[Avodah] Selling Chometz on Shabbos Erev Pesach

[Akiva Miller]

.
In a regular year, Erev Pesach (for those who sell their chometz) is rather
simple. For the early morning, we can do whatever we want with our chometz,
including eating it, and doing business with it. At a certain point, we
must stop eating it, and shortly thereafter, the rav sells all the
chometz that we've set aside to a non-Jew.

This year, the rav will obviously do this business with the non-Jew before
Shabbos; it is a regular business transaction, and all the papers must be
signed etc etc etc before Shabbos begins. But exactly when is this kinyan
chal? Exactly when is the ownership transferred, and when does the rental
of the storage space begin?

My point is this thread is to suggest that each person should check with
their rav to find out the answer. Perhaps there are ways to do all the
paperwork etc before Shabbos, yet have it not take effect until a certain
time on Shabbos morning. That would be very convenient. But if it all takes
effect on Erev Shabbos, then there are several practical ramifications that
people might not realize, especially for those who have reserved some
chometz to be eaten on Shabbos.

If the sale has already taken place on Erev Shabbos, then all my
chometz MUST be gotten rid of on Shabbos morning. If the challah was too
large for everyone to eat, I do not have the option of putting the
remainder with the chometz to be sold. The sale already took place, and
this chometz will remain mine. My only options are to eat it, or do some
other form of biur.

On the flip side, I also don't have the option of retrieving something from
the "chometz to be sold" area. In a normal year, if it is Erev Pesach
morning and there is an item in the "to be sold" area that I want to eat,
there's no problem eating it. But this year, if the sale already took place
on Erev Shabbos, then it is too late. Even entering that area would be a
violation of the rental agreement.

So if you're planning to sell your chometz this year, please ask your rav
when the sale takes effect. Or show me where my logic is mistaken.

Akiva Miller
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