SECTION ONE: PREPARATIONS
FOR PASSOVER
1. THE SELLING OF CHAMETZ - MECHIRAT CHAMETZ
2. CLEANING FOR PASSOVER
Guidelines for properly
cleaning and koshering one's home and kitchen for Passover
SECTION TWO: EREV PESACH (*that falls out on Shabbat*)
3. TA'ANIT BECHOROT (fast of the first born)
4.BEDIKAT
CHAMETZ (the search for chametz)
5. LATEST
TIME TO EAT & BURN CHAMETZ
6. SEDER
PREPARATIONS
7. EATING
THREE MEALS & LECHEM MISHNAH ON SHABBAT
SECTION THREE: KOSHER FOR PESACH PRODUCTS &
CHAMETZ
8. LIST OF
PRODUCTS KOSHER FOR PESACH
(kosher products lists,
medications, cosmetics, kitniyot, etc)
9. Chametz
After Pesach
SECTION FOUR: BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE LAWS OF THE SEDER
10. LAWS OF THE SEDER
11. SEFIRAT HA'OMER (the counting of the
Omer)
1. THE SELLING OF CHAMETZ - Mechirat Chametz
During the eight days of Pesach, our homes must be
emptied and cleared of all chametz products and all products that have any
chametz content. All such items are to be placed in designated areas and sold
for the eight-day period to a non-Jew. During the entire Pesach, the designated
cabinets should not be opened, and no items in the designated areas should be used
during this period. Many authorities maintain that the selling of chametz should
only be used for mixtures containing some chametz ingredients, whereas pure
chametz such as bread and cookies should be eaten, physically destroyed or
given permanently to a non-Jew.
In order to sell your chametz, please see me
personally. This will allow you to appoint me as your agent by means of a kinyan,
a symbolic acquisition, which is preferable. Please fill out the attached form [pdf|doc] and bring
it to me by Thursday night.If you
will be in a different time zone than that of UPenn during Pesach, please make
sure to tell me.[For those who find it impossible to meet
with me personally, please contact me directly (ravmordy@pobox.upenn.edu) and we
will work something out.It is not
recommended to sell your chametz via the internet to any random site.]
Please note: All chametz must be sold and
stored in designated/marked cabinets by 9:00 AM Friday morning, April 18.Please make sure to sell your chametz long
before this time and try not leave it for the last minute. Foods not
included in the sale cannot be added later. After the end of Pesach, the food should
remain locked up for at least two hours, giving the rabbi sufficient time to
repurchase the food for his community.
[Jews
living with non-Jewish roommates often have shared chametz, and it is
sometimes ambiguous which chametz products belong to the Jew. To remove doubt,
one should physically hand over all of the chametz to the non-Jew prior to
Pesach as a gift, stating, "I give this to you as an unconditional gift, and
accept no responsibility for storing or guarding it." In addition, state to the non-Jew that you
have no part or parcel in any food that he/she owns or brings into the
apartment over Pesach.The non-Jew may
then continue to own and use the chametz over Pesach. Once this is done, there
is no further need to sell the chametz. If the Jew will be in the room over
Pesach, the chametz should be stored in some specifically designated area, to
prevent confusion.In addition, it is
preferable not to use a joint fridge, but to sell your portion of the fridge to
the non-Jew with a symbolic acquisition via picking up an object. If this is not possible, one should arrange
for a separate section of the fridge for your own private use.]
[For
those with Jewish roommates who do not observe the laws of Pesach, ideally, try to convince them to
get rid of their chametz as well and not to bring in new chametz over Pesach to
the room.If this is not possible, state
to your roommate verbally that anything that he/she owns or buys over Pesach is
absolutely not yours and you have no part in it. Under this situation, do NOT use the same
fridge as your roommate. For those who live in shared living spaces
where food is communally owned, you must make sure that no chametz is bought
over Pesach with communal funds that you contributed to or else you will have
chametz in your possession over Pesach.]
2. CLEANING ONE'S HOME FOR PESACH
Basic Cleaning
If you will not be in your dorm or you will not
be using your kitchen during Pesach, you do not need to Kasher your cooking
appliances in the manner described below. Rather, you simply need to eliminate all
physical chametz in your possession, including bits of bread in toasters,
spills on surfaces, etc. Pieces that are both smaller than an olive and
inedible do not count, so the easiest thing to do is to dispose of all the
large pieces, then clean your surfaces with a strong, inedible chemical
cleaner. If anything remains after this, it is not edible chametz and you need
not destroy it. This is the simplest method for counters, cooking appliances,
refrigerators, and floors.
Don't forget to clean all chametz out of lockers,
desks, vehicles, and other locations around campus where you store personal
property.[As will be elaborated below,
one need not be concerned about owning cosmetics, shampoos, inedible solid
medicines, etc. on Pesach.] Although it
is nice to neaten up one's coin collection, wash windows, books, etc, these are
not required. One should focus primarily on chametz elimination.
Ovens
In a conventional oven, whether gas or electric,
the oven must be completely clean before kashering can begin. Oven cleaner may
be necessary to remove baked on grease. If a abrasive/caustic type of oven
cleaner (such as Easy-Off) was used to clean the oven and some stubborn spots
remain after the caustic cleaner has been applied a second time with similar
results, the remaining spots may be disregarded. Once the oven and racks have
been cleaned, they may be kashered by Libbun Kal. Turning the oven to
the broil setting for 2 hours satisfies the requirement of Libbun Kal. Pay special attention to the temperature
gauge, the window in the door and the edges of the oven chamber to make sure
they are cleaned.In a gas oven the
broil setting will allow the flame to burn continuously. In a conventional
electric oven, the highest setting of broil or 550oF sufficiently
kashers the oven.
For a continuous cleaning oven, one cannot
assume that such an oven is clean because the manufacturer claims it to be
continuously clean. A visual inspection is required. Since caustic or
abrasive oven cleaners, e.g. Easy-Off, cannot be used without destroying the
continuous clean properties of the oven, a non-abrasive, and non-caustic,
cleaner must be used to clean the oven. Grease spots will usually disappear if
the top layer of grease is cleaned with Fantastic and a nylon brush. Then the
oven should be turned on to 450oF for 2 hours so that the continuous
clean mechanism can work. If the spots don't disappear the oven should be left
on for a few hours to allow the continuous clean mechanism to deep clean. If
the spots do not disappear, the spots should be removed with oven cleaner or
steel wool. If the spots are dark spots that crumble, they can be disregarded.
In all of the above cases the oven should then be kashered by turning the oven
to the broil setting for 2 hours.
In a self-cleaning oven, the self-cleaning
cycle will clean and kasher the oven simultaneously. This is true for convection
ovens with a self-cleaning feature as well. The oven need not be cleaned well
before the process begins because everything inside of the oven is reduced to
ash. The oven door and rubber around the door should, however, be completely
clean before beginning the self-clean cycle. Some older self-cleaning ovens are not as
effective as they once were, and one should run multiple cycles.
Oven Racks are very difficult to thoroughly
clean, hence it is easiest to simply buy new ones. If one cannot, it is recommended that they be
placed into a self-cleaning oven and go through one complete cycle or set the
oven to broil for an hour and a half. Some people also cover them with aluminum foil (punching holes though to
allow the air to circulate).
Oven Broiler: The broiler pan and grill cannot be kashered by just turning on the
gas or electricity. Since food is cooked directly on the pan or grill, they
must be heated to a glow in order to be used on Pesach. An alternate method is
to replace the pan with a new pan and Kasher the empty broiler cavity by
cleaning and setting it to broil for 2 hours. If one does not intend to use the
broiler on Pesach, one may still use the oven, even without koshering the
broiler, provided that the broiler has been thoroughly cleaned. Similarly,
other cooktop inserts such as a griddle or a barbecue broiler would require
"Libbun Gamur," heating the surface to a red glow before usage. If not, the
insert should be cleaned and covered and not used for Pesach
Cooktop/Stovetops: On a gas range the cast iron or
metal grates upon which the pots on the range sit may be inserted into the oven
after they have been thoroughly cleaned. (If one has a self-cleaning oven one
need not clean the grates first.) The grates can be kashered simultaneously
with the oven. Another method of kashering the burners is to place a blech
(all year round blech may be used) or heavy foil over each burner and
turn on highest temperature for 15 minutes. (For safety concerns it is
recommended to do one burner at a time.) The rest of the range should be
cleaned and covered with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. (Stainless
steel stove tops may be purged with boiling water and need not be covered.) The
burners themselves do not need Kashering or covering but should be thoroughly
cleaned. The drip pans should be thoroughly cleaned and need not be kashered.
