16 Apr PESACH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT FROM THE OU
Does purified water enhanced with minerals require Pesach certification?
Although the OU approves bottled and distilled water
without Pesach certification, when it comes to enhanced
water an OU-P is required. This is due to the fact that the
enhanced water may contain sensitive ingredients such as
citric acid, which may be derived from corn starch or amylase.
Given that the mitzvah of bedikas chometz (searching for chametz) takes place once a year, it would seem to me that we should recite an additional blessing of Shehechiyanu. Why do we not do so?
A number of reasons are given for this. Rosh
(Pesachim 1:10) says that since the search for
chometz is done in preparation of Pesach, the
Shehechiyanu on the Yom Tov covers bedikas
chometz as well. Tur (Orach Chaim 432) offers
another explanation. If a person leaves home
within 30 days before Pesach, bedikas chometz
is performed at the last night one will be home
before Pesach begins. Since bedikas chometz is
not always performed at a set time, it is inappropriate to recite the bracha of Shehechiyanu
which concludes ‘vehigiyanu lazman hazaeh’ – “who has allowed us to live to reach this time”.
Avudraham (Shaar 3 – Birchas HaMitzvah) explains that Shehechiyanu is only recited when
engaging in a pleasurable mitzvah. Destroying chometz causes pain; one discards and destroys
perfectly good food. Thus, no blessing is recited.
Do products that contain vinegar fall under the prohibition of chametz?
Surprisingly, the answer is the classical rabbinic response: “It
depends.” Vinegar is manufactured from fermented alcohol, and
there are various sources of alcohol. In the United States, most
vinegar and alcohol is corn-derived (corn is kitniyot), and chametz
sheavar alav haPesach does not apply. In contrast, in Europe, the
majority of alcohol is derived from barley. As such, vinegar-based
products in Europe are a problem.
Is instant coffee from Starbucks ok for use on Pesach?
Via instant unflavored coffee is acceptable for use on Pesach when
bearing the regular OU symbol.
Does frozen salmon require special Pesach supervision?
Raw frozen salmon that contains nothing other
than water and salt does not require special Pesach
supervision. Although the ingredients frequently list
coloring, this refers to pellets that salmon are fed that
have no effect on their Pesach status.
Why can’t rabbis sell the chametz of Jewish-owned supermarkets before Pesach?
Indeed, this is exactly what takes place. In fact,
some rabbis arrange to sell not only individual
stores but also entire supermarket chains.
However, this process is not without controversy,
as it appears on the surface to be nothing more
than a subterfuge. After all, some supermarkets
are open on Pesach, conducting business as
usual.
What if the store is jointly owned by a Jew and non-Jew?
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986; Iggerot Moshe, EH
1:7) discusses whether it is permissible to buy shares in a
company that operates on Shabbos. Rav Moshe posits that
a minor shareholder is not considered a halachic owner
of the business. However, if one owns enough stock that
the management reckons with his opinion, the Jewish
shareholder.
Do raw meat and poultry products require special Pesach supervision?
All meat and poultry do not require
special Pesach supervision as long as they
are raw and unprocessed. Ground meat
and poultry count as unprocessed for
these purposes.
If somebody was preparing food before Pesach, and they accidentally used a chametzdik spoon to stir the food that they’re making. What’s the status? Can they serve this food on Pesach?
So, we really have to differentiate. There’s two different possibilities
here, one is that the food was cold, so then as long as the spoon
was clean, which presumably it was, you took it from the drawer,
presumably it was a clean spoon, then the food is fine. Even if
there would have been some tiny crevice, something in the side
of the spoon, it would be nullified before Pesach and therefore, as
long as the food was all cold everything is fine.
What if I stirred a hot soup with the spoon?
So now, it would make a difference like this:
If the spoon, we know was not used within 24 hours, with chametz, so let’s say it was a
milchig spoon, and I know I didn’t use it the whole Shabbos, and now it’s Sunday and I was
preparing the food, I know the spoon hadn’t been used with chametz in 24 hours, then the
food is fine to use on Pesach, because this happened before Pesach. If it happens on Pesach,
then the food is always a problem. You cannot use any hot spoon that was used in any
food on Pesach; it becomes forbidden, at least for Ashkenazim. But, if it happened before
Pesach, as long as it wasn’t used in 24 hours then the food may be used. If the spoon had
been used within the last 24 hours with chametz, then the food may not be used on Pesach.
If you have a question for Rabbi Elefant please email jewishvues@gmail.com and write in the subject line “Question for Rabbi Elefant”