Pesachim 6 - November 27, 11 Kislev

Today’s daf is dedicated by Sara Berelowitz "in honor of Rabbanit Michelle and my fellow zoomers on the milestone of finishing Eruvin and starting a new masechet." The end of Pesachim 5 focuses on a simple contradiction in the braita related to chametz. The phrase “lo yimatze” (Exodus 12:19) seems to say that anyone’s chametz cannot be found in your property. But the earlier part of the braita says “your own chametz cannot be found,” implying that other’s chametz is not a problem. The gemara’s solution to this differentiates between property which you accepted liability for (achriyut) and that which you did not accept liability. From here, the gemara discusses a principle known as “davar hagorem le-mamon” and discusses responsibility to rid oneself of chametz which the local authorities might make a claim on as part of a tax. Is there a distinction between laws of first born animals and laws of hafrashat challa regarding items taxed by gentile authorities?  From here, the gemara asks a series of very practical questions: Would you be liable if a non Jew walked into your house on Pesach with a sandwich? What about if I designated for the non Jew a room in which to put her chametz? Must I do bedikat chametz if I’m going away for pesach? What if I plan to return home just before Pesach? And what happens if I find chametz on Pesach? Key to the gemara's questions is the “thirty day threshold” which says that there are some distinctions if a person leaves thirty days or more before pesach. From here we learn that one is supposed to study the laws of Pesach (and maybe other holidays as well) 30 days before their onset. Finally, the gemara addresses the relationship between bedikat chametz and bitul chametz and asks the question when does one nullify the chametz after one has searched for it.