The days of Pesach are days of eating matzah – lots of it. But is there actually a mitzvah to eat matzah on all the seven days of Pesach? This question is of course of significance in deciding how to plan our Pesach meals…
Category: Pesach
The Prohibition of Kitniyos on Pesach
The most prominent aspect of the upcoming Pesach festival is without a doubt the dietary restrictions. Throughout Pesach we replace bread with matzah and avoid all leavened products, turning our kitchen into quite something else. The lettuce leaves, horseradish, saltwater dips, and fascinating sandwiches of Seder Night also deserve a mention.
Another important culinary aspect of Pesach is the issue of kitniyos, legumes. Although there is no mention of the issue in the Torah, in the Mishnah or in the Gemara, the custom for Jews of Ashkenazi descent is to refrain from eating legumes of all kinds during Pesach. The question of what constitutes a legume for the purpose of this halachah, and how far the restriction goes, is therefore of great importance for Pesach cooking.
In the present article we will discuss the halachos pertaining to the issue of kitniyos, and seek to understand the reasons behind the custom, its halachic severity, and the extent of its application. Is quinoa included in the prohibition? Why is it permitted to eat potatoes on Pesach (Imagine life without them!)? Must separate dishes be used for those who must eat kitniyos on Pesach?
Part I: “We Were Slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt”
הרב יגן How Did We Get Into Egypt? Avraham’s Question On Pesach, everyone speaks about being taken out of Egypt. But my question is: What got us into Egypt in… Read more »
The Minhag of Gebrokts
Probably the most often-asked Pesach related question is: “Do you eat gebrokts?” “Gebrokts” is the German or Yiddish term referring to something “broken apart” – in this case, matzah. (In… Read more »
Why Don’t We Bless on the Story of Yetzias Mitzrayim?
As we prepare for Shabbos Pesach for the Kedusha of Pesach and with the hope that we will have the sense of Pesach. Let me share with you a few… Read more »
The Prohibition of Chodosh
Halacha Talk The Prohibition of Chodosh The Zohar says, “Everything is dependent on mazal, even a sefer Torah in the Sanctuary” (Idra Rabbah, Naso, pg. 134a). In other words, just… Read more »
The Korban Pesach
Halacha Talk The Korban Pesach “Good evening, Rabbi. Sorry to bother you during this busy season. Can I discuss something with you?” “By all means, Reb Chaim. How can I… Read more »
Customs (minhagey) of the Month of Nissan
Halacha Talk Minhagei Nissan Nissan – the month of redemption. Pesach, searching for chometz, leil haseder, matzah, maror, the four cups of wine. So much going on in one month!… Read more »
Honoring Seder Night Pledges
This week’s article discusses the contemporary question of fulfilling promises—Afikoman promises. Is there a full halachic obligation to honor one’s Afikoman promise of Seder Night? Is there a difference between young and older children? Is the duress that a parent sometimes experiences in trying to retrieve the Afikoman a factor? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.
Biur Chametz the Easy Way: The Sale of Chametz
This week’s article is the first of a two-part series on the sale of chametz. What is the history of the chametz sale that has become so widespread? What was it initially intended for, and what does it achieve? Does one fulfill the mitzvah of tashbisu by selling one’s chametz? What are the benefits of a collective sale, and how should the purchasing non-Jew be given access to his chametz? How, indeed, must the chametz be treated over Pesach? These questions, and more, are addressed in this week’s article.
Laws of Selling Chametz
The common custom today is to appoint a beis din or a Rabbi to act as an envoy in selling one’s chametz to a non-Jew, and in renting him the… Read more »
Selling Chametz – Why and How?
The Torah forbids a Jew, during Pesach, from either owning chometz or deriving benefit from his chometz. However, people often own chometz which they do not want to discard or… Read more »
