New Kitniyot Survey Reveals Big Changes in Approach to "Little Things"
It’s been 10 years
since the Great Kitniyot Rebellion of 2007 when Rav David Bar-Hayyim issued his famous (or infamous) psak halacha
that permitted Ashkenazim to eat kitniyot during Pesach.
Back then, most people were
so preoccupied with the removal of kitniyot that the removal of chametz almost
seemed like an afterthought. But as the Rav explained, kitniyot are the little
things & we need to focus
on the bigger issues.
Over the last 10
years, many people have talked, written or blogged about eating kitniyot—or not
eating them. Even the Reform and Conservative Movements have hopped on the
kitniyot bandwagon. But until now, everyone has only cited anecdotal evidence.
In honor of the 10th
anniversary of the Great Kitniyot Rebellion, Machon Shilo created an online
survey (in English) about Pesach customs and kitniyot. Circulated via Facebook
and popular Israel-based email lists, the survey was answered by nearly 150
people.
While we can't claim that the sample is statistically valid at this stage, the survey has nevertheless revealed some very interesting trends:
- 30% of respondents who eat kitniyot derivatives have been doing it for less than 5 years.
- 25% of respondents who eat kitniyot have been doing it for less than 5 years.
- 35% of people who have changed their customs were influenced by Machon Shilo
“He who does away with
this practice, may my part be with him; would that the great authorities of
this generation in this region agreed with me to carry out this great mitzva.”
Kudos to Rav Bar-Hayyim and Machon Shilo!
Comments
You're kidding, right? Adherents of the reform and conservative movements are not on any bandwagon, and you think they're worried about kitniyot? Really? They're not worrying about anything major like Shabbat, kashrut, halacha in general - but they're worried about kitniyot?