The Kitniyot Liberation Front

In most years, the observance of Yom HaAtzmaout is not celebrated on the actual day that the State of Israel was declared (the 5th of Iyyar) in order to prevent a desecration of the Sabbath. This year, it is celebrated on the 6th of Iyyar, so that the Memorial Day Services begin on Sunday night rather than Saturday night. (In fact, the next time that Yom HaAtzmaout will be celebrated on the 5th of Iyyar is in the year 2020!!) If Judaism lends importance to actual date of an event, how can we reconcile the following issues: Rav Goren zt"l ruled that the proper day should be observed, but what about separating ourselves from the public who observes the deferred day? When should we recite the Hallel prayer? Isn't it in vain if we're not saying it on the day of the miracle? When do we add the Al-HaNissim prayer to our Birkath HaMazon and Shmona Esray? Rav Bar-Hayyim suggests that we look to "Purim Meshulash" for the answer. The festivities and customs of the day shou...

'על הניסים' לה' באייר - יום תקומת ישראל (יום העצמאות) עַל הַנִּסִּים, הַגְּבוּרוֹת, הַתְּשוּעוֹת, הַמִּלְחָמוֹת וְהַפְּדוּת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ עִמָּנוּ וְעִם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה. בִּימֵי תְקוּמָתֵנוּ, בְּקוּם עָלֵינוּ בְּנֵי עֲרָב, לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגּוֹלָה אֶל אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה. אָמְרוּ: לְכוּ וְנַכְחִידֵם מִגּוֹי, וְלֹא יִזָּכֵר שֵׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹד תהילים פג, ה . וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים עָמַדְתָּ לָּנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָתֵנוּ. רַבְתָּ אֶת רִיבֵנוּ, דַּנְתָּ אֶת דִּינֵנוּ, נָקַמְתָּ אֶת נִקְמָתֵנוּ. מָסַרְתָּ רַבִּים בְּיַד מְעַטִּים, וּרְשָׁעִים בְּיַד צַדִּיקִים. הֵמָּה כָּרְעוּ וְנָפָלוּ; וַאֲנַחְנוּ קַּמְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָד תהילים כ, ט . לְךָ עָשִׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל בָּעוֹלָם, וּלְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל עָשִׂיתָ תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה. וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵׁנִי בַּחֲמִשָּׁה לַחֹדֶשׁ, פָּרַקנוּ עוֹל גּוֹיִם מֵעַל צַוָּארֵנוּ. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעָשִֹיתָ לָּנוּ תְּשׁוּעָה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם , כָּךְ עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ בָּ...

Although the rainy season is over in Erets Yisrael, Rav Bar-Hayim has just released a tshuva about praying for rain. His answer clearly shows his mastery of the sources as well as his logical halachic approach that makes Judaism--and daily prayer--relevant. To summarize: We make mention (Mazkirim) of HASHEM’s great powers which cause the rain to fall from the evening prayers of last day of Sukoth In Erets Yisrael, praying for rain from the 7th of MarHeshwan is no longer relevant since there are no pilgrims who need time to return to their homes outside the Land before the rains begin. We should "mazkir" rain starting from Mossa’e Sh’mini Assereth. The Rambam writes that people should pray for rain (Sho’alim) based on the rainy season of that area. This is why the Jews of Bavel differed in their Halakhic practice from their brethren in Erets Yisrael. They waited until the 60th day after the equinox, often erroneously taken to mean, based on the Julian calendar, December 5th,...

Forgive me for hacking from the Esser Agoroth blog (that also references this site), but his collection of quotations from friends and neighbors was nice--and shows we're making progress: Religious resident of Bet El B': “I know so many Ashkenazim who eat kitniyot now. But, we're just not there yet.” (In previous years, this same Jew was adamantly opposed to the idea.) Religious resident of K'far Tapu'ah: “I see the logic behind kitniyot being permissible during Pesah, and I will say so openly. But, I am choosing not to eat them for now.” Religious woman of Iraqi decent in Jerusalem: “There is no way I would consider marrying an Ashkenazi man,...unless he ate kiyniyot during Pesah,...then maybe I would consider it. What's Pesah without rice?” Two friends at the beach: “Hey, wait a minute! You're always talking about what a hard core Litvak you are. What are you doing eating tehina?” “I eat kitniyos during Pesah.” “Have you ever heard of Rav Bar-Hayim?” “No,...

