OU BY RABBI EZRA FRIEDMAN PAGE Director, The Gustave & Carol Jacobs Center for Kashrut Education

Aruch Hashulchan (453:4) wrote striking Kitniyot: rebukes against those who ate kitniyot on Pesach.

The basics However, the custom of kitniyot has also developed over the years and has he custom of Ashkenazic Jewry is expanded beyond its original decree. As to refrain from the consumption of a result, there are specific areas where Tkitniyot on Pesach. leniency may apply. According to Biblical law, only food There are two underlying reasons for from the five grains that is leavened is the of kitniyot. The first is that prohibited to be owned or consumed kitniyot were grown in close proximity on Pesach. Over the generations, many to the five grains, share a resemblance halachic authorities (S’mak 222, Terumat with them, and were harvested in a Hadeshen 113) ruled that it is prohibited similar manner. All of these factors can to eat (kitniyot) on Pesach for cause grains to easily get mixed various reasons. The Pri Chadash (453) among the kitniyot, making them difficult brings support for this practice from the to be detected and removed. The second Talmud (See Dinei Kitniyot BePesach p.34- reason is based on the fact that kitniyot 49). was (and in some instances still) ground into flour and made into bread or baked In recent times, certain individuals goods. This could lead to confusion and have tried to abolish this sacred minhag people could erroneously consume goods (custom). This is a grave mistake. The made from flour or think that minhag of kitniyot is based in solid wheat flour is permissible. halachic literature and is widely accepted amongst authorities. The Maharil The basic group of raw kitniyot includes (Hilchot Ma’achlot Asurot:15) went so far the following: as to say that someone who consumes (all), buckwheat/, caraway, kitniyot on Pesach transgresses the verse cardamom, chickpeas, fennel seeds, of “Lo Tasur” (Devarim 17:11), the biblical fenugreek, grains-of-paradise, lentils, commandment to listen to our Sages. millet, seeds, , poppy seeds, Leading Halachists such as the Chayei rapeseed/canola, , sesame seeds, Adam (127:1),Chatam Sofer (OH:122) and

32 TIDBITS / VAYIKRA 5780 The OU Israel Gustave & Carol Jacobs Center for Kashrut Education was created to raise awareness and educate the public in all areas of Kashrut in Israel. Rabbi Ezra Friedman, a Rabbinic Field Representative for the OU is the Center's director.

snow peas, sorghum, sugar-snap peas, such, perhaps Rav felt and sunflower seeds. there is room to be lenient regarding peanuts (See Sridei Eish 1:50, Mikraei Regarding the qualification of peanuts Kodesh Pesach 2:60 and Chelkat Yaakov as kitniyot, Rav Moshe Feinstein (OH 207). It is important to mention that 3:63) writes that only legumes that were under OU policy, both corn and common during the time of the minhag are considered kitniyot. are prohibited. New World crops are permitted since we cannot add on to the In recent years many have approached minhag. Rav Moshe writes that there is the OU regarding the status of quinoa. room to be lenient and consume peanuts Following an intensive multi-year or peanut oil on Pesach; however, he investigation (which included visiting continues on to mention that a custom quinoa fields in Peru and Bolivia) and does exist not to consume peanuts on an internal debate, the OU decided it can Pesach. certify quinoa for Pesach. This ruling is based on the fact that all factors regarding As the custom to refrain from peanuts the custom of kitniyot are not applicable has been widely upheld, OU policy has to quinoa. Quinoa is a new world crop. been not to certify peanuts or peanuts It is grown and stored separately from derivatives for Pesach use. other crops and was traditionally not Corn and soybeans are widely used like grains for the preparation of considered kitniyot even though they bread or similar wheat-like products. are New World crops. Why would It should be noted that quinoa is only fit these differ from the custom regarding for Pesach use if it has been supervised peanuts? A possible explanation could be for the holiday and is labeled kosher for based on the underlying reasons for the Pesach. minhag of kitniyot. Corn and soybeans are the classic form of kitniyot, as both underlying reasons apply. Corn is stored and grown near wheat and may be ground into flour and baked. The same Kashrut Questions in Israel? is true with soybeans. This is not true of Call or Whatsapp Rabbi Friedman at peanuts, and therefore they do not fall 050-200-4432 under the classic category of kitniyot. As

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