Kashering a Glass, Corning,
Halogen or Ceran electric range top for Pesach is a very difficult task.
The elements of the stove can be turned on until they come to a glow (minimally
for ten minutes). The burner areas are now considered Kosher for Pesach.
However, the rest of the cook top presents a serious Kashering problem. The
unheated area of glass top ranges cannot be covered with foil like conventional
or porcelain tops. Since glass tops are made of tempered glass, and are not
meant to be covered, there is a risk that the glass cooktop will shatter if it
is covered. Therefore, one should check with the company before attempting to
kasher a Corningstove top. In an electric cooktop, one only needs to
turn the burners on the high heat setting for 5 minutes in order to kasher
them, since the burners come to a glow in a few minutes. The remaining cooktop
areas should be covered. The knobs with which the gas or electricity is
turned on should be cleaned. No other process is necessary to kasher the knobs.
Microwave Ovens
Clean the microwave thoroughly with some form of
cleaner and do not use for 24 hours. Then boil a cup of water on the highest
setting for 20 minutes, or until all the water has boiled off. The glass plate
(if you have one) should be replaced or covered (after being cleaned and
kashered in boiling water). Food should not be heated directly on the old glass
plate on Pesach. If your microwave walls
have holes or grates through which food has fallen and cannot be removed, it's
best to cover all foods that you heat in the microwave on Pesach.
Refrigerator and Freezers
All items should be removed from the refrigerator,
including both food and shelving, and the refrigerator should be cleaned
thoroughly with a cleansing agent, paying special attention to the holes and
corners. If hot chamtez was spilled on a shelf, then that shelf should
be covered (make sure to perforate any covers to allow for air circulation).
Otherwise, covering shelves is not necessary - although it is a widespread
custom.
High Chairs - Should be cleaned thoroughly
and the tray should be covered with contact paper.
Metal Utensils
Metal Utensils that have been used for cooking,
serving or eating hot Chametz may be kashered by cleaning them
thoroughly, waiting twenty-four (24) hours and then immersing them, one by one,
into a large industrial sized Kosher for Pesach pot of water which has been
heated (and a drop of soap has been added to it) and is maintaining a
rolling boil when the vessel is immersed. Note that Teflon coated pots can
not be kashered. It is customary to
buy new silverware and utensils for Pesach.
While koshering utensils, the utensils undergoing
the kashering process may not touch each other on the way in to the pot. In
other words, if a set of flatware is being kashered for Pesach, one cannot take
all the knives, forks and spoons and put them in the boiling water together.
They should be placed into the boiling water one by one. The process is
finalized by rinsing the kashered items in cold water. If tongs are used to
grip the utensil, they should be loosened for a moment while the utensil is
underwater. Otherwise, the utensil will have to be immersed a second time with
the tong in a different position so that the boiling water will touch the
initially gripped area. The entire utensil does not have to be kashered at
once; it may be done in parts.
Please watch out for utensils that are rusty or
difficult to clean properly. Even silverware made of two parts (a handle and a
blade, for instance) should most often not be kashered.
Technically, a non-Kosher for Pesach pot may also
be used for the purpose of kashering, provided that it is thoroughly clean and
has not been used for twenty-four (24) hours. However, it is the custom to make
the pot Kosher for Pesach before using it for kashering. This can be
accomplished by cleaning the pot, leaving it for 24 hours, filling the pot
completely with water, waiting until the water comes to a rolling boil, and
throwing in a hot stone or brick which has been heated on another burner. The
hot rock will cause the water to bubble more furiously and run over the top
ridge of the pot on all sides at one time. The pot is now kashered.
Ashkenazim today do not kasher glass utensils used
with hot chametz for Pesach. Arcolac, Pyrex, Duralex & Corelle
should be treated as glass for kashering purposes. Glassware used with cold
chametz may be kashered. Each utensil should be soaked in room temperature
water for 72 hours. The water should be changed every 24 hours. [There are different opinions about whether
plastic utensils can be kashered in the same manner as metal.]
Kitchen towels, as well as tablecloths, should be
laundered and can then be used on Pesach (although many simply use new or
special tablecloth and towels).Sponges,
on the other hand, must be bought new for Pesach.
Sinks
China
sinks cannot be kashered at all. Porcelain or corian sinks should
also be considered like a china sink, since there is a controversy whether
these materials can be kashered. These sinks should be cleaned and completely
lined with contact paper or foil. The dishes that are to be washed should not
be placed directly into the sink. They must be washed in a Pesach dishpan that
is placed on a Pesach rack. Alternatively, a sink insert can be purchased,
allowing for the placement of either dairy or meat dishes directly into the sink.
Dishes can also simply be washed while holding them in the air and not placing
them on the surface of the sink at all.
Stainless steel sinks can be kashered by the
following method. Clean the sink thoroughly. Hot water should not be used or
poured in the sink for twenty-four (24) hours prior to kashering. (It is
recommended that the sink be covered or the hot water knob covered or removed,
etc. to insure that it is not used.) Kashering is accomplished by pouring
boiling hot water from a Pesach kettle/pot over every part of the
stainless steel sink. The poured water must touch every part of the sink
including the drain and the spout of the water faucet. It is likely that the
kashering kettle(s) will need to be refilled a few times before the kashering can
be completed.
Granite sinks can be kashered like a
stainless steel sink.
In addition, one must kasher the drain filter of
the sink, just as one kashers the sink itself. If the holes in the filter are very fine, then it cannot be koshered and
one should buy a new one.
Countertops and Tabletops
Countertops made of granite may also be kashered.
Formica countertops should be cleaned and covered with a waterproof material.
The same goes for tables with synthetic tops. Wood tables could theoretically
be kashered with boiling water, but the custom is to clean them with a
household cleanser and to cover them.
Dishwashers
Porcelain and enamel dishwashers can not be
kashered for Pesach. Stainless steel dishwashers may be kashered but the racks
should be replaced. These dishwashers must be thoroughly cleaned. Please
contact a rabbi before doing so.
Electric Mixers, Food Processors and Blenders
It is recommended that one purchase separate
appliances to be reserved for Pesach use. In a case where this is not possible, so long as the motor area is
completely sealed and food cannot get into crevices in the machine itself, one
may rely on kashering the blades and bowls or buy new ones for Pesach.
Floors
Floors should be swept and washed with a household
floor cleanser.Regarding small cracks
that may be in your floors, so long as the cleanser reached that area you do
not have to worry.
Food Cabinets
If you will not be using that cabinet all of
Pesach, or will not be in the apartment for Pesach, you may simply seal/lock
the cabinet and sell it in its entirety. If you would like to use the cabinet, take out all the contents of the
cabinet, wash it with a rag soaked in a household cleaner. It is also preferable to line the cabinet
with some form of paper.
EREV PESACH THAT FALLS OUT ON SHABBAT
INTRODUCTION
Question: Why is
this Pesach different than all other Pesachs?
Answer:Because this year Erev Pesach (the eve of
Passover) falls out on Shabbat.
Many of us may be familiar with the regular Erev Pesach routine: every
first born fasts or goes to a siyum, chametz is burnt, and we prepare for the
Seder.This year, however, the routine
needs to be significantly modified and changed, as Erev Pesach falls out on
Shabbat and we cannot do any of those activities. The following is a brief summary of the
relevant and practical laws for this unique situation that we encounter this
year.
3. THURSDAY - Ta'anit Bechorot (fast of the first
born)
On a regular Erev Pesach (14th of
Nissan), all first born males are obligated to fast in commemoration of the
final plague - makkat bechorot - when
God smote every Egyptian firstborn and saved every Jewish firstborn. This year, when Erev Pesach falls out on
Shabbat, we are forced to move the fast day to an earlier date, as it is not
permissible to fast on Shabbat.Therefore, we move the fast day to Thursday, the 12th of
Nissan (April 17th).
4.THURSDAY
NIGHT -BEDIKAT CHAMETZ (the
search for leaven)
The search for chametz is performed in the usual manner,
only that it takes place on Thursday night (as one cannot carry a candle or
flashlight on Friday night to do the search!).The search takes place after nightfall (tzet hakochavim) at approximately 8:17pm (in Philadelphia).
