Full Passover (Pesach) Household Prep Guide

PASSOVER CHAMETZ REMOVAL CHECKLIST

Remove or Sell the Following Items:

A. Chametz Foods (Leavened Grain Products):

[ ] Bread, bagels, pita, rolls

[ ] Pasta, noodles

[ ] Crackers, cookies, cakes, cereal

[ ] Beer, whiskey, vodka (grain-based)

[ ] Flour (not labeled Kosher for Passover)

[ ] Breadcrumbs, croutons

[ ] Soups/sauces with flour or chametz thickeners

[ ] Baking mixes (pancake, cake, etc.)

B. Leavening Agents:

[ ] Sourdough starter

[ ] Brewer’s yeast

[ ] Dry yeast (unless Kosher for Passover)

[ ] Beer sediment or brewing kits

[ ] Fermented grain drinks (e.g. kvass)

C. Areas to Clean:

[ ] Toaster (remove crumbs)

[ ] Breadbox

[ ] Pantry shelves

[ ] Refrigerator and freezer

[ ] Kitchen drawers and counters

[ ] Chametz utensils/pots (store or kasher if needed)

What to Do with Chametz:

[ ] Burn or destroy chametz before Passove

[ ] Sell chametz through a rabbi or online service

[ ] Seal and label sold chametz clearly: “Sold – Do Not Open”

This guide combines a comprehensive household chametz checklist with a leavening agent cheat sheet to help you prepare your home for Passover according to halacha (Jewish law).

1. Food Items

Item | Chametz? | What to Do

Bread, crackers, pasta | Yes | Destroy or sell before Passover

Flour (wheat, barley, etc.) | Yes | Destroy or sell

Oats | Yes | Destroy or sell

Beer, whiskey, vodka | Yes | Sell if valuable, or destroy

Soy sauce | Usually | Avoid or sell

Cereal | Usually | Destroy or sell

White vinegar | Maybe | Avoid unless certified Kosher for Passover

Apple cider vinegar | Maybe | Avoid unless certified KFP

Wine | No | (KFP) Use only if Kosher for Passover

Coffee, tea (plain) | No | OK if unflavored and certified KFP (best)

Spices | Maybe | Use only with KFP certification

Sugar, salt, pepper | No | OK if pure and without additives

Honey, oil | No | Use only if KFP certified

Baking soda (bicarb) | No | Keep — safe for Passover use

Baking powder | Maybe | Use only if KFP certified

Nutritional yeast | No | Keep or use KFP-certified version

Vinegar-based sauces | Usually | Sell or destroy

Chocolate, candy, gummies | Usually| Avoid unless KFP certified

Keto/health snacks | Usually | Avoid or sell unless certified

2. Cleaning Products

Item | Chametz? | What to Do

Dish soap | No | Keep

Laundry detergent | No | Keep

Bleach, ammonia | No | Keep

Window cleaner | No | Keep

Surface sprays | No | Keep

Vinegar-based cleaners | No | Keep (not for food use)

3. Personal Care / Medicine

Item | Chametz? | What to Do

Toothpaste | Maybe |  Replace with KFP version if possible

Mouthwash  | Maybe | Replace or avoid

Shampoo, soap | No | Keep

Lotion, cosmetics | No | Keep unless flavored

Lip balm/lipstick  | Maybe | Replace with KFP if flavored

Vitamins, supplements  | Maybe | Replace with KFP or check ingredients

OTC meds (tablets)  | Maybe | Consult rabbi or approved list

Prescription meds | Allowed | Use — health takes priority

4. Kitchen & Cooking Tools

Item | Chametz? | What to Do

Toaster, toaster oven  | Yes | Clean thoroughly or don’t use on Pesach

Baking sheets, pans  | Yes | Kasher if possible or set aside

Dish sponge  | Maybe | Replace with a new one

Plasticware (new) | No | Use freely

Aluminum foil, paper towels | No | Use freely

Cutting boards  | Yes | Kasher or set aside

5. Leavening Agent Cheat Sheet

Leavening Agent | Chametz? | Notes

Sourdough Starter  | Yes | Made from grain + water, actively ferments

Baker's Yeast  | Maybe | Needs KFP due to grain-based growth

Brewer’s Yeast  | Yes | From beer production (grain) — chametz

Dry Yeast (instant/active)  | Maybe | Often needs KFP certification

Nutritional Yeast | No | Deactivated, not from grain — safe

Baking Soda | No | Mineral, chemical leavening — safe

Baking Powder  | Maybe | May contain starch — needs KFP

Cream of Tartar | No | Byproduct of wine — safe

Ammonium Bicarbonate | No | Chemical — not chametz

Carbonated Water | No | Gas-based — not chametz

Self-rising Flour  | Yes | Contains wheat + leavening — chametz

Soda Bread Mix  | Yes | Contains chametz — avoid

Item,Chametz?,Kitniyot?,Ashkenazi Status,Sephardi Status

Wheat,Yes,No,Forbidden,Forbidden

Barley,Yes,No,Forbidden,Forbidden

Rye,Yes,No,Forbidden,Forbidden

Oats,Yes,No,Forbidden,Forbidden

Spelt,Yes,No,Forbidden,Forbidden

Rice (white/brown),No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Corn,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Cornstarch,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Lentils,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Beans,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Soy,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Peas,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Millet,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Mustard seeds,No,Yes,Avoid,Permitted

Couscous,Yes,No,Forbidden,Forbidden

Where Jesus Preached

The Synagogue of Capernaum: A Comparative Study of Ancient Structures

Introduction: The Synagogue of Capernaum

The synagogue at Capernaum, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, is a remarkable structure from the Iron Age that continues to captivate historians and architects alike. Built during the first century CE, this ancient place of worship stands as a testament to early Jewish architectural ingenuity and design. Its limestone foundation and rectangular layout offer a glimpse into the architectural practices of the time.

