KIB Pesach Magazine 5777.Pdf
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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS severity of Chometz many have the Chometz on Pesach ...............................................................................3 custom to not sell their Chometz for Kitniyos & Matzo Ashira ........................................................................3 Pesach, but prefer to dispose of it Bitul of Chometz .....................................................................................4 instead. Consumption of Chometz .................................................................... 5 The following are actual Chometz: Selling Of Chometz ................................................................................5 bread, cake, cereal made from Chometz She’avar Alav Hapesach ......................................................5 wheat, oats or barley, cookies, farfel mix, some licorice, pasta, pretzels, Kashering Utensils .................................................................................6 rolled oats, wheat gluten, wheat Erev Pesach ..............................................................................................7 protein. Some have the same custom Fast of the First Born ..............................................................................7 concerning beer and whiskey. Eating on Erev Pesach ...........................................................................7 STANDARDS OF KASHRUS Selected Laws & Customs .....................................................................7 With over 1,000 Kosher certifying The Seder Plate .....................................................................................7 agencies and individuals competing Mitzvos at the Seder ............................................................................. 8 in the Kosher certifying business, it is expected that standards will Medicine .................................................................................................8 vary. While most keep to a basic Internet Sites .......................................................................................10 acceptable standard, some do not. Pet Foods ..............................................................................................12 We still see gelatin from non-Kosher animals being used, (often listed Items that may be used without Passover Certification ............ 15 as “k-Gelatin”), corn syrup as an Items that are reliably certified for Passover ................................ 22 ingredient in Passover products Products to be cautious of for Pesach use ..................................... 30 (with a long reference attempting to New Products for Pesach ................................................................... 34 legitimize it), carmine (from bugs) used as red coloring, as well as many Alerts ...................................................................................................... 37 other questionable ingredients. Times to Remember ...........................................................................39 With the vast number of products being certifed by reliable agencies CHOMETZ ON PESACH and individuals, it would seem to be much less Chometz is any substance that contains leavening tempting to allow for these lenient opinions to from one of fve cereal grains (wheat, barley, oats, lessen our observance of Pesach. Additionally, some spelt, or rye) caused by its prolonged contact with establishments only ofer “Kosher style” products for water or other liquids. It is important to note that Pesach, while the lenient word “style” is missed by Chometz/Se”or does NOT translate into “yeast”. It many. Some food establishments ofer a Passover refers to leavening: namely self-rising from a sour- taco bar, ham on Matzah special and Passover dough starter type of process. The prohibition of “challah”, among other things. The only protection Chometz on Pesach includes “Chometz Gomur” as far as the government is concerned is from (unadulterated Chometz) and “Ta‘aruvas Chometz” Assembly Bill 295, section 1329.29, passed in March (a mixture containing real Chometz). of 1993. It states: “No person shall do any of the There are three areas with which we must be following: Make any direct statement, either orally concerned when evaluating Chometz. First, there is or in writing, display the words “Kosher”, “Kosher “Isur Hana’ah”. This means that one may not derive style”, “Kosher type”, “Kosher for Passover”, “Jewish”, any pleasure or beneft whatsoever from Chometz or “Hebrew” in any language or display any insignia, (e.g. feeding Chometz to one’s pets, etc.). Secondly, six pointed star, or other mark that might reasonably a Jew may not own Chometz. This prohibition be calculated to deceive or lead