul it in his heart. [If one is walking to go and] save [people] from armed foes, or from the [flooding of a] river, or from robbers, or from fire, or from the collapse of ruined buildings, he must annul [the chamets] in his heart; and if [he is walking to go and] set up his optional Shabbat rest [so as to allow for himself a different area within which he may walk on Shabbat], he must return immediately [to destroy his chamets.

(1) [In] a place where [the inhabitants] were accustomed to do work on the eve of Pesach until noon, we may do [so]; [in] a place where [the inhabitants] were accustomed not to do [so], we may not do [so]. One who goes from a place where they do [work], to a place where they do not do [work], or from a place where they do not do [work] to a place where they do [work], we place upon him the stringencies of the place he came from, [or] the stringencies of the place that he went to. And a man should not deviate [from the established customs of a place], on account of [the] disagreement [to which such conduct may lead].

(5) [In] a place where [the inhabitants] were accustomed to do work on Tisha Be'Av, we may do [work; in] a place where [the inhabitants] were accustomed not to do work, we may not do [work]. And in all places, Torah scholars must abstain [from work thereon]; Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, says, "Truly, every one should make himself [in this respect] a Torah scholar." And the Sages say, "In Yehuda, they would do work on the eve of Pesach until noon; and in the Galilee they did not work at all [on that day]." And [with respect to] the evening [of the fourteenth of Nissan in places like the Galilee], Beit Shammai forbids [work], but Beit Hillel permits [it] until the sunrise.

(6) Rabbi Meir says, "All work which one had started prior to the fourteenth [of Nissan], he may finish on the fourteenth; but he may not start work on the fourteenth to begin with, even though he can finish it [thereon]. And the Sages say, "Three [types of craftsmen] may do work on the eve of Pesach until noon and they are: tailors, barbers, and launderers;" Rabbi Yose ben Yehuda says, "Even the [shoe] strap-makers [may do so]."

(7) We may not slaughter a Pesach sacrifice for a single individual - so says Rabbi Yehuda. But Rabbi Yose permits [it]. We may not slaughter [a Passover sacrifice, even] for a company of a hundred [individuals], if [none of them] are able to eat a kazayit. Neither may a company to eat it be formed of women, slaves and minors [only].