In this post, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of the Capernaum synagogue's structure, comparing it with other notable ancient constructions: Western Hillforts, Scots Brochs, and Britton Roundhouses.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Synagogue at Capernaum

The synagogue at Capernaum is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Israel. The structure features a large, rectangular layout, built with carefully dressed limestone. Here are some of the pros and cons of this ancient structure.

• Pros:
  • Durable Materials: The use of locally sourced limestone ensured a durable and long-lasting structure, resistant to the wear of time.
  • Spacious Interior: With its large, open interior, the synagogue could accommodate large numbers of people, reflecting its role as a community gathering place for worship and discussion.
  • Cultural and Religious Significance: The synagogue’s design is deeply rooted in Jewish traditions, emphasizing the importance of prayer and community gatherings.
• Cons:
  • Vulnerability to Environmental Factors: As a stone structure, it could be vulnerable to weathering over time, particularly during periods of neglect or extreme environmental conditions.
  • Lack of Defensive Features: Unlike other Iron Age structures designed for defense, the synagogue at Capernaum was purely for worship and community use, lacking any fortifications.

Western Hillforts, Scots Brochs, and Britton Roundhouses

Now, let’s compare the synagogue at Capernaum with other ancient structures known for their defensive and domestic purposes. These include Western Hillforts, Scots Brochs, and Britton Roundhouses. Each of these structures has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

Western Hillforts

Western Hillforts, found in prehistoric Europe, were typically constructed atop hills to offer natural defensive advantages. The fortifications consisted of strong walls, sometimes made of stone or wood, along with ditches and palisades.

• Pros:
  • Strategic Location: The elevated positions provided excellent vantage points for spotting enemies.
  • Defensive Strength: The thick walls and ditches offered protection from invaders, making them ideal for settlements in hostile environments.
• Cons:
  • Isolation: While offering protection, hillforts could be difficult to access, leading to isolation from other communities.
  • Resource-Intensive Construction: The construction of such strong fortifications required significant resources and labor.

Scots Brochs

Scots Brochs were unique round stone towers built in Scotland during the Iron Age. These structures were often multi-storied and served both defensive and domestic purposes.

• Pros:
  • Defensive Capabilities: The tall, thick walls provided significant protection against invaders and the harsh Scottish climate.
  • Multi-functional: Brochs could serve as homes, storage spaces, and places of refuge during times of conflict.
• Cons:
  • Complex Design: Building brochs was labor-intensive due to their complexity and the need for skilled stonemasonry.
  • Limited Space: The interior of a broch was relatively small and could only house a limited number of people, making it less ideal for large communities.

Britton Roundhouses

Britton Roundhouses were common throughout Britain during the Iron Age. These structures were typically made of wattle and daub with thatched roofs, built in circular shapes.

• Pros:
  • Efficient Use of Local Materials: Roundhouses were made from locally sourced wood and clay, making them relatively inexpensive and efficient to build.
  • Versatility: The round shape allowed for efficient space usage and flexibility in terms of interior design.
• Cons:
  • Limited Durability: The materials used in roundhouses, such as wattle and daub, were less durable than stone, making them susceptible to weathering and decay over time.
  • Vulnerability: Without defensive fortifications, these structures were vulnerable to attack from raiders or rival tribes.

Conclusion

Each of these ancient structures—the Synagogue at Capernaum, Western Hillforts, Scots Brochs, and Britton Roundhouses—offers unique insights into the architectural practices and needs of their respective cultures. While the synagogue stands out for its religious and communal significance, the other structures emphasize defensive capabilities and domestic use. The choice of materials, layout, and function all played crucial roles in shaping how these ancient communities lived and thrived.

Whether it’s the durability of stone or the adaptability of wooden roundhouses, the comparison between these structures illustrates the diverse approaches to architecture that catered to different needs—whether for defense, community, or worship.

AI Accreditation: This blog post was generated with the assistance of AI technology. All content is crafted by an AI model designed to assist with research and writing tasks, providing a comprehensive and informative comparison of ancient architectural structures.

THE STORY OF PURIM

The Woman Stoned In The Act Of Adultery

RE: THE MARGINAL COMMENT FOUND LEFT BY EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA IN THE GREEK SEPTUAGINT.

JOHN (YOHANAN) 53-8:11

53fn[[They went each to his own house,

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman, (Yeshua) who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst

4 they said to him, “TEACHER, this woman, (Yeshuah)  has been caught in the act of adultery.

