On Sunday evening, April 14, the community gathered for an informative lecture on Pesach preparations at the Lander College for Men. The lecture was hosted by Chazaq, the OU, and the Lander College for Men, and it was moderated by Rabbi Eli Eleff, OU Rabbinic Coordinator / Director of Kashrus Education.
Rabbi Herschel Welcher, Rav of Congregation Ahavas Yisroel, spoke first. He shared how we had just experienced phenomenal nisim on Motza’ei Shabbos, when Iran fired many missiles at Israel and Israel was protected. “The world is astounded,” he said. Hashem loves klal Yisrael and our dedication to Him in any and all circumstances. Kashrus for Pesach teaches us in the times we are living that we are a tiny people but significant, and we stand against the world, and we can be comfortable with who we are. Pesach kashrus takes weeks and months. Every Jew has to prepare at home. We are fortunate to have the OU overseeing products for us.
Next, Rabbi Moshe Bamberger, the Mashgiach Ruchani of Lander College, shared divrei brachah. He shared that we are living in a time of nisim g’luyim, as we saw on Motza’ei Shabbos when the missiles were launched at Israel. For us to merit such hashgachah pratis in Nisan, we can feel the footsteps of Mashiach. He said that we can openly ask, “When is he coming?”
Next, Rabbi Ilan Meirov, of Chazaq, shared a teaching of the Arizal that if you are very careful to observe the laws of Pesach properly, then you are guaranteed not to do sins the rest of the year.
He shared that the yeitzer ha’ra is symbolized by chametz, and it is not activated if we don’t eat chametz on Pesach.
Following this, Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, OU Kashrus Senior Rabbinic Coordinator, spoke about the history of kitniyos and how Rav Belsky encouraged the OU to add kitniyos hashgachah. People were just guessing before this. He shared how there is a mosaic of minhagim, and each family has a unique perspective and transmits this to the next generation. This is a great solace when we are dealing with so much hatred from the outside world.
The beauty of klal Yisrael is that with so many challenges we made it through, and we make it through.
He went on to explain chametz and kitniyos. The five types of grain – wheat, spelt, oats, rye, and barley – are the only ones that can be used for the mitzvah of matzah. They are also the grains that can become chametz. He noted that the first recorded source for kitniyos was 750 years ago by the Smak, an early Rishon. Beans, legumes, and seeds are forbidden for Ashkenazim but not for Sefardim. It’s their tradition to eat these on Pesach. Rice, millet, corn, buckwheat, and peas are accepted as kitniyos.
The Smak explained a reason why Ashkenazim don’t eat kitniyos on Pesach. When it is ground, it is made into flour and used like wheat, so people might come to use wheat this way. Rav Yosef Caro said to strengthen a field you use crop rotations, and it is possible that there can be cross-contamination of wheat entering corn.
Today, with gluten-free diets, many grains may be milled with wheat, and so there is also a possibility of some chametz contamination.
He noted that, today, medications use kitniyos to hold them together. For medication, Ashkenazim can use the medication on Pesach.
Historically, in Europe, the communities of Sefardim and Ashkenazim were separate. Quinoa is not considered kitniyos because it didn’t exist before, according to Rav Moshe Feinstein.
He said that enriched rice has a vitamin coating, so he doesn’t recommend using it on Pesach. The minhag for Sefardim is to check the rice carefully.
Following this, Rabbi Moshe Elefant, Chief Operations Executive of OU Kosher, answered questions that were submitted in advance. He said that, baruch Hashem, there is an abundance of Pesach food. Someone who eats forbidden food clogs his spiritual arteries. The remedy is to be very careful what you eat. During Pesach time, be careful. The “OU-P” symbol says that a product was made under fulltime rabbinical supervision for Pesach.
He said, “I say to be machmir to teach our kids to look for reliable hashgachah.
Someone asked about water, and he said that plain water with nothing added is fine; but once there are additives, it is better not to buy it.
Someone asked about medicine. He said that anyone taking medicine for a chronic condition in a pill should take it. If the medicine is liquid or chewable, there is more of a question. It’s better to have it in pill form. Vitamins aren’t medicine unless needed to be part of a medical regimen. If not, then it is not recommended to take them.
He noted that milk has vitamins added, so it needs kosher certification.
The community appreciates having these chashuve speakers sharing their expertise for us for Yom Tov. This shiur can be viewed on TorahAnytime.com.
By Susie Garber
