From the Rav’s Desk: Feeding animals by a petting zoo

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  1. Question: [Tuesday, 17th Nissan, 5781]

Is there any issue with purchasing typical animal food that is set up to feed the birds and other animals at the petting zoo during Pesach?

Answer:

Absolutely! The animal/bird feed which is given to visitors by petting zoos is often made of Chametz ingredients, and hence unless verified otherwise, it is forbidden for one to feed this food to the animals, whether one purchases the pet food or is given it for free. Thus, one may not even pick up the food from the floor and throw it into the area of the animal for him to eat. It is proper for all parents to explain this to their children prior to entering the zoo.

Explanation: It is forbidden to own Chametz on Pesach and hence most certainly one may not purchase animal food that may contain Chametz. Furthermore, even if one does not purchase it and own it, it remains forbidden to feed it to an animal on Pesach due to the benefit prohibition.

Sources: Admur 443:3

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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