One should try to perform the search immediately after this time. As usual, both the blessing of 'al biur chametz' prior to the search,
and the recital of the formal renunciation of chametz ('kol chamira') are recited afterwards. The only difference is that if one knows he
or she will be eating chametz on Friday or Shabbat, that chametz should be
placed in a special and safe place, so that one's nullification of the chametz
will not apply to it.[One who forgot
to perform the search on Thursday night due to this year's special
circumstances, may do so on Friday morning - although without a bracha.]
Let's review the laws of searching for
chametz:The Torah forbids us not only
to eat, but also even to own Chametz on Pesach. We remove any Chametz unknown
to us by "nullifying" it through Bittul Chametz, thus making the Chametz
ownerless. Our chachamim, however, further mandated a thorough check of the
house on the night before Pesach for two reasons: 1) in case we have not truly
nullified our Chametz in our hearts and 2) lest one find and eat Chametz on
Pesach. This is not just a perfunctory search of our homes! This is not spring cleaning! This is a serious search that should be taken
seriously and should involve more than a few minutes. Places to check include drawers, lockers,
backpacks, coat pockets, garages and cars. One should try to do the bedikah as
soon as possible after nightfall; it is improper to push it off until late at
night. The Bedika is done in the dark, using a candle or flashlight to explore
everywhere [if the candle will create a fire hazard - use a flashlight!]. It is customary to place 10 pieces of bread
before the search begins (make sure to wrap them in tin foil so as not to make
new crumbs), although finding only those pieces does not fulfill one's
obligation - one must perform a real search.
If one will be leaving one's house for Pesach and
will doing the bedikah before Thursday night, no bracha is
said.Therefore, those leaving school
before the night of Bedikat Chametz should do bedika the night before
leaving, without a bracha, but with the "Kol Chamira" declaration (which
can be found in any traditional Haggadah). Students should also participate in bedikat and biur chametz in their
parents' homes.If one's roommate will
be on the premises on Thursday night, one should appoint that roommate as their
agent (shaliach) to perform the search at the normal time with a beracha.
5. FRIDAY: EATING, BURNING AND SAVING CHAMETZ
Burning chametz - one should burn one's chametz on
Friday by the sixth hour of the day - 11:40am
(in Philadelphia). Even though one is technically allowed to
own and even eat chametz until Shabbat morning (10:21/10:45 AM here in
Philadelphia), we set Friday morning as the deadline for burning such that one
will not get confused in later years. This being the case though, one does not recite the regular Kol
Chamira that is usually recited after the burning of the chametz - as one can
still eat chametz.Instead, the Kol
Chamira will be said later on the real Erev Pesach, namely Shabbat. [If one absolutely cannot burn their chametz
before 11:40am (in Philadelphia) it may be
burned any time until the onset of Shabbat.] All chametz that one is planning on eating on Friday or Shabbat morning
that is not burnt or sold, must be placed in a designated area (preferably in a
disposable containor) far away from the pesach food, and upon consumption must
be completely disposed of or flushed down the toilet.
6. FRIDAY - SEDER PREPARATIONS
One is not permitted to make preparations for the
Seder on Shabbat itself, which means that many of the preparations need to be
made before Shabbat (or need to wait until after Shabbat is over (at tzet)
and to say baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l'kodesh). Therefore one should make sure to do the
following Seder preparations before Shabbat:
1. Roasting the egg and shank
bone [one who forgot to do this can
prepare these items after Shabbat, with the intent to eat them sometime the
next day]
2. Check and clean the marror/lettuce
for bugs
3. Grate the horseradish [one who forgot to do this before Shabbat can
do it after Shabbat ends with a shinui,
via an abnormal way]
4. Prepare the Charoset (i.e. chop
the nuts, mix the ingredients, etc.)
5. Prepare the salt water.
6. Light a Yahrtzeit candle - to be
used on Yom Tov to light candles with.
7. (Cook for Yom Tov)
7.SHABBAT -
EATING THREE MEALS & LECHEM MISHNAH
Shabbat meals present the most fascinating dilemma
on Shabbat Erev Pesach, as one needs to have bread for lechem mishnah, yet
one's house is cleaned for Pesach.The
general practice is as follows:
1. All food for the meals on Shabbat should be Pesachdik, namely prepared with one's pesach dishes, and using only
kosher for Passover ingredients.
2. One should use plastic dishes, silverware, and a disposable tablecloth,
so that they can all be disposed of at the end of the meal (as one cannot wash
chametz dishes in a Pesachdik sink!).
3. For meals on Friday night and Shabbat morning (before 10:21/10:45 AM Philadelphia
time) one should use small rolls so that one can fulfill the mitzvah of lechem
mishnah.Each person must eat a kezayit
(the size of an olive) of bread. Nothing Pesachdik should be on
the table at the same time with the rolls. The Challah or rolls should be eaten over tissues so that all crumbs can
be wrapped and disposed of by flushing down the toilet (please make sure not to
merely throw chametz in the garbage, as the garbage containers are still in
your property).The table should then
be cleaned and cleared, one should wash his or her hands, and the Pesachdik food can then be served and
eaten.For those who are concerned
with eating bread inside one's Pesach-cleaned house, one may eat outside on the
porch or in the backyard (so long as there is an Eiruv or within one's private
property) and sweep the crumbs off the table or porch.]
4.
Due to the fact that all chametz must
be eaten by the fourth hour of the day - 10:21am according to the Magen
Avraham, or 10:45am according to the Gr"a (Philadelphia time), Shacharit - the
morning prayer service, is scheduled earlier than usual so that one can eat the
rolls before 10:21/10:45 (Philadelphia time) [Please see the OCP website for
minyan details].This time limit does
not mean that one must finish the meal by 10:21/10:45 (Philadelphia time), but
rather that one must finish the chametz portion of the meal, and the remainder
of the meal may continue as long as you'd like. [One should remember to recite
the final Kol Chamira annulment upon disposing of the left over chametz and
crumbs.]
There is an alternative that is suggested by Rav
Moshe Feinstein.Although in general,
the Sages enacted a prohibition against eating Matzah on Erev Pesach (so that
one would be more excited about eating Matzah at the Seder) one may be allowed
to eat "egg matzah", which is matzah that is kneaded with more than just water
and flour, namely, fruit juice or eggs, which takes it out of the category of "poor
man's bread" (lechem oni) and places
it in the category of "matzah ashira," which cannot be used to fulfill one's
mitzvah of eating matzah on pesach (unless the person is sick or elderly and
cannot chew ordinary matzah).Although
many take issue with this allowance, in order for it to work, one would have to
eat a significant amount of egg matzah in order to make a 'hamotzi' and to
recite 'birkat hamazon.' This is due to the fact that the normal bracha for egg matzah is a 'mezonot' and not a 'hamotzi', as it is usually classified as a cake and not bread. This means that one would have to eat an
amount equal to approximately 200 grams, or 7 ounces per meal [the weight
of each matzah can be ascertained by dividing the net weight appearing on the
label by the number of matzot in the box.]. An additional restriction with relying on egg
matzah for the Shabbat meals is that one would only be able to eat the egg
matzah until the end of the fourth hour just like chametz, which means that one
would only be able to eat it until 10:21/10:45 AM (and some rabbis say until midday). This means that this solution will work for
the first two meals of Shabbat, but not the third (namely, not for seudah
shelishit).
SEUDAH SHELISHIT is the final complication
that arises.How does one go about
fulfilling the obligation of having a third meal on Shabbat, as one cannot use
bread at this late hour?There are four
classic solutions that have been offered by the rabbis:
1. Omit bread altogether, eating meat, fish or fruit, relying on the
position of Rabbeinu Tam that allows a mini-meal without bread for the third
meal.
2. Combine two meals into one.Turn
the Shabbat morning meal into two meals, and that way you will have a total of
three meals.This means that before 10:21/10:45 AM (Philadelphia
time) one will have time to make Kiddush and hamotzi and eat the first half of your meal. Then take a break, go for a walk, etc., and
make hamotzi and eat the second half
of the meal.[Despite the merits of
this option, there are two practical weaknesses. First, it requires one to get up quite early
in the morning to finish davening as well as two meals before 10:21/10:45 AM.Second,
our general practice is to eat the third meal of shabbat after midday (1:05PM).]
3. Some suggest that one may use an alternate form of matzah, namely
cooked matzah, such as matzah balls, or fried matzah and make kneidlech or
matza brei.
4. Finally, for those who support eating egg matzah for the first two
meals, there are some opinions that suggest eating egg matzah for the third
meal as well (until the tenth hour of the day). It should be noted that some try to get around this restriction by
adding wine to the egg matzah, which may circumvent the time restriction on
eating the matzah, making it permissible to be eaten for the third meal.