a reasonable person extends to possession of Chometz anywhere in the to believe a product is “Kosher” or sanctioned by world (such as in a boat, ofce, mountain retreat, Orthodox Hebrew religious requirements, if it is etc.). Thirdly, there is a prohibition against having not”. Obviously one needs to be vigilant in carefully Chometz in one’s possession. One must be careful to watching for proper certifcation. remove all Chometz, not sold, from their premises. KITNIYOS Chometz that was sold should, preferably, be stored Due to the stringency of the prohibition of not in an inaccessible area. Jews may not leave unsold eating Chometz on Pesach, Ashkenazic Jews, as Chometz in their possession on Pesach, even if they well as many Sephardim, have developed a custom do not intend to use it. One should be careful not to not to eat kitniyos (legumes) on Pesach other than send a package which contains Chometz too close for infants and under other special circumstances to Pesach, as it may arrive during Pesach. Due to the provided that the foods are prepared in separate 4 utensils. Kitniyos includes beans, soy, rice, grains. peas, and corn among others: (see below). GOING AWAY FOR PESACH Sephardim, whose minhag (custom) permits them to eat rice on Pesach, must be careful to determine One must sell his/her Chometz regardless of where that the rice is additive-free. Many Sephardim have they are for Pesach. This is the case even if one left the minhag to check the rice three times, as well home 30 days before Pesach and no one will be in as to check for other grains that may be mixed the house during Pesach. It is necessary to inform in. In any case, open bins in stores should not be the Rabbi selling your Chometz as to the location of used. This year, the Star-K Kashrus organization the Chometz and to your location during Pesach so is certifying Carolina Mehadrin Rice for use for that he can know the proper time zones of selling Sephardim on Pesach. and buying back the Chometz for you. Ashkenazim refrain from eating peanuts as well. If a person leaves home before Pesach, within 30 However, this restriction regarding peanuts may days of Pesach, the night before his/her departure not include peanut oil (according to the opinion of should do a regular Bedikas Chometz without a Rav Moshe Feinstein ZT”L.) Legumes are permitted Bracha and recite “Kol Chamira” for the Chometz for some Sephardic Jews who, for various historical found in the house. Note: Kol Chamira should reasons, did not adopt this custom of refraining always be said in a language that one understands, from kitniyos consumption on Pesach. A reliable as this is not a Teflla, but a declaration. The source of acceptable products following this alternative to an early Bedika is to appoint a Sephardic custom is the Sephardi division of the Shaliach (messenger) to do a regular Bedikas J.S.O.R. at (732) 531-4872 or WWW.JSOR.ORG (be Chometz with a Bracha on the proper night of aware that a number of lists exist for Sephardim that Bedikas Chometz. are extremely misleading and erroneous). A guest in a hotel, who is in the hotel on the night For this reason the Kosher consumer is confronted of Bedikas Chometz should conduct themselves as every year around Pesach time with a confusing they would at home, performing a full Bedika with a array of Kosher certifcations found on candy, jam, Bracha. It is the minhag to carefully put out pieces mustard and other products containing legumes. In of Chometz before beginning the Bedika. reality, these products are edible on Pesach by only It is preferable to empty a stocked hotel fridge of certain groups of Jews. Many, but not all, will state beer, cookies etc. before Pesach begins. If this is not “Leochlei Kitniyos - only for those who eat kitniyos”. possible, minimally, the fridge should be taped or Some examples of this are sunfower seeds, canned locked shut. vegetables, halva etc. Every Jew, however, is permitted to derive beneft from kitniyos (such as A guest for Pesach at a relative’s house should hear pet food, glue, baby formula etc.). the Bracha from the owner of the house and then make his/her own Bedika in their room. The following are considered kitniyos or treated as kitniyos according to many opinions: BITUL (ANNULMENT) OF CHOMETZ Alfalfa Sprouts, Anise, Ascorbic Acid (May be During the year, any non-Kosher ingredients which Chometz), Asparatame (Nutrasweet), Beans, are inadvertently mixed with Kosher ingredients Black Eyed Peas, Buckwheat, Calcium Ascorbate, may be Halachically (according to Jewish law) ft Canola Oil, Caraway, Citric Acid (May be Chometz), to eat. The reason for this leniency is that they are Chickpeas, Confectioners’ Sugar with corn starch, declared “Batel Beshishim” (annulled in sixty i.e. Coriander, Corn, Corn Syrup, Cumin, Dextrose, the Kosher food is at least