It’s an old saying that Judaism is a religion of “deed, not creed.” That is, what matters most in Judaism is supposed to be action, not belief. I think this is overly simplistic, but what we do tends to dominate around Passover. What can we eat, what can’t we eat, and how can I decide? These are questions that many of us wrestle with. Let me provide you my own little guide to the perplexed on these questions.
What am I required to eat? Not a whole lot. During the Seder, you are expected to eat at least a fairly small portion of the ritual foods, such as haroset and bitter herbs. If you’d like more information on what these are, click here. You are required to eat a fair amount of matzah at the Seder, but not if you physically can’t. After the first day, you aren’t required to eat anything in particular. It’s what you’re not supposed to eat that defines the culinary part of the holiday week.
What is the Jewish consensus about what I’m not supposed to eat? The Torah tells us that we are not supposed to eat leavened bread for the seven days of Passover. Over the years, the understanding has been that this includes anything produced from five grains (wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye) that has not been prevented from leavening (typically, that has not been baked into matzah). This means that not only bread but also such products as pasta, breakfast cereals, donuts, pizza, and crackers would be off limits. These leavened products are called collectively hametz.
What else don’t some Jews eat? Most people of Jewish ancestry in this country are Ashkenazic; that is, they come originally from central and eastern Europe. Among Ashkenazic Jews (and only Ashkenazic Jews), an additional stringency was introduced called kitniyot. Kitniyot has typically been translated as “legumes,” which is close enough for our purposes. Ashkenazic Jews traditionally also don’t eat rice or corn, even though those are not on the list of grains prohibited by the Talmud.
Should I abide by the prohibitions on rice, corn, and legumes? Everyone has to decide this for himself or herself. For many people, tradition is a powerful reason to follow a practice; there are worse rationales than “that’s how my grandparents did it, and I want to honor their memory.” For myself and for my family, however, I don’t abide by those traditions.
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin has recently compiled 7 reasons in support of those who think they should be allowed to eat rice, corn, and legumes during Passover. This is what he says (and you can read the entire article here):
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The Bible doesn’t mention a prohibition against legumes. It says “leaven.” Period.
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Neither does the Talmud.
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The prohibition against legumes seems to have come from twelfth century France. There is no definitive answer as to why. There are about ten reasons cited for this custom, which might be proof enough that it’s a bit of a stretch.
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Maimonides thought that it was a “stupid custom.”
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Rabbi David Golinkin, a leading Conservative rabbi in Israel, has some great reasons why it is OK to eat kitniyot. With the ingathering of the exiles into the land of Israel, we should be emphasizing the unity of the Jewish people, not those ethnic differences that separate us.
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Not to mention the fact that in Israel itself, the preponderance of Ashkenazic-Sephardic mixed marriages makes Pesach a nuisance.
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And if we make Pesach so restrictive and so onerous, there is the real and present danger that otherwise committed and caring Jews will simply walk away from even trying to observe the festival at all.
From my family to yours, I hope that your Passover is filled with the true meaning of the holiday, liberation from all that constricts us. If refraining from rice, corn, and legumes helps you feel the spirit of the holiday more deeply, then that is what you should do. If not, well no less a figure than Moses Maimonides would agree with you.
Have a sweet and fulfilling Passover.
L’shalom,
– Rabbi Tom Alpert