The Kitniyot Liberation Front

I saw this on Israel National News: "(This coming Shabbat, the Torah portion , Shelach, that recalls the sin of the spies, is read. These were the 12 men that Moshe sent to scout out the Land of Israel before entering. When they returned, their reports were distorted and negative and caused a 40 year delay before the Children of Israel could enter. Today despite the challenges that come with living in Israel, we are witness to all that is good and special about living here and it is in our ability to tell our family, friends and neighbors abroad what those things are. Nefesh B'Nefesh is initiating a simple project this week called "12 to 12". We are asking every Oleh to compose a list of 12 great things you appreciate and love about living in Israel and email your message to 12 (or more) friends abroad. If you send this out to your friends, please CC 12to12@nbn.org.il when you send it out. Please send out your letter before Friday June 8. 12 Things I love about livin...

Zvulun Orlev of the National Religious Party , a.k.a. the “Mafdal”, has proposed a law that will make Sunday a day-off. Commercial activity currently taking place on Shabbat will be transferred to Sunday. [Note: I firmly believe that we should not have any “religious parties” in Israel... but we won't get into that.] Transportation and recreational activities will also be permitted, although anyone who has ever been on a bus knows that Meretz voters—who so desperately want Shabbat transportation—feel that riding buses is beneath them. IMHO, except for a few routes to the beach, Dan, Egged and anyone else will offer only the most minimal of services since it won’t be economically viable. The good news is that according to a poll , Israelis support this initiative 56% to 30%. The shuth news is that the black-clad guardians of the Torah are against it: Do you support a proposed law according to which Sunday will also be a day off and commercial activities now being carried out on the ...

It's the holiday season, Zman Matan Torah --the time of the giving of the Torah. And a donation to Machon Shilo--whether via PayPal, check, or horaat keva-- is a great way to give back to Machon Shilo for all of the great work that they've done this year in furthering Matan Torath Erets Yisrael . Your support will enable them to continue to disseminate the hidden light of the Talmudh HaYerushalmi and help them: Give free shiurim throughout the Greater Jerusalem area Expand their online Torah library Continue their insightful halachic research into customs and halacha of Erets Yisrael Publish a Nusah Erets Yisrael siddur (!) Assist the Beth HaWaad Religious Court in its revolutionary work regarding qitniyoth and other issues And much, much more Full details at http://machonshilo.org/content/view/81/1/ . Chag Sameach!

As I once wrote, the retreat from Gush Katif was institutionalized stuth... with a heavy dose of malice. It is amazing that every TV idiot talks about the missiles hitting Sderot, but they still deny or neglect the obvious: that this is the clear and direct result of the Destruction of Gush Katif and the expulsion of its Jewish residents. They talk as if it's always been this way; that somehow it's a natural phenomenon. But it's not; it is the handiwork of Ariel Zadon, may his soul not rest in peace. Collective amnesia also affects people's memory that the Palestinian Terrorist Authority is also the handiwork of Shimon Heres. May we indeed merit to return to the Good Old Days. Korbanot, mizbeach, and eventually a Temple. And when the first bikkurim are brought, I am sure that the first of first fruits to be offered will be from the Holy Jews of Gush Katif. As we pray in the Nusach Erets Yisrael: Keheref ayin yeshua lanu tatsmeeach. In the blink of an eye will redemption...

The whole country is aflame with the Winograd Report. The whole war--and indeed the current administration--is one boiling pot of shtuth. Unfortunately this is just want the people ordered when they decided they wanted shtuthmeisters who could obfuscate truth and fight for shtuth. People who could take patriots on the front lines and kick them out of their homes--while making a bundle of money for their friends who would get the contracts for shipping containers, storage, yada, yada, yada. But the shtuth didn't start with the Expulsion. It was a long time in coming--since 1993 when the Bearded Vulture sprung Oslo upon us. And Winograd all but spells this out: The IDF was not ready for war, for a number of reasons, among them being that the political and military leaders decided that the age of wars has ended, and that the IDF had enough deterrence power and ability to deliver painful reminders to those who didn't know that.

Machon Shilo has outdone themselves again! Rav Bar-Hayim had an excellent article called "The Rebