(3) Hametz Removal – On Pesach we keep our building free from hametz. Hametz means any of the five grains — wheat, oats, barley, spelt, and rye — which are not already in a product labeled specifically kosher for Passover. Any of those grains on their own or listed as an ingredient in a product not specifically certified as kosher for Passover needs to be removed before Pesach and should not be brought into the building until after the holiday is over. In addition to bread, this includes pasta, crackers, or cookies not explicitly marked kosher for Passover, as well as beer, whiskey, or any other alcohol made from grain. During Pesach the wine brought into the building should be labeled kosher for Passover. Products with hametz should either be removed from the building or placed in our freezer. Before the start of the holiday, we will tape up our freezer and label it as hametz. It shouldn’t be opened until after the holiday is complete.
Kitniyot are foods which are not hametz but which were historically avoided by Ashkenazi Jews during Pesach. These include rice, millet, beans, peas, soybeans and corn, as well as any products made from them (e.g. tofu or hummus). At this point, many Ashkenazi Jews eat kitniyot. In any case, even among Jews who avoid them, there is no prohibition against owning them, so they do not need to be removed from our kitchen. However, when preparing food during Pesach, anything which contains kitniyot should be labeled as such, so that our members who do not eat kitnoyot can avoid them.