5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. EMMANUEL bent down and WROTE WITH HIS FINGER on the ground.

7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

9 But when they heard it, they went AWAY one by one, beginning with the older ones, and EMMANUEL YAHUSHUAH was Left Alone with the woman standing before him.

10 EMMANUEL stood up and said to her, “Woman, (Yeshua) where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, MASTER.” And EMMANUEL YAHUSHUAH said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

...

12 Again EMMANUEL spoke to them, saying, “I AM the LIGHT of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in Darkness, but will have the LIGHT of LIFE ”

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not TRUE.”

14 EMMANUEL, YAHUSHUAH, answered, “Even if I do bear Witness about myself, my testimony is TRUE, for I KNOW where I came from and where I AM going, but you do not KNOW where I come from or where I AM going.

15 You judge according to the Flesh, I judge no one.

16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is TRUE, for it is NOT I alone who JUDGE, but I AND THE FATHER THAT SENT me.

17 In your LAW it is WRITTEN that the testimony of TWO people is TRUE.

18 I AM the One who Bears Witness about myself, and the FATHER who SENT me Bears WITNESS About Me.”

19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your FATHER?” Yahushuah, EMMANUEL, answered, “You KNOW neither ME nor MY FATHER. IF you KNEW Me, you would KNOW my FATHER ALSO.”

20 These WORDS HE SPOKE IN THE TREASURY, as he TAUGHT in the TEMPLE; but no one arrested him, because HIS Hour had not yet come.

21 So he said to them again, “I AM Going Away, And You Will SEEK ME, and [or] You Will Die In Your Sin. Where I AM Going, You  Cannot Come.”

22 So the Yehudim said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where 'I AM' going, you cannot come’?”

23 He said to them, “You are from below; "I AM from Above." You are of this world;  "I AM" NOT OF THIS WORLD." [Intercessory]

24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that [IOTA] "I AM" HE You Will Die In Your Sins.”

25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus/YEHOSHUO  said to them, “Just What I [IOTA] Have Been Telling you From The Beginning.

26 I have much to say about you and much to JUDGE, but HE who sent me is TRUE, and I declare to the world What I Have Heard From HIM.”

27 They did not understand that he Had Been Speaking To Them About The FATHER.

28 So Jesus/Yahushuah said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that "I AM" He, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but SPEAK JUST AS THE FATHER TAUGHT  me.

29 And he who SENT me is with me. He Has Not Left Me Alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

30 As he was saying these things, many believed iN him.

31 So Jesus/Yahoshuo|Yehushuo EMMANUEL {emanuah - emmiyah} said to the Jews, who had believed him, “If you ABIDE IN MY WORD, you are TRULY my Disciples,

32 and you will know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become FREE?”

34 YESHUATI/Jesus answered them, “TRULY, TRULY I say to you, everyone who practices Sin is a Slave to sin.

35 The SLAVE DOES NOT REMAIN in the house forever; the son remains forever.

36 So if the SON sets you FREE, you will be FREE indeed.

37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to Kill me because my WORD finds no place in you.

38 I Speak Of What I Have Seen With My FATHER, and you do what you have Heard from your father.”

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Yahoshuo|Yehushuo said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be DOING the WORKS Abraham DID,

40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the TRUTH that I heard from G-d. This is not what Abraham did.

41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even G-d.”

42 YESHUA said to them, “If ALEIM were your FATHER, you would LOVE me, for I came from God, ELOHIM, and I AM here. I came not of my OWN Accord, but HE SENT me.

43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to HEAR MY WORD.

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s DESIRES.  He was a murderer from the Beginning, and Does NOT Stand IN THE TRUTH, because there is NO TRUTH in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his OWN CHARACTER, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

45 But because I tell the TRUTH, you do not BELIEVE me.

46 Which one of you convicts Me of SIN? If I tell the TRUTH, why do you not belIEVE me?

47 Whoever is of God, HEARS THE  WORDS OF ELOHIM. The reason why you do not HEAR them is that you are not of ALEIM.”

48 The Yehudim answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

49 Yeshuo answered, “I do not have a demon, but I HONOR MY FATHER, and you Dishonor Me.

50 Yet I DO NOT SEEK MY OWN GLORY; there is One who seeks it, and HE IS THE JUDGE.

51TRULY, Truly, I say to you, if anyone KEEPS MY WORD, he will never SEE death.”

52 The Yehudim said to him, “Now we KNOW that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my WORD, he will never taste death.’

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”

54 Yeshuo answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies, [magnifies] me, of whom you say, ‘HE is OUR ALUIEM.’

55 But you have not KNOWN him. I KNOW him. If I were to say that I do not KNOW him, I would be a liar like you, but I do KNOW him and I KEEP HIS WORD.

56 Your father Abraham REJOICED that he would SEE my day. He SAW it and was glad.”

57 So the Yehudim said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”

58 Yeshuo said to them, “TRULY, TRULY I say to you, before Abraham [there] was, "I AM.”"
(Exo. 3:14)

59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Yeshuo hid himself and went out of the Temple.

TLV BibleGateway.org