[Regardless of whichever option one chooses, one
should eat food only in moderation after the ninth hour of the day, in order to
have an appetite for the Seder.]
Pesach Product Information - 5768/2008
INTRODUCTION
The purchase of food items for Pesach is a most
important, and every item that one buys must be checked. Items that do not bear special Pesach
certification are not permissible, even if they are kosher all-year round, with
some exceptions that will be enumerated below.I have tried to include as much information as possible in the following
pages, but it still remains a partial list.If you have questions about particular
products please look towards the Passover Guides of the OU [www.oupassover.org] CRC [http://www.crcweb.org/Passover%202008/passover_5768%20Home%20Page.htm]and Star-K [http://star-k.org/cons-pesach-flash.htm]if you are of Sephardic origin, please see
the list of the JSOR [http://www.jsor.org/].
If you are looking to know what products are
kosher for pesach, all the major kashrut organizations have lists of their
products that are kosher for pesach.These lists can be found most easily on [http://www.kashrut.com/Passover]
and include lists from the OU, CRC, Star-K, Kof-K, OK
and others.[There is a fantastic two
paged color-coded shopping guide published by the CRC which lists what products
need or don't need a special Passover supervision - see: [http://www.crcweb.org/Passover%202008/Shopping%20Guide-Pesach%20Guide_2008.pdf]
Please assume that any product not listed here
cannot be used without Kosher for Pesach Supervision. Due to the complexity of the food industry,
one cannot assume that anything (even spices, beverages, condiments and any
sort of processed fruits, vegetable, fish, meat or dairy products) are
chametz-free.When specific brands are
listed as Kosher for Pesach, it does not necessarily mean that all other brands
definitively contain Chametz - simply that other brands cannot be used without
further clarification.
Of course, you can call me with any additional
questions you may have at 201-916-7568 or email me at ravmordy@pobox.upenn.edu.
GENERAL RULES
1. All food items
must have a special Passover kashrut hashgacha (=symbol/certificate).
2. The only food products
that may be used without any special Passover symbol are raw vegetables and
fruits, pure 100% cocoa, plain regular (unflavored and caffinated) tea, [note: this
is not true of coffee]ice,
raw meat and chicken, mineral water, olive oil, salt, sugar.Everything else must have a Passover
hashgacha, or must be approved by the list below.
3. The following list of common household INEDIBLE ITEMS, that are
commonly used in the kitchen do not require any special Passover hashgacha (despite
that such ones do exist in the market) because they either contain no
chametz, or have been rendered completely inedible:
Air-fresheners, rubbing
alcohol, aluminum foil and aluminum foil pans, baby ointments, bags, body wash,
house hold cleaners, candles (even scented), cardboard, carpet cleaners,
charcoal, coffee filters, contact lenses solution, conditioner, copper and
metal cleaners, cork, creams and gels, cups (paper, plastic and Styrofoam),
cupcake holders, detergents, drain openers, fabric protectors, furniture
polish, glass cleaners, glue, hair gels, sprays and mousse, hair removers and
treatments, insecticides,jewelry
polish, laundry detergents, napkins (paper), oven bags, oven cleaner, paper
towels, petroleum jelly, plastic containers, plates (paper, plastic or
Styrofoam), shampoos, silver polish, skin cream, soaps, Styrofoam products, suntan
lotion, pure 100% talcum powder, toilet bowl cleaner, water filters.
4. MEDICINES:There are four
basic rules you need to know.
a. All pill medication (non-chewable tablets, caplets, capsules)
that is swallowed is permitted on Pesach.Lactaid pills are an exception to this rule
and are chametz, see "lactaid" below for details (as are vitamins - see below).
b. Any liquid, chewable medication (or pills coated with flavor) may
contain chametz or kitniyot (ex. Corn syrup) and therefore need to be
investigated.Therefore, please consult
a rabbi if you have a medical situation.
c. Liquid or chewable medication that is chametz-free but contains
kitniyot, may be consumed by someone who is ill.One must be careful to keep them away from
all other Pesach products, utensils, glasses and sinks.
d. Any medical creams or lotions are permitted on Pesach.
The following is a partial list of
commonly used chewable/liquid medicines that are permitted on Passover, any
liquid/chewable that does not appear on this list should not be used until it
is confirmed that it is acceptable for Passover.
Allergy, Cold & Pain Relief: Afrin Nasal
Sprays (All); Clarinex, Claritin Syrup & Tablets; Drixoral all; Motrin
Children's Cold Oral Suspension Dye Free, Children's Cold Oral Suspension,
Children's & Jr. Strength Chewable Tablets, Drops for infants; Nasonex
Nasal Spray; Tom's Bronchial Syrup; Tylenol Allergy Complete,
Adult Liquid Pain Reliever, Children's Suspension Strawberry, Children's
Tablets & Liquid, Children's Cold & Cough Chewables and Suspension,
Children's Plus Cold & Cough Suspension, Children's Cold Chew Tabs, Infant
Concentrated Drops, Junior Strawberry Soft Chews, Max Strength Flu Nighttime
Liquid, Meltaways Children's, Jr; Vick's Dayquil, Nyquil, Sinex, Vapor
Inhaler, Vaposteam, Excedrin sinus,
vicks 44, chapstick cold sore therapy, HCTZ, blistex, Neosporin, Claritin,
afrin nasal spray, Singulari oral/chewable, Zyrtec syrup, Bufferin, Excedrin,
Motrin, Baby medication - pedialyte, pedia-sure, tempra drops.[the following medicines are not approved -
Benadryle, Pediacare, Robtissussin and Triaminic]
Laxitives - many are unacceptable, so check each
one.All Metamucil products contain
kitniyot (so they can be eaten, but keep them away from all pesach
products).Comtrext liquid, Orabase B
Gel and Kaopectate products definitely contain chametz].
Antacids & abdonable discomfort:
BromoSeltzerAntacid; Mylicon Drops for infants; Malox, Mylanta
(All); Pepcid Chewable; Peptic Relief Chew Tablets, Liquid; Pepto-Bismol
(all forms); Zantac Granules, Tablets, Syrup, Gelsul tablet, Metamucil (kitnityot), Di-Gel (kitniyot), pepcid, pepto
bismol, bicarbonate of soda, zantac.Immodium.
Benefiber, despite being labeled and kosher for
pesach, and included in various kosher lists - is not kosher and has actual
chametz inside of it.
Anti-diarrhea:Imodium
Chewable, tablets and Liquid.
Miscellaneous: Lotrimin spray, Metamucil
is Kitniyot (except for the capsules) Waffers arechametz, Prozac, No Doz
Caplets, Dramamin tablets.
Milk of Magnesia; Pedialite Kitniyot;
Pediaflor Drops; Phillips, PediaSure Banana, Chocolate, Strawberry
Kitniyot; Tinactin.Pre-natal vitamins taken as directed by a doctor
should be used without hesitation.
Although the following do not have
certification for Passover, they do not contain chametz: Fer-Iron
Drops; NataChew;Viactiv Multi Vitamin &, Soft Calcium Chews
(Kitniyot); Vi-Daylin
Vitamins are not the same
as pill medicine as they are more like food supplements and therefore require a
hechsher, as they commonly contain yeast, starch, corn dextrose and wheat.If a doctor prescribes a certain medicine one
should talk to a rabbi.In addition,
Pre-natal vitamins as directed by a doctor should be used.For a listing if kosher l'Pesach vitamins see
- www.koshervitamins.com or www.koshervitaminsforless.com
).In addition, Fer-Iron drops,
NataChew, Vi-Daylin do not contain chametz.
[Please note: before
discontinuing use of any medication, please consult with me or with a local
Orthodox Rabbi]
<
5. COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES
a. All forms of:blush, body soap,
creams, eye shadow, eyeliner, face powder, foot powder, ink, lotions, mascara,
nail polish, ointments, pain, shampoo, stick or powdered deodorant are
permitted for use on Pesach - as they are inedible and are not put into the
mouth.
b. The following items should only be used if they are listed as chametz
free on a reliable list of approved products:liquid deodorants, colognes, aftershave, perfumes and hairspray as they
may contain denatured alcohol.Anything
listed as SD, SDA or with a number or letter, for example, SD29C or SD40 means
they contain Alcohol, denatured alcohol or ethyl alchhol.
c. The following items need to be dealt with especially carefully, as they
often contain wheat products - lipstick, mouthwash and toothpaste.Please use only such items that are kosher
for pesach, or appear on an approved list of pesach products.
