Belittling or destroying crumbs of bread:^[1] [Having] crumbs of bread in a house can lead to poverty (if they are placed in an area where people step^[2]).^[3] Thus, one may not throw crumbs onto the floor in an area that people walk. [Accordingly, bakers are to be careful to sweep the crumbs from the floor each day after that days sales. The same applies for homeowners, that they are to be careful to sweep the crumbs from the floor at the end of the day.^[4] One must warn the workers at the home, as well as the children, of this issue.^[5]] However, it is permitted for one to destroy crumbs that are less than a Kezayis using one’s hands, such as to discard them [in an area that people do not walk, or] into water, and the like.^[6] [If, however, the crumbs are a Kezayis or more in size, then it may not be destroyed in any way.^[7] Furthermore, some Poskim^[8] rule that this applies even if the individual crumbs are less than a Kezayis but all together accumulate to a Kezayis in size. Furthermore, even crumbs that are less than a Kezayis in size, it is a Segula for good memory to eat them, and not destroy them or discard them.^[9]] On Erev Pesach it is permitted to throw the crumbs on the floor in an area that people walk in order so they get destroyed in the process to fulfill the obligation to destroy Chametz.^[10]

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[1] See Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 30

[2] Admur ibid in parentheses; 180:5 “When one steps on the crumbs of bread”; M”A 180:3; Rashi Chulin ibid; Rashi and Rashbam Pesachim ibid;

[3] Admur ibid; Admur O.C. 180:5 “Although it is permitted to destroy crumbs of bread that are less than a Kezayis using ones hands, nonetheless, one is not to throw them away in an area that people walk, as it can lead to poverty when they are stepped on, as they were only permitted to be destroyed, such as to throw them into water and the like.”; Michaber 180:4; Pesachim 111a; Chulin 105b; Brachos 52b; Tosafus Brachos 52b; P”M 180 A”A 3; Zohar Parshas Pinchas p. 244; Ben Ish Chaiy Parshas Pinchas 12; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 180:4 and Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 30 footnote 1 in length 

[4] Ben Ish Chaiy Pinchas 2:12; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 30:4

[5] Kaf Hachaim Falagi 24:48; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 30:3=5

[6] Admur O.C. 180:5; Michaber 180:4; Rambam Brachos 7:11; Brachos 52b; M”B 180:10; See Shabbos 143a; Tosafus Shabbos ibid and Tosafus Menachos 58b; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 30:3

Other Poskim: Some Poskim rule that even if one throws the breadcrumbs into water, it can cause one difficulty in his livelihood. [P”M 180 A”A 3; Kaf Hachaim 180:12]

[7] Michaber 180:3

[8] Birkeiy Yosef 180:3; Shaareiy Teshuvah 180:3; M”B 180:10; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 30:2

[9] See Sefer Tomar Devora 5:3 in name of Chasam Sofer; Yesod Yosef 22 in name of Mekubalim that doing so is a Segula for Tikkun of Keri

[10] Admur 444:9; 434:6; M”A 444:6; Chok Yaakov 444:6