Vered HaGalil and the Kitniyot Problem
In last week's the Tzohar parasha sheet, they ran a series of articles on kitniyot. After an article by Rav Dov Lior and some Q&A, there was a fascinating article about Tzohar's efforts to bring some sanity--and some halacha--back to the kitniyot issue.
Tzohar's Rabbinical leadership has been in touch with the Rabbanut and a revolution in Pesah labeling is on the way with more accuracy and less humrot that have no halachic justification (although they are popular in Haredi Judaism).
They also took the Rabbanut to task for not enforcing its own psak from many years ago that ruled that canola/"liftit" and cottonseed oil are kosher for Pesah even for those who do not eat kitniyot.
Tzohar concluded by saying the last year has witnessed the rise in power of the consumer. They call upon Jews who care about halacha to buy only from companies that have halachically accurate Pesah hekshers... not just during the seven days of Pesah, but all year long.
Today I was pleased to discover that Elite bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao) carries a halachically accurate heksher: "Kosher for Passover. Contains canola."
On the other hand, Vered HaGalil has a halachically inaccurate and misleading heksher: "Kosher for Passover for kitniyot eaters only." With no explanation of course.
The fine print says that there may be traces of soy and other products. But this does not render it fit only for kitniyot.
This is not the halacha. Following the advice of Tzohar, I will buy from Elite and not from Vered HaGalil.
Chag Sameach!
P.S. The Tzohar parasha sheet also relate how Rav Shaul Yisraeli zt"l of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav would offer peanuts to his students guests. When they would ask the Rav whether he ate kitniyot of Pesah, he would laugh and answer that peanuts aren't kitniyot. (This story was also related by Rav Bar-Hayim related several years ago).
Tzohar's Rabbinical leadership has been in touch with the Rabbanut and a revolution in Pesah labeling is on the way with more accuracy and less humrot that have no halachic justification (although they are popular in Haredi Judaism).
They also took the Rabbanut to task for not enforcing its own psak from many years ago that ruled that canola/"liftit" and cottonseed oil are kosher for Pesah even for those who do not eat kitniyot.
Tzohar concluded by saying the last year has witnessed the rise in power of the consumer. They call upon Jews who care about halacha to buy only from companies that have halachically accurate Pesah hekshers... not just during the seven days of Pesah, but all year long.
Today I was pleased to discover that Elite bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao) carries a halachically accurate heksher: "Kosher for Passover. Contains canola."
On the other hand, Vered HaGalil has a halachically inaccurate and misleading heksher: "Kosher for Passover for kitniyot eaters only." With no explanation of course.
The fine print says that there may be traces of soy and other products. But this does not render it fit only for kitniyot.
This is not the halacha. Following the advice of Tzohar, I will buy from Elite and not from Vered HaGalil.
Chag Sameach!
P.S. The Tzohar parasha sheet also relate how Rav Shaul Yisraeli zt"l of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav would offer peanuts to his students guests. When they would ask the Rav whether he ate kitniyot of Pesah, he would laugh and answer that peanuts aren't kitniyot. (This story was also related by Rav Bar-Hayim related several years ago).
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