The follwing are ingrediants to be
on the look out that are problematic for parts b and c; the main one being
alcohol, or any form of wheat, or wheat germ oil.Other problematic ingredients are: Amino Peptide Complex,
Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolized Wheat ProteinAvena Sativa FlourAvena Sativa
Kernel Protein, Barley Extract, Beta Glucan, Disodium Wheatgermido Peg-2
Sulfosuccinate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten,Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat
Protein PgPropyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydroxypropyltrimonium
Hydrolized Wheat Protein, Oat Beta Glucan,Oat Extract, Oat Flour,Phytosphingosine Extract
Prolamine, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids,Stearyldimonium-hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Triticum
Vulgare, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ
Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Wheat Bran
Extract, Wheat Germ Extract,Wheat Germ
Glycerides, Wheat Germamid-opropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat
Protein, Wheat Germ Oil, Wheat Protein, Wheat Sphingolipids.
Here is a list of major products and
brands that may be used
1. Acne Treatment - all creams, lotions and ointments are OK.Oxy Daily Cleaning pads and Maximum Daily
Cleaning pads contains chametz.
2. Blush - all are OK
3. Creams & Lotions - all are OK
4. Contact Lens solutions and cleaners - all are OK.
5. Dental Floss - any unflavored (waxed or unwaxed) does not
require supervision.
6. Deodorant - all sticks and gels are OK.
7. Eyeliner & Eyeshadow - all are OK
8. Hairspray:Brylcreem,
Clinique (non-aerosol), Neutrogena, Power Hold.
9. Hair Gel, Mousse - all are OK.
10.
Lip Products - for a full
list see:[http://www.crcweb.org/Passover%202008/Cosmetics.pdf
or see pages 107-109 of the Star-K list: http://star-k.org/kashrus/star-k08_pesach_directory.pdf
11.
Makeup: ALL creams,
lotions, ointments, blush, mascara, makeup remover, nail polish,and facepowder are OK
12.
Mouthwash - requires
reliable Passover hashgacha.The
following brands have been found not to contain chametz even without a
hashgacha - Cepacol (mouthwash, throat spray), Crest (pro-health oral rinse,
whitening rinse), Fluracare (dual rinse), Scope (all), Tom's of Maine.[Warning - Flourigard
and Prevident Mouthrinse are chametz.]
13. Perfumes/fragrances: (see rule B above) The following have been
checked out and are OK:Chanel (allure,
chance, coco, no. 5, voile), Charlie (red cologne spray, white cologne spray),
Giorgio Armani, Giorgio Beverly Hill (body moist, vapo), Helmut Lang (parfum),
Jean Nate (after bath splash, concentrated cologne spray), MAC (creation),
Ralph Lauren, Revlon (fire and ice, forever crystal, enjoli spray, ciara
spray), Tommy Hillfinger (all), Tom's (body spray), Ultima (sheer sent,
ultimately U), Viktor & Rolf.
14. Powders - all are OK.
15. Shampoos & Conditioners - all are OK
16. Shaving Lotions - Afta Shave, Aqua Velva, Boss (after shave),
Lectric Shave, MAC (shave cream), Mary Kay (domain aftershave balm), Neutrogena
(skin clearing
after shave).
17. Soap - all are OK.
18. Sunblock - all are OK
19. Toothpaste - it is best to use reliable Passover hashgacha.The following brands have been checked out
and are OK:Aim (baking soda, cavity,
tartar control), Arm & Hammer (dental care, toothpaste), Close (up gel),
Colgate (all), Flurocare (foam), Gel-Kam (gel mint, non flavored), Gleem (new
tube only), Homeodent (anise & lemon), Mentadent (advanced), Pearl Drops
(tooth polish and toothpaste), Prevident (5000 plus, brush on gel, mint), Tom's
of Maine (all), Ultrabrite, Viadent (with fluoride).
6. KITNIYOT:
Due to the stringency of not eating chametz on Pesach, Ashkenazic Jews
have developed a custom not to eat Kitniyot (legumes) on Pesach. Kitniyot
include:
Anise, Ascorbic Acid (may be chametz),
Asparatame (Nutrasweet), Beans, Black Eyed Peas, Buckwheat, Canola Oil,
Caraway, Citric Acid (may be chametz), Chickpeas, Coriander, Corn, Corn
Syrup/Glucose Syrup, Cumin, Dextrose, Fennel, Fenugreek, Flax seeds, Hemp,
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Oil, Kasha, Kimmel, Lecithin, Lentils, Licorice, Lucerne,
Lupine, Maltodextrins (chametz or kitniyot derived), Millet, MSG,
Mustard, Peanuts, Polysorbates (may be chametz), Popcorn, Poppy Seeds,
Rice, Saffron, Sesame Seeds, Snow Peas, Sodium Citrate (may be chametz),
Sodium Erythorbate (may be chametz), Sorbitol (could be chametz
if outside the U.S.), Soy Oil, Corn Oil, Soy, String Beans, Sunflower Seeds,
Tofu (from soy),Vetch, Vetching, Wild Rice, Xanthan gum (may be chametz).
Many Kitniyot products on the
market are certified as Kosher, especially from Israel,
France
and other European countries. These Kitniyot products are often in the form of
candy. Many of these products will say "LeOchlay Kitniyot".Joyva products may say "Kosher for
Passover, but are not acceptable for Ashkenazim as they contain kitniyot. The
following Ethnic Delights products distributed by Aron Streit's Co.(product of Israel),
state the following on the lid, Kosher for Passover may contain Kitniyot: Pesto
Sauce, Garlic Aioli with Dill, Sundried Tomatoes Morsels, Olive Spread.
[Sephardim, who have not developed
a custom against eating kitniyot, still need to make sure that such items are
additive free, and for a reliable list of kosher products should see the list
compiled by the J.S.O.R [www.jsor.org].]
BRIEF LIST OF COMMON PRODUCTS ON PESACH
Air Freshener: Does not require Pesach
Supervision.
Airline Meals - For traveler, there are a
number of Kosher for Pesach airline meals.Please do not rely on a guarantee of a travel agent or a steward/ess,
one must check both segments of the meal (the hot and cold part) to ensure that
there is a seal from a reliable kosher certification for Pesach.It is quite common for airlines to mistakenly
serve kosher meals instead of kosher for Pesach meals, and just because our
first meal was kosher for Pesach, does not mean that you do not have to check
your food when you get your second meal.In addition, one should remember to notify your airline and reconfirm your
kosher for Passover food with them at least 24 hours in advance, and perhaps
bring a brown bag lunch just in case.
Alcohol: See: Rubbing alcohol
Aluminum Foil and Pans: Does not require
Pesach Supervision.
Ammonia: Does not require Pesach
Supervision.
Antacids: Require Pesach hashgacha. Tums
and Rolaids are NOT acceptable.
Artificial Sweeteners: Requires pesach
hashgacha.The following brands may be
used: Pure Aspartame (not Equal), Kojel Kosher L' Pesach Sweet N' Good,
Leiber's Kosher L'Pesach Sugar Substitute, Sweet N' Low with OUP, Gefen OUP,
V.I.P. Master OUP. Splenda contains chametz and may not be used.
Baby Foods: Formula - Materna formula, made
in Israel
is the only Kosher for Pesach formula. Enfamil, Prosobee, Carnation, Isomil,
and Similac may be used without special Pesach supervision. However: [1]. They
must be used in separate utensils and may not be washed in a Kosher for Pesach
sink.[2]. It is preferable to buy all
formula before Pesach as it contains traces of ascorbic acid (which may be Chametz).
This applies to both powder and liquid varieties.
Baby Food: Jars & cereals - Requires
Pesach Supervision. Many Healthy Times, and President's Choice varieties are
available with OUP[Beech-Nut varieties
are no longer available with OUP]. [Even rice-cereals are to be considered
chametz without pesach supervision]
Baby oil, lotions and medicated ointments: Do
not require Pesach Supervision.
Baby Wipes: Do not require Pesach
Supervision as long as its ingredients do not include alcohol.
Baking Soda: Does not require Pesach
Supervision.
Balloons: May have a powdered coating on the
inside and should not be used on Pesach.
Bamba Snacks: May appear this year with
an unauthorized OUP. This product is not Kosher for Passover use.
Bleach: Does not require Pesach Supervision.
Bottled Water: Any fresh, unflavored spring
water does not require Pesach Supervision.
