Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is leavened food removed from Jewish homes before Passover?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Circular diagram of the Jewish religious year showing Hebrew months around the outer ring and Gregorian months inside, with major holidays and fasts such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Passover, and Purim labeled with their dates. — Jewish religious year The months and holidays of the Jewish religious year.

Leavened food, known as chametz, is removed from Jewish homes before Passover to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt. According to the biblical narrative, the Israelites were forced to flee Egypt so hastily that their bread dough did not have time to ferment or rise.1234

In accordance with the divine ordinance established in the Book of Exodus, Jews are prohibited from eating or possessing leaven throughout the duration of the festival. To fulfill this requirement, observant Jews engage in a thorough cleaning process to remove all traces of leavened grain products—including bread, wheat, rye, oats, barley, and spelt—from their homes. During this time, matzo (unleavened bread) is eaten as a symbolic reminder of both the suffering of the Hebrews in bondage and the urgency of their liberation.4213