Zealots of Exile are no longer content with their ban on kitniyot and have moved on to banning soft matzah as was eaten by our forefathers for a mere 2000 or 3000 years, minus the last 300. The Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) wishes to express grave concerns about a new product called “Laffa Matza” being sold in certain food outlets in Melbourne, which bears a Kosher for Passover symbol and is soft and chewy. What is clear from this discussion is that: The RCV has not been able to explain why they are concerned--except that the soft matzot are chewy (I have not seen a source for this being a problem nor have they said soft matzot are actually chametz, chas ve shalom) There are vested business interests in this and the "Laffa Matza" is selling well despite their efforts The replies on the Galus Australis blog with the most invective come from people who have never made matzot and don't know what they're talking about There are thinking Jews everywhere who can sep...

In an interview with the UK's Jewish Chronicle, Rav Bar-Hayim explains that it's permissible for Jews in the UK to eat kitniyot: His reasoning is that the tradition of avoiding kitniyot emerged at precisely the time that Jews were expelled from England - 1290 to 1656. This means that, just as the kitniyot custom cannot be considered native to Israel, it cannot be considered native to England. The tradition became established in England, he believes, by Jews who moved from Europe continuing to observe it out of habit after they immigrated. But he argues that according to halachah, when arriving in the "halachic virgin territory" of England they were free to either retain or discard the tradition. He believes that immigrants to England were unaware of this choice and therefore their descendants are free to either retain or discard the kitniyot custom.

Good news for fans of the Talmud HaYerushalmi. May it soon be returned to its rightful place in the eyes of the Torah world: Manuscripts from the Cairo Genizah, a collection of ancient Jewish writings stored in an Egyptian synagogue, which were recently examined reveal new segments of the Talmud, Mishnah (oral Jewish laws) and rabbinic literature. Among the scriptures was a whole sentence off the Jerusalem Talmud's Tractate Bikkurim which had been missing until now. The incorporation of the phrase in the Gemara renders the tractate chapter intelligible.

Machon Shilo Notes Increase in “Ashkenazi” Kitniyot Eaters Compares Mistaken Kitniyot Ban with Controversy Over Ancient Ashkelon Graves of Pagans JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, March 24, 2010 — Machon Shilo has announced that the kitniyot rebellion continues as more Orthodox Jews are abandoning the mistaken practice of abstaining from eating kitniyot during the Passover holiday. Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, head of the institute notes with satisfaction that Machon Shilo is frequently cited as having an impact on people’s decisions. “Each year I am contacted by an increasing number of people who inform me that they are no longer adhering to the ban on eating kitniyot ,” says Rabbi Bar-Hayim. “They thank me for the “heter” of eating kitniyot and providing clear halachic insight that makes Torah Judaism relevant for thinking people.” Rabbi Bar-Hayim uses sources in the Mishnah and Gemara to demonstrate that customs are connected to the place where one resides and are not simply packed up like household ...

A friend of a friend learns with an avrech from Yeshivat Torat Hayyim, the yeshiva that was expelled from Neve Dekelim and found a warm home in Yad Binyamin. He no longer abstains from kitniyot, having adopted the minhag of the yeshiva. Apparently the students of the yeshiva, following Rav Shmuel Tal, eat some kitniyot and kitniyot derivatives, including humous. Rav Tal is definitely Ashkenazi in origin. Apparently, part of his reasoning for dispensing with the minhag has to do with observing minhag hamakom. And of course, the minhag of Erets Yisrael was--and is--to eat kitniyot. It is interesting to note that Rav Tal and the yeshiva also share another less-than-common practice: wearing tefillin during Chol HaMoed. In short, the good news is that more and more people think that the time has come to dispense with this minhag shtuth and are voting with their wallets and their mouths. They are buying kitniyot and even eating them on Pesah. Not just because it's easier, not just becaus...