Candy: Bartons candy remains under the OUP. Elite
Candies must have an OUP. Not all Elite products are certified by the OU,
such as those that contain gelatin and some contain kitniyot (and are labled -
l'ochlei kitniyot b'lvad). Some Elite products sold in Eretz Yisrael are not
OU certified.
Carrots: Any brand is acceptable without
Pesach supervision IF without additives (including baby carrots)
Chapstick: May be used on Chol HaMoed only
if new and unflavored.
Chocolate Chips - require Passover
certification.FMV Brand Semi-Sweet
Chocolate Chips were mistakenly labeled OKP, the are not acceptable for Pesach.
Cocoa:
Any 100% pure cocoa (no additives or lecithin) including Hershey's Pure Cocoa
Powder, Nestle's Pure Cocoa.
Coffee: The OU's policy this year
has changed - please note the changes.
All regular ground coffees, unflavored and not decaffeinated are
acceptable for Passover use even without a hechsher.
Ground Decaffeinated coffee:Coffee is often decaffeinated by means of ethel acetate, which is
derived from either kitniyos or chometz. Therefore, decaffeinated coffees are
not acceptable for Passover unless they have a hechsher.Brim, Maxwell House, Sanka, Maxim and
Yuban have special Pesach Supervision. Starbucks Flavorlock bags and Regular
Coffee has an OUP, but one may not buy fresh coffee from a Starbucks store on
Pesach.
Instant coffees contain maltodextrin, which is derived from either corn
(kitniyos) or wheat (chometz). Therefore, all instant coffees require special
Passover certification.The only
exceptions are regular Folgers, Taster's Choice, Key Food and Nescafe Taster's
Choice (regular) which are acceptable even without a special Pesach
hechsher.[Even Elite and Gefen coffees
- require a special OU-P in order to use them on Pesach.]
Flavored coffee - Requires
Pesach supervision. Most brands are not kosher for Pesach.
Coffee "Singles" -
Require Pesach Supervision.
Coffee Filters: Does not
require Pesach Supervision.
Cosmetics: discussed above
Dates: must bear special pesach
supervision.Calvo, Dole, Sunglow,
Sunworld are OK even without special Pesach supervision.
Dental Floss: Any unflavored (waxed or
unwaxed) does not require Pesach supervision.
Deodorant: See above "cosmetics &
toiletries"
Dishwashing Detergent: The OU and CRC have ruled this year that all
forms of dish detergents may be used without any special certification.[For those who wish to be extra machmir, the following brands had in the
past been checked and do not contain any traces cetyl alcohol (not Kosher), or
grain alcohol (chametz): Dawn, Ajax,
Brillo Pads, Dermassage, Dynamo, Ivory, Joy, Fresh Start, Fab, Murphy]
Eggs: Do not require Pesach Supervision, but
should be purchased before Pesach. (it is also customary not to eat eggs laid on
pesach)
Fish & fish products:
Frozen, Unprocessed,
without added water or salt - Does not require special Pesach Supervision. if
other ingredients beyond water and salt are added, then it would require a
special pesach supervision.
Frozen or Processed (including gefilte Fish)- many brands have an OUP.
Fresh/raw - Does not require special Pesach Supervision.
Tuna- Bumble Bee Tuna is no longer produced with the OUP. America's Choice, Shoprite,
Pathmark, Season, Rokeach, Gefen, Finast, Stop & Shop and Festive can be found
with Pesach Supervision.
Fruit:
Frozen - whole or sliced,
without additives with no syrup - does not require Pesach Supervision
(but should preferably be purchased before pesach).
Canned - Require Pesach
Supervision even if packed in its own juice.
Fresh- Wax on whole,
unpeeled produce may contain kitniyot, but is batel and not a problem. Cut-up
or peeled produce requires Pesach Supervision as citric acid may be used to
prevent browning.
Fruit -Dried - Requires
Pesach Supervision (kitniyot oils and chametz flour may be used to
prevent sticking). Del Monte and Dole Raisins are OK.
Glue: Any inedible glue is OK.
Grains: Most are chametz or kitniyot
and should be disposed of even if they have not been converted into flour.
However, flax, hemp and quinoa are not chametz. (Some consider flax and
hemp to be kitniyot, however) One who wants to use these grains should check
through the box or bag before Pesach to remove any extraneous matter. Please
note that quinoa pasta, while theoretically kosher for Pesach, is not under any
Pesach supervision and should not be used.
Halvah: May appear with a Kosher for
Passover seal, but is not approved for Ashkenazim as it contains corn syrup.
Honey: Must have Pesach Supervision, as corn
syrup is added to many brands.Rokeach Festive,
Season, Haddar, Western Commerce, Gefen, Streits are OK with KP.
Ice: Bags from plain water do not require
Pesach Supervision.
Insecticides:All insecticide sprays are acceptable.See further 'roach traps'
Juice:
Frozen - most brand name 100%
pure orange or grapefruit concentrate without sweeteners, additives,
enrichments (e.g. Calcium) or Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Citric Acid or
preservatives does not need Pesach Supervision. All other juices require
supervision as enzymes are used in processing.
Liquid - requires Pesach
Supervision.
Lemon/Lime - ReaLemon brand
is OK without special Pesach Supervision. (Liquid only -not frozen)
Grape - Welch's is no
longer made with an OUP.
Please note that Kedem grape juice
sold in the 1.5 liter glass bottles is not mevushal,
whereas all other sized grape juice
are mevushal
Ketchup - requires Passover certification.
Kitniyot - see above.
Lactaid: One must purchase Lactaid milk before
Passover, or combine the Lactaid drops with the milk before
pesach.Lactade pills contain
chometz, and do not fall into the category of pill medication AND MAY NOT BE
USED.If an individual who is lactage
interlant must drink milk or other dairy products over pesach, consult a
rabbi.Most soy and rice milks, such as
rice dream, contain chometz and should not be used on pesach - see later - "soy
milk"
Laundry Detergent: Any inedible cleaner is
OK.
Lemon Juice:must bear Passover certification, except for Realemon and Realime.
Liquor:must bear Passover certification, as may have grain alcohol base.
Matzot: there are many different forms of matzot and
require pesach certification.
Egg Matzot - Matzot made
with fruit juice or eggs, which include "Kosher for Pesach" Egg Matzot, egg
Matzah crackers, etc. may not be eaten on Pesach by healthy Ashkenazim. Even
the sick and elderly cannot fulfill their obligation at the Seder with these
matzot.
Grape Matzot - sold by
Manischewitz, have the same halacha as egg matzot. In addition, Manischewitz
sells Passover Tam Tam crackers that are also made from egg flour dough and
must be treated accordingly. This year, Manischewitz will also have Tam Tam
crackers made from flour and water that can be eaten by all. Matzah sticks
(Kedem) and matzah crackers (Kedem and Manischewitz) are ordinary matzah
products and can be eaten by all.
Spelt- Kosher for Pesach
Hand Shemurah now available at Brauner's Bakery in BoroPark, The Butcherie in Brookline. It can also be
obtained by calling Rabbi Yidel Gruber at The Natural Place, 845-352-7331.
Oat- Kosher for Passover
hand and machine Shemurah are available under the supervision of the Manchester
Beis Din. Contact Mrs. Karen Beleck at 410-358-9580 or call (323) 655-8870,
(845) 364-7217 or (718) 633-0633. Whether the obligation of eating matzah on
the first night of Pesach can be fulfilled with these oat matzahs is very
questionable, and anyone who can safely eat wheat or spelt matza should do so.
Margarine & mayonnaise: Requires Pesach
Supervision.
Meat: Fresh or frozen - Does not require special Pesach Supervision (unless
processed or coated). Note that Empire
Turkey Burgers are not kosher for Pesach without an OUP.
[please note that Empire
Chicken Breast Nuggets and Breaded Chicken Tenders were mistakely labeled as
being KAJ-KP (Passover) between August 16 and October 2007.Please be aware that these products contain
bread crumbs and cannot be eaten on Passover.
Medicine: see above
Milk: Fresh - Does not require Pesach
Supervision if purchased before Pesach (just in case the vitamins A an D that
are commonly added are from a chametz or kitniyot source). If purchased on Chol
HaMoed, should have Pesach Supervision. Flavored milks require Pesach Supervision.
Milk - Lactaid - see earlier "lactaid"
Milk - Powdered- Powdered milk with an OU-D
is OK but should be purchased prior to Passover.
Mineral water - see 'water' below.
