Isn't this pretty inconsequential in light of crab being non-kosher?
― WhiskeyBanjoFishbutt (Jeff), Sunday, 16 April 2006 18:14 (eighteen years ago) link
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 16 April 2006 18:26 (eighteen years ago) link
What food is not kosher for Passover and why?
Answer
The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chometz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chometz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. This is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.
Which brings us to another category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chometz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?
The Smak (Rabbi Moshe of Kouchi, 13th century, France) explains that products of kitniyot appear like chometz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chometz). Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot was prohibited.
The Beit Yosef (Rabbi Yosef Karo, 16th century, Israel) notes that grains may become mixed together with kitniyot, and one may inadvertently come to eat actual chometz.
* * *
In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chometz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chometz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chometz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.
Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where a Sefardi family could be eating rice on Passover - whereas their Ashkenazi neighbors will not!
What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot- based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.
Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken- wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "chollent" stew!) You should be able to find it at most health food stores. Of course, it needs to be from a closed container that is new for Pesach.
Some other things - like chestnuts and alfalfa sprouts were not included in the original prohibition of Kitniot.
To learn more, see Maimonides - Laws of Chometz and Matzah 5:1; Code of Jewish Law - OC 453; Igros Moshe OC 3:63.
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 16 April 2006 18:32 (eighteen years ago) link
I didn't realize that. But if you're eating unkosher food that prepared kosher for passover aren't you still doing wrong?
― WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot (unclejessjess), Monday, 17 April 2006 02:22 (seventeen years ago) link
Yes, I followed the rules of Passover (no shrimp during Passover, or any other time of the year for that matter) but I wasn't consistent with my usual habits (I like shrimp). If the shrimp had been breaded, it would have been a different story. OTOH, I don't buy kosher meat so you could argue that the chicken I ate tonight is just as unkosher as the shrimp I passed up over the weekend.
― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 17 April 2006 04:17 (seventeen years ago) link
most jews in america don't keep kosher. but passover is a religious holiday and a lot of jewish people want to do something ceremonial to keep those ties to their roots. so they do the "kosher for passover" thing and fast on yom kippur and go on with their lives. i don't think it's particularly hypocritical. it's about having a couple of days out of the year where you recognize those old-world traditions.
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 April 2006 05:16 (seventeen years ago) link
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 April 2006 05:19 (seventeen years ago) link
― RJG (RJG), Monday, 17 April 2006 09:39 (seventeen years ago) link
― RJG (RJG), Monday, 17 April 2006 09:41 (seventeen years ago) link
― AaronK (AaronK), Monday, 17 April 2006 10:48 (seventeen years ago) link
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:14 (seventeen years ago) link
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:15 (seventeen years ago) link
― RJG (RJG), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:22 (seventeen years ago) link
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:23 (seventeen years ago) link
― RJG (RJG), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:25 (seventeen years ago) link
― the enduring pueblo (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:26 (seventeen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:36 (seventeen years ago) link
http://www.judaism.com/gif-bk/80389a.gif
― gabbneb, Monday, 31 March 2008 02:03 (sixteen years ago) link
it really is worth it to get the genuine huggable matzah ball. the knock-off ones give you a rash
― burt_stanton, Monday, 31 March 2008 02:05 (sixteen years ago) link
I always eat way too many macaroons. Favorite are Manichevitz chocolate chip.
I love the Hillel sandwich why because it tastes intersting.
I try to do the unleavened kosher for Passover but usually some Gentile will trick me into eating cake on the last day, arguing with me over when the holiday ends.
what's passover like round your way?
Sometimes (including this year) I visit my parents. We invite the widow over, eat lamb and boiled egg and parsley and matzo ball soup. Then we play bridge, while the dog jumps on the table and eats a golf-ball shaped hole in the honey cake.
I like the idea of the stupid son.
― felicity, Monday, 31 March 2008 02:19 (sixteen years ago) link
it only occurred to me now that the reason the GHMB looked just a bit small for hugging (lol, matzoh ball is hueg) was because it might not be meant for adults. i have to see my sister's plague kit.
i was holding onto the possibility that my mom had invented 'hillel sandwich', but i'm glad it's found elsewhere as well.
my parents are abandoning me for grandma, tho i may join them if i can and the crowd isn't too large already. i might end up leading a seder - lol?
― gabbneb, Monday, 31 March 2008 02:57 (sixteen years ago) link
oh yeah, the hillel sandwich is in the hagaddah isn't it
happy pesach!
― gabbneb, Sunday, 20 April 2008 03:34 (fifteen years ago) link
wtf with bay area "matzah shortage"?! By Saturday night, every single grocery store in town was completely out of matzah and matzo meal.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 21 April 2008 21:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Matzah blows. Sorry.
-- Hurting (Hurting), Friday, April 22, 2005 11:29 AM (3 years ago) Bookmark Link
CONTROVERSIAL OPINION.
We didn't do Passover this year, as my Grandparents, who usually host, are on the other side of the country. Usually it's the seder with the reading and the singing and the wine and the plagues and the haroset and the bitter herbs and the matzoh ball soup and family arguments.
― ian, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 23:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Plagues are A++++ would visit them on Egypt again.
― felicity, Wednesday, 23 April 2008 06:24 (fifteen years ago) link