Everyone incorrectly "trumpets" the excuse that the shofar is not sounded on Shabbat since you can't carry a shofar more than 4 amot in the public domain on Shabbat. But how many people carry their talit and prayer books all the way to synagogue?? Nearly everyone... so what's the big deal about a shofar?? Most of us should be stunned to read the the Shofar was sounded in the Temple on Shabbat: When the Festival of Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbath, the Shofar was blown in the Beth HaMiqdash [the Temple] , but not in the rest of the country. (Mishnah Rosh Hashana4:1; Talmudh Bavli 29b) The Jerusalem Talmud, also known as the Talmud Yerushalmi asks the following question: "If blowing the Shofar is Torah-mandated, why should it not override Shabbath everywhere? And if it is not Torah-mandated, why does it override Shabbath in the Temple?" Read the new article by the Kitniyot Rabbi to find out why!

I ran into a friend and he told me that his child no longer suffered from a potentially life-threatening food allergy. As an infant, they had two close calls when their child went into anaphylactic shock, and they've been obsessively vigilant ever since. "So what's the secret of your success? Did you take a vaccine or allergy shots?" I asked him. "No," he answered non-chalantly. "I just go to Har HaBayit each month and pour out my heart to HaKodesh Baruch Hu. There's no place like it for prayer, not even Monsey."

It's been four years since the destruction of Gush Katif and the wound has not healed. Most of the criminals have not paid for their crime, but "How the Rose of Sharon Sits" [in a hospital bed]. With the destruction of Gush Katif coming right after Tisha B'Av, the anniversary of the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash, we can only conclude that they are connected. I have felt--and have heard others say--that HaShem sent us a not-so-subtle message about His displeasure about the state of His House. For now, the only message I can see in this horrendous act of shtuth is that it was a wake-up call for Am Yisrael, that we have been negligent in rebuilding the Bet HaMikdash. How indeed can we merit such beautiful houses in the Land of Israel when his house lies in ruins? Kal v'chomer with those who live in comfort in voluntary Exile in Galuth. In a related note, two friends went up to Har HaBayit on Tisha B'Av and gave me a great dvar Torah: That Har HaBayit lies in ...

There is so much shtuth that I've been at a loss for words. Where does one start? How can one even finish? Until now, I've been quiet because I informally promised myself to try and stick to shtuth in Torah Judaism. It's so obvious that politics is full of shtuth. But I just can't keep my fingers idle any longer. This whole Barak business, not Ehud Barak (or "Barach"), but the Barak Osama, the current President of the USA. What were they thinking when they actually voted for him? I guess Austrian Jews also voted "for" the Anschluss. It's not much different. I think that his presidency will mark the setting of the sun on US Jewry. While Osama incorrectly referred to the USA as "one of the world's largest countries", I do think that Muslim power is on the rise, aided and abbetted by the current president. Within our lifetime, the history of US Jews will be no different than any other Jewish community in the galuth. No different than t...

The seasonal battle over kitniyot has already commenced. According to Ynet ( http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3686451,00.html ), Rav Ovadia Yosef takes a machmir--though not entirely accurate approach--that the Ashkenazi custom of refraining from kitniyot has been around for 600 years. As Rav Bar-Hayim pointed out, we are in Eretz Yisrael, not Europe, and we should all be adhering to the local custom. The error of importing this foolish custom only occured 100-150 years ago and has become increasingly popular as it became more profitable for askanim (wheeler-dealers). And speaking of Europe, a number of years ago, Rav Shaul Yisraeli of the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva recounted to Rav Bar-Hayim how peanuts were served during Chol HaMoed in Lithuania since they were considered a luxury. Maybe we could argue whether peanuts are really kitniyot... or whether they shouldn't be included on the Ever-Growing List of Kitniyot and Things That Make Askanim Rich. It is interesting why Rav Ovad...