Mouthwash: All major brands (ex. Scope,
Listerine, tom's of main, arnway, cepacol, crest, flurocare) are OK, with the
exception of Flourigard and Prevident Mouthrinse and Arnway Glister Anti Plaque
Flouride.
Listerine PocketPaks and Pocket
mist are not acceptable for Passover use
Mustard: Actual mustard is not used because
its seed grows like kitniyot. Rokeach produces substitute/imitation mustard
with an OUP.
Nail Polish Remover: Does not require Pesach
Supervision.
Nutritional supplements: Ensure Liquid Protein may contain actual chametz
and should be avoided. Other Ensure and Glucerna products (ex. Pudding) contain
kitniyot and may be consumed by the elderly or ill that need them (Ensure with
Fiber contains chametz). Those who use these products as an
"additional" nutritional supplement should consult a rabbi before
using them on Pesach.
Nuts: Raw nuts must be free of added preservatives
and other additives. Note: products coated or sprayed with BHT or BHA should
not be used on Pesach.Raw whole,
chopped or ground nuts (e.g. walnuts, almonds, etc.) without added
preservatives or other additives such as BHT or BHA are approved for Passover.
Note: Midget Pecans & Pecan Pieces require a reliable KFP certification, as
they are soaked in chametz during processing. Peanuts are kitniyot.
Oils: Cottonseed oil, grape seed, peanut and
safflower oil may be used with Pesach supervision.
Olive oil - Any brand of Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
may be used without special Pesach supervision.
Olives: must have kosher certification for pesach.
Oven Cleaner: Does not require Pesach
Supervision.
Paper & Plastic Goods
Napkins: Do not require
Pesach Supervision.
Plastic - does not require Pesach
supervision.
Styrofoam- Does not require
Pesach Supervision.
Paper -Any plate can be used for cold food.For hot food, there is a concern that some
plates are starched and there is powder between the plates.Therefore, use one of the following brands
for hot foods:America's Choice, Chinet with OKP, Dixie, Finest, FMV,
Foodtown, Fred Meyer, Georgia Pacific, Giant, James River, Krasdale, Kroger,
Lowes, Pride Made, Ralph's, Solo, Shopper's Value, Stop&Shop, Sweetheart,
Topco, Big-Y, and Vanity Fair.
Paper Towels: May have
starch-based glue at beginning and end. (Some say do not use first 3 and last
sheets).
Pet Food: Pets may be fed kitniyot, but not chametz
(or mixtures of milk and meat) and many pet foods contain wheat or oats as a
primary ingredient for dry pet food.For
a listing of acceptable pet food, please see the CRC list [http://www.crcweb.org/Passover%202008/Pet%20Food%20for%20Pesach.pdf]
or the Star-K list on pages 65-67 [http://www.crcweb.org/Passover%202008/Pet%20Food%20for%20Pesach.pdf]
Perfume: See above - "cosmetics & toiletries"
Pickles - require Passover certification.
Play Doh: Contains chametz
Quinoa Pasta: although it is not chametz or
kitniyot, it is most often manufactured in the same machines as regular pasta
and thus should not be used. Only
Ancient Harvest brand (with the Half Moon K) is recommended.
Raisins: Most require Pesach Supervision, as
they may be sprayed with kitniyot. Del Monte, and Dole may be used even
without supervision. In addition, American Raisin Packers, CaliforniaRaisins'
Flame Raisins, Pride, Safari and Zante Currents may be eaten without special
Passover supervision.
Rice: May only be eaten by Sephardim.
Carolina,
Giant, Emperor, Mahatma, Riviana and Success are acceptable brands but they
should be checked for other grains before using. They cannot be used - even
by Sephardim, if any additives (including vitamins) are included.
Roach Traps: Combat Roach Killing System,
d-Con Rat and Mouse baits and Black Flag Roach Ender contain chametz.
Raid ant and roach baits are kitniyot and do not have to be put away.
Rubber Bands: Orthodontic rubber bands may
be coated with powder. If so, they should be rinsed before Pesach.
Rubber Gloves: OK if not lined with powder.
Rubbing Alcohol: Any isopropyl or synthetic
(acetyl, lanolin, benzyl and methyl-) may be used.
Salads:May
be coated with citric acid and should have KP supervision. Dole Pre-Washed
salads bearing a star-K are kosher for Passover without special Pesach
certification. However, Dole Verry Veggie Salad Mix contains peas, which are
kitniyot, and should not be used.Fresh
Express requires an OKP and Bodek requires OUP. OU certified peeled carrots do not need a
special OUP, whereas most other peeled carrots do.
Salad Dressing - requires Passover
certification.
Salt: Does not require special Pesach
supervision, only that one must check to make sure that the salt is non-iodized,
and check the ingredient panel to make sure there is no added iodine, dextrose,
maltodextrin or polysorbates.Any salt
with additives requires supervision.No
salt substitutes are available.
Seltzer: Both
unflavored and flavored seltzer requires Pesach Supervision. A
number of supermarket brands will have OUP flavored seltzer this year,
including America's
Choice and Shoprite.
Shampoo: See "toiletries"
Silver Polish: Does not require KP.
Soda: Soda is problematic on Pesach because
corn syrup is a most common sweetener in soday (which is kitniyot), and the
'flavoring' found in soda can also be from chametz sources.Therefore all soda requires a hechsher (even
for Sephardim).
Coca-Cola: Must have OUP on
the yellow cap (or the lid of the can). Coke will be available in 2-Liter
bottles and cans this year. This includes Sprite, diet sprite and Seagram's
Ginger Ale. [Sometimes the Coke bottle
may continue to list 'corn syrup' as an ingredient, so long as you see the
yellow cap and the Pesach certification it is fine.]
Pepsi Cola: May be used
with a KP. Other sodas bottled by Pepsi may also be used with a KP. Please look carefully for the KP and do not
rely on the yellow bottle cap alone, as other Pepsi products have yellow caps
that are not KP.Sodas certified by
the cRc for Pesach (bearing the cRc symbol and P-04) are acceptable for
Ashkenazim despite whatever kitniyot might be listed in the ingredients.
Soy milk - may contain both chametz and
kitniyot.Vitosoy Sansui Original
Natural Soymilk and Soy Dream Original unenriched Soy milk are chametz free but
contain kitniyot.Only one whose
dietary restrictions require them to do so should.
Spices: Require Pesach Supervision, as the
drying process involves chametz.(Cumin,
has again been prohibited from all usage over pesach).
Sugar: it is best to buy all sugar before pesach.
White - All pure, granulated
cane sugar without dextrose - does not require Pesach Supervision.
Brown - Domino Regular
(even without OKP) and brownulated with OKP, and Jack Frost are OK, as are
C&H Gold, Dark Brown, Dixie Crystals, Wholesome Foods Organic Cane Sugar.
Confectioner's - Requires
Kosher for Passover supervision. [Confectioners Sugar under the
Jewel/Albertson's label is kitniyot, despite the United Mehadrin Kosher-P]
Substitute - See Artificial
Sweeteners.
Tablecloths: Some vinyl tablecloths are
coated with powder. They should not be used on Pesach.
Tea bags:
Unflavored regular caffeinated
tea - does not require pesach supervision.
Decaffeinated - Requires
Pesach Supervision. Most brands are not acceptable. Lipton Decaffeinated is acceptable even
without special Pesach supervision, as is Nestea instant unflavored
decaffeinated tea powder.
Flavored - requires pesach
supervision.Wissotzky teas with OUP.
Swee-Touch-Nee Herbal Caffeine-free Seren-I-Tea with OUP. Good Earth OUP, G'Day
Herbal Teas (Star-K), Wissotzky OUP.
Instant- Require special pesach supervision, except Nestea
regular and decaffeinated (unflavored and without sweetener) may be used
without special Pesach Symbol.
Tofu:Kitniyot,
and processed tofu may contain chametz.
Toiletries: see above "Cosmetics and
Toiletries"
Toothpaste: see above "Cosmetics and
Toiletries"
Vanilla - Requires Kosher for Passover
supervision.
Vegetables:
Frozen - Requires Pesach
Supervision as the same equipment may be used during the year to make pasta
products. Bodek(O/U p), Garden Pure (O/U p), Meitav (O/U), B-Tam Star KP.
Canned or dried -Requires
Pesach Supervision. (Shoprite, Pathmark and America's Choice).
Fresh uncut: Does not need
KP Supervision, but should be rinsed before use.
Fresh-cut and packaged
- See earlier "salads"
Vitamins: See above under "Medicines"
Water: bottled water does not require
special Passover supervision.
