As we busy ourselves cleaning our homes—and ourselves—for Pesach, we search both outside and inside for any chametz we may need to remove. The halacha teaches, “Chametz she’eino birshuso eino tzarich bedikah”—chametz that is not in your jurisdiction does not need to be searched for. In other words, I am meant to look for the chametz in my house—in myself—but I am not meant to enter your house to look for yours.
The Kozhnitzer Maggid explains that this halacha reminds us to take seriously the avodah of searching for our own chametz—our own shortcomings and places that need work—without allowing that avodah to turn us into critics of others. I need to find my chametz; I do not need to find yours.
Seen through the lens of nekudah tovah, this halacha invites a deeper posture of positivity and gratitude. Thank You, Hashem, for reminding me that my work is inward, and that my task with others is not judgment but faith. Perhaps the greatest cleansing of chametz I can offer—to myself and to those around me—is to look at every Jew with trust, to notice their good, and to believe that each person is doing their best to deal with whatever chametz they carry.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 75.