Ben Horin is an erudite fellow with a blog worth following. My only complaint is that he doesn't posted enough. As he recently wrote: And yet. As Palin spoke, I realized that I now identify with those Americans who live in small towns, who love their country and feel deeply rooted in it, who carry guns for defense, who have large families, whose children fight its wars. That's my life now. Well put... even if my family ain't as large as it could be. Though still a registered Dem, I can't believe how the Democratic party has been taken over by the radical left. (And unfortunately this is a familiar story in Eretz HaKodesh. I remember when even the Labor party believed in settling the land of Israel). I've always been a southern conservative who couldn't stand Carter yet helped the Young Dems send Mondale to victory over President Reagan in a 1984 mock election at a major southern university. Now seeking the quiet life in the land of my forefathers, I really admi...

The Kvetcher blog took notice of Rav Bar-Hayim's latest article for the Pesah holiday on the Jewish Press blog. Yes, it came after Pesach, but Elliot Resnick at the Jewish Press appears to be sympathetic to the Kitniyot Liberation Front , and posted an essay (and link) to Rabbi David Bar-Hayim and Machon Shilo. We couldn't agree more, but this certainly gave some of their readers something to kvetch about. The most entertaining (and sad) comment talked about the dwindling intelligence of the charedi gene pool. I think that it's sad when anyone is driven out of Torah Judaism due to shtuth, especially when there are so many choices/options that let you stay within the fold.

Rav Bar-Hayim's latest article on the kitniyot saga got some eyeballs at the blog of the Jewish Press. More importantly, they have the wisdom to realize that neither the Kitniyot Liberation Front nor Machon Shilo are really about eating kitniyot: The following is an interesting article written by an interesting person who heads an interesting oganization. Read the blog here .

The court's most recent attempt to promote chametz occurred when it overturned the Knesset law forbidding the sale of chametz in public places. The court claimed that a shop was not a public place and could sell chametz if it was not visible from the street. In reaction, a supposedly haredi Jew stripped naked at the bread counter of a store selling chametz during Pesah. He claimed that he was not violating the law against public indecency since the store was not a public place and that he was not visible from the street. Read more at the Jerusalem Post. Unfortunately Ynet seems to have buried their article which provided a fuller account. It is refreshing to see that even haredim can uncover shtuth as well! Chag Sameach.

Not only is Am Yisrael plagued by political leaders without vision, but as Rav Bar-Hayim points out, our relgious leaders are equally lacking. Hence the obsession with kitniyot and other shtuth: Unfortunately the Orthodox Establishment is similar to the Zionist Establishment: it does not know who and where we are or where we are supposed to be headed. It is hesitant and uncertain and prefers the familiar comfort of the downtrodden, Exilic version of the Torah rather than the majestic, vibrant and uplifting Torah of the Land of Israel, of Abraham, Moses, David and the Maccabees. Read more at http://machonshilo.org/content/view/93/1/ Have a Happy Passover and make your kitniyot be tasty. And more importantly--may we soon enjoy the taste of a delicious Korban Pesah on soft matzoth. Peanut butter topping is optional.

For anyone who lives in Israel, the mere continued existence of the Third Jewish Commonwealth is a hidden miracle. As the ineptitude of our leadership increases, so does the size of the miracle. IMHO, we should certainly have this miracle in mind when we say the "Modim" or Thanksgiving blessing of the Shmona Esray. [That's prayer #17 out of 18 for those of you who use the authentic, Erets Yisrael nusah of HaRav HaGaon Davidh Bar-Hayim of Machon Shilo.] Indeed at the Jerusalem Conference, Ken Abramowitz, Managing Partner and co-founder of NGN Capital noted that Israel has many advantages for foreign investors, including excellent universities, professional talent but, ...I have never seen a lower caliber of government than you have in this country. Your foreign ministry is staffed with low quality people and a low quality leader (Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni). The Supreme Court is a collection of far-left activists who then appoint more far-left activists to join them on t...