Wine: Not all wines are Kosher for Pesach -
all wines, liqueurs and grape juice must have reliable Passover certification.
Some may contain corn syrup (kitniyot). The most preferable Seder wines are red, not
mevushal, and have no added water or sweeteners. However, if non-Jews will be
attending your Seder, make sure the wine is mevushal.
Yogurt: Needs Pesach Supervision. Note:
Dannon with OUP only - not all Dannon is certified OU. Please check carefully.
8. The Seder
While it would be impossible to list all of the
Halachot of the Seder in this Guide, certain Halachot deserve special
attention.
Starting Time
The Sedarim should start as early as possible, but
after it has become fully dark. This year, because of Shabbat, one may not make
any preparations for the Seder until after it is fully dark. Check here for your
local time, follow "Gaonim Tzeit Hakochavim
Minimum Size of Wine Cup (Kosot)
For the Arbah Kosot (including Kiddush) the cup
must be at least 2.9 fluid ounces in size. This is the size of a Dixiecup (the
little disposable ones for mouthwash).
One must drink at least "rov kos", more than half
of the cup of wine and should attempt to finish the entire cup. The same
Halacha applies to each of the 4 cups. If you don't want to drink a lot of
wine, get a cup that is only a little bigger than the minimum size or dilute
the wine.
Minimum Strength of Wine:
1. If health reasons preclude the use of wine or a
person's appreciation of the Seder is significantly diminished by using wine,
grape juice may be drunk.
2. One may also dilute the wine with a small amount
of grape juice or water. The ratio should not exceed 2/3 cup water to 1/3 cup
grape juice/wine.
Minimum Amount of Matzah Shmurah
Each one must eat the minimum amount of Matzah
Shmurah the following three times during the Seder: 1) After the Bracha Al
Achilat Matzah 2) for Korech 3) for the Afikomen.
For 1 & 3: After reciting the Bracha, Al
Achilat Matzah and for Afikomen - a piece equivalent in size to 7 inches by 6
3/8 inches. This is about the size of two medium hands, with the fingers
held loosely.
For 2- a piece equivalent in size to 7
inches by 4 inches. This is about the size of one medium hand, with the
fingers held very loosely.
If for health reasons, one cannot eat Matzah, then
Matzah Shmurah Meal (upon which one is permitted to recite the Hamotze) may be
substituted as follows: 1&3. After reciting the Bracha, Al Achilat
Matzah and Afikomen - an amount of meal that can be compacted into a vessel
measuring 1.5 ounces. For Korech - an amount of meal that can be
compacted into a vessel holding 1.1 fluid ounces.
Matza and Maror should both be eaten at a steady
pace, without taking major breaks. However, they should not be gobbled
down in an abnormally fast manner. One should give themselves about four minutes
for each eating engagement.
Minimum Amount of Maror
Each person must eat a minimum amount of Maror
twice during the Seder. Once after the Bracha, Al Achilat Maror, and once for
Korech.
The use of Romaine Lettuce is preferable for Maror
(even though it doesn't burn). However, one absolutely must check for bugs on
this lettuce, before Yom Tov. The lettuce should be soaked rinsed thoroughly
and then checked leaf by leaf for bugs in the presence of a strong light. One
can also clean one's lettuce by rubbing each side forcefully with a sponge and
soap. The leaves can then be rinsed off and do not need to be checked. Some
lettuce is sold pre-checked.
Romaine lettuce, whole leaves: Enough leaves
to cover an area 8 x 10 inches. This is slightly less than a sheet of
standard paper.
Romaine lettuce, stalks only: Enough stalks
to cover an area of 3 x 5 inches. This is the size of an index card.
Pure grated horseradish:
1. After reciting the Bracha, Al Achilat Maror, an
amount that can be compacted into a vessel measuring 1.1 fluid ounces. This is
the size of a disposable shot glass, slightly overfilled.
2. For Korech, an amount that can be compacted into
a vessel measuring .7 fluid ounces. This is a shot glass about 2/3 filled.
If you have trouble eating horseradish in these
quantities, you can just have a little, then eat lettuce in the quantities
described above.
See the Printable
Guide to Matza and Maror Amounts for a graphical representation of these
amounts.[http://people.brandeis.edu/~rafrazer/matzashiurim.shtml]
Remember that Shulchan Orech (the meal) is part of
the Seder and part of our praise of Hashem. This should be reflected in the
tone of the meal and conversation at the meal. One should be sure to leave a little
room for the Afikomen so that it not be eaten after one is already stuffed. We
do not eat after the Seder in order to allow the taste of the Matza to remain
in our mouths.
One should also make sure to finish eating the
Afikoman by Chatzot.
9. The Omer
The period from Pesach until Shavuot is known as
the Omer. Each night, beginning with the second night of Pesach, we count the
day of the Omer, starting with 1 and going up to 49. The text is found in
siddurim. You only need to say the blessing and the "Hayom ____ LaOmer part,"
although some have the custom to add on additional psalms and declarations both
before and after.
If you forgot to count one night, you can count the
following day without saying the blessing. That makes you still be eligible to
count the Omer with a blessing the following nights. If you totally missed a 24 hour period, you
can't count the Omer with a blessing anymore. However, you are still obligated
to count the Omer without a Bracha. Ideally, one in this situation should hear
the bracha recited by someone else, say Amen, and then count the Omer. For this
reason, in synagogues, the rabbi or chazzan recites the bracha out loud every
night at Maariv.
Rabbi Akiva's students died out during the Omer,
because they were not respectful to one another. We should use the Omer as a
time to work on mutual respect, and keep it up even after the Omer is over. In memory of Rabbi Akiva's students, there
are several mourning customs that apply during the Omer
1) Not getting haircuts (even on Fridays)
2) Men - not shaving (some shave on Fridays in honor of Shabbat)
3) Not listening to live music
4) Not going to parties, even without live music
Going to movies is obviously not discussed in the
Gemara or Shulchan Aruch, but some have the practice of refraining from this as
well. This seems appropriate if you consider going to a movie to be a festive
activity, which may depend on the person and the specific movie in question.
There are two customs about when these restrictions
apply:
1) From after Pesach until Lag Ba'omer
2) From Rosh Chodesh Iyar until Shavuot
The restrictions of the Omer (except getting a haircut) are suspended on
Pesach, Shabbat, and Yom Ha'atzmaut.
10. Chametz
She'avar Alav HaPesach
[PLEASE NOTE: The following information MAY change as more information
becomes available. Please look for updated information regarding
chametz purchase after Pesach.
After Pesach, there is a Rabbinical prohibition of eating
or deriving benefit from Chametz SheAvar Alav HaPesach, chametz that was
in the possession of a Jew on Pesach.
Therefore, after Pesach, consumers must ascertain that
the chametz they purchase was not in the possession of a Jew on Pesach. Therefore
Chametz may be purchased from a store under the following two conditions
only:[1] if the store sold its chametz
through a local rabbi.[2] if the store
is owned by a gentile. If the gentile owns more than half of the store it is
considered as if he is the owner. In a corporation, at least 51% of the voting
stock must be owned by gentiles. Chametz may be purchased from a Jewish owned
store whose owner properly sold the chametz before Pesach.
According to the Star-K, products found in major
supermarkets have a two-week turnaround time. This means, one may buy chametz
gamur (i.e. bread, cookies, pretzels, cereals, etc.) from a Jewish owned
store that did not sell its chametz two weeks after Passover has passed, as one
may assume the store acquired the product after Pesach, and there is no problem
purchasing that Chametz. Products found in smaller shops may have a longer
shelf life, and therefore clarification of turnaround time for such a
particular store must bemade.
Obviously, the turnaround time for alcoholic beverages at liquor stores is much
longer than that of products in supermarkets.
Local Stores here in Philadelphia:
Fresh Grocer is owned by
non-Jews and one may buy there immediately after Passover ends.
Ben N Jerry's & Cereality are both owned by Jews and do not sell their
chametz.This means that one must wait
until they turn over their entire stock before anyone can eat there.When it comes to Ben N Jerry's, one can eat
there AFTER "free cone day" on April 29th, as they use up their
entire stock on that time.Regarding
Cereality, one will have to investigate their turnover rate, and I would assume
that one could not eat there for at least a month.
National
stores:
Here
is a short (and incomplete) list of stores which are owned by gentiles:
BJ's, Costco, CVS, KMart, Rite Aid, Pathmark, Sam's Club,
7-Eleven, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe's, Walgreens and Wal-Mart.
A Chag Kasher
v'Sameach to all!
