Kosher for Passover Bargain Salad & Sandwich in Jerusalem

Today my friend and I went to Jerusalem. We saw a fascinating exhibit of Pre-State Haggadot in the National Library, Givat Ram, Hebrew University, then we needed to eat lunch. Finding certified/supervised Kosher for Passover No Kitniyot, legumes which most Ashkenaz Jews don't eat on Passover, food isn't all that easy. I figured we'd find something in Center 1, but it's a good thing my friend suggested the Central Bus Station.

One of the sandwich and salad places had both kitniyot and non-kitniyot salads and sandwiches. They were clearly labeled and on separate counters.

Non-Kitniyot were NS30 for either a sandwich or a salad, while the kitniyot were NS25, at least the sandwiches were. We took salads, which were a nice size. I had Tuna, while my friend took the Greek Salad. There was no dressing. We should have asked for olive oil. We received a fork and napkins. There are tables and chairs in the nearby food court, so we had a nice leisurely lunch together. The tables seemed clean and cared for.

Afterwards we walked through Center 1 on our way to the bus home. It's a good thing we didn't take my advice. It was like a ghost town. Most of the stores were closed, especially the restaurants and fast food places.

It's Official, The OU Has Declared Quinoa Non-Kitniyot Kosher for Passover

recipe

For those Ashkenazi Jews like yours truly, the American OU is still my "expert rabbinic" source for certain decisions.  So, I'm glad that they have finally declared that quinoa isn't kitniyot, lentils.

Following extensive research and on-site investigation of cross-contamination issues by OU Kosher personnel at all quinoa growing areas including: Puno, Cuzco, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Junin and Chiclayo in Peru; and Alto la Paz and Chayapata in Bolivia; as well as the collection, washing and milling stations of quinoa, OU Kosher is pleased to announce that, for the first time, it is recommending quinoa for Passover, when processed with special OU Passover supervision and bearing the OU-P symbol.
In addition to quinoa, OU Kosher has concluded that related canihua, kiwicha and maca seeds processed under supervised conditions may also be approved for Passover (OU-P).” 

It's not one of our staples and I actually stay away from rice.  I personally eat the same during Passover and the rest of the year, barring the bread, matzah instead of challah, on Shabbat and holidays. The only difference is the oil.  On Passover I only use olive oil, even for cooking.  That's because I'm on a low carbohydrate diet.  It works for me.

Considering that the whole kitniyot issue is based on minhag, custom, I pray that it will soon be deleted, cancelled eradicated by the coming of the Mashiach bimhaira biyamainu, the Messaiah quickly in our days, G-d willing.  We must be one nation without ethnic barriers.

Olive Oil

During Passover, many Ashkenaz Jews don't use any kitniyot/legumes, including the everyday soy oil. For many of us, olive oil is the oil used for salads, cooking etc. So I was very happy to see this short article about the benefits of olive oil.

Olive Oil for Flavor and Health

Personally, I'm not willing to try most of the other non-kitniyot oils on the market, like cotton seed oil. There are great debates over the safety of making food out of cotton seeds, since cotton isn't grown as a food crop.

Olive oil is one of our most ancient foods, also used medicinally, so I feel safer with it. And I also love the flavor!

Maybe he shouldn't have started with Kitniyot

Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, the rabbi who heads the Machon Shilo (no "connection" to my hometown) is being attacked for his psak, religious decision, that kitniyot, legumes, should no longer be forbidden to Ashkenaz Jews on Passover.

If the psak's "an attempt to make the culinary lives of Ashkenazim living in Israel a little bit easier," then it is a mistake. But if it's an advanced step in a long process of unification of the Jews in Eretz Yisrael, then it's good.

IMHO, of course.

Kosher L'Pesach Restaurants

I'm amazed!

Just a few years ago, there was "no place to eat out" on Passover besides one's home, friends, relatives or hotels (very expensive) here in Israel. Now the list is phenomenal! Here's the eluna site, which lists them with phone numbers and indicates kitniyot use.

That was a nice break; now back to work!

Interesting Psak About Kitniyot on Pesach

Please don't get me wrong, I haven't accepted this psak, yet. One isn't supposed to pick and choose rabbinic decisions according to convenience. According to Pirkei Avot, we're supposed to choose a rabbi (teacher), and then follow in accordance to what he teaches. And since I'm not a follower of Machon Shilo, actually it's not associated with the Shiloh I reside in and never heard of it before, I can't just blindly follow what it has publicized.

According to that institute, they chose the name "Shilo," because:

The central idea behind Machon Shilo is that while the Jewish People have physically returned to Erets Yisrael, they have not yet returned to the Torah of Erets Yisrael, only to the learning of Torah in Erets Yisrael.

Using that same reasoning, I don't know if the time has come to erase all halachik ethnic differences. That's the external manifestation. I think we have to first erase the more "internal" differences.

Here in the Village of Shiloh, I'm encouraged by the large percentage of families whose children have married other "eidot," Jewish Ethnic groups. The newest generation is growing up with "blurred lines," knowing that we're all Jews and that's the most important thing of all.

Chodesh Tov!