Shalom Aleichem. We are now learning Chapter Reish Chaf Vav, 226. The Rebbe addresses a sensitive and meaningful question: what should be done with shirayim—food received from the Rebbe—that may contain chametz as Pesach approaches?
On the one hand, there is a strong desire among Chassidim not to part with such items. On the other hand, the halacha is clear that one may not possess chametz on Pesach, due to bal yeira’eh u’bal yimatzei, and there is also a mitzvah of tashbisu, to remove it.
A story is brought about the Rebbe Rashab as a child, when the Tzemach Tzedek gave him candies and told him they came from the angel Michael. The child treasured them and held onto them. When Erev Pesach came and the children’s pockets were checked, the candies were found. He was then instructed to eat them.
This raises the question: why was he told to eat them? Seemingly, there could have been other halachic options—such as selling the chametz to a non-Jew or declaring it hefker. The Rebbe discusses these possibilities at length, analyzing whether such solutions would be valid in this context.
The Rebbe also emphasizes that the sale of chametz, as established by the Alter Rebbe, is a genuine and valid sale. Nevertheless, when it comes to shirayim, there is an additional sensitivity. The custom is not to sell such items to a non-Jew, nor to render them ownerless, as this would diminish their special significance.
Therefore, the accepted minhag is to consume the shirayim before Pesach. In this way, one fulfills the halachic requirement of removing chametz while also preserving the respect and connection associated with these items.
Summary
Although there are technical halachic options for dealing with chametz, the minhag regarding shirayim is to consume them before Pesach. This avoids giving them away or nullifying them, while ensuring full compliance with the laws of chametz.