Over the years, at least in Eretz Yisrael, one can find just about anything with a “kosher for Pesach” hechsher, at times leaving us wondering why the hechsher is necessary. Nevertheless this appears to be the trend, which expands annually. This year in Israel one badatz agency is even certifying cigarettes for Pesach.

Amid growing anxiety among Yidden who wear shtreimals, fearing chametz may have found its way into the headgear and pose and issue for Pesach, a new service is born, news agencies are reporting. Apparently, more than a few shtreimal wearers give theirs for cleaning before Yomtov, but this year, Pe’er Shtremilach (פאר השטריימלך) of Yerushalayim is offering a chametz free Pesach shtreimal rental, hoping to create a new market.

It appears the real fear is that a grain of chametz buried in one’s shtreimal may chas v’sholom fall onto a plate of food during Yomtov.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)