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Is viewing pictures of Chometz allowed on Pesach? To be more specific this would be in reference to an article or event.

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  • AJ, Welcome to mi.yodeya, and thanks for the interesting question! I like your pic. Chag Sameach Vekasher.
    – Isaac Moses ♦
    Mar 29, 2010 at 20:55
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    And what about smelling chometz? there seems to be much more of a problem with deriving benefit in that case.
    – Jeremy
    Apr 1, 2010 at 15:28
  • If I recall correctly, the Mishna Brurah advises against sniffing any non-kosher food -- why tempt yourself? As for "deriving benefit", the Talmud concludes that sound and light aren't "tangible benefits", but smell is. I don't know how that works vis-a-vis chometz.
    – Shalom
    Apr 1, 2010 at 18:04

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Absolutely not assur. In fact seeing actual chometz is not assur either.

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    Right; the obligation is "no chometz shall be seen in your possession"; this isn't about seeing chometz; it's about owning it. Common misconception.
    – Shalom
    Apr 1, 2010 at 18:02
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The difference between viewing chometz and smelling chometz is whether you get a benefit from it or not. As people, in general, don't get a benefit of seeing a picture of a loaf of bread, this should not be a problem. On the other hand, there IS a concept of getting a benefit from smelling (for example, making a blessing on the spices during havdalah and taking a whiff). If you happen to pass by a bakery by accident (or there is no other alternative than passing said bakery on the way to home or shul) and you get a whiff of bread, there shouldn't be a problem. But if you walk to a bakery to take in the smells, you might be violating a rabbinical ruling, in that you're getting a benefit from smelling bread on Pesach.

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    Barry Hammer, hello and welcome to Judaism.SE! Thanks for contributing your recent streak of halacha-related contributions. See you around.
    – WAF
    Nov 28, 2011 at 13:47
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    Thanks! I'm glad I'm able to contribue to something where I actually have some knowledge I can bring to the table ;)
    – Barry Hammer
    Nov 28, 2011 at 14:09
  • +1. This matches what I've heard from in the name of some t'shuva book or other (I forget which), but citations are always useful.
    – msh210 ♦
    Nov 28, 2011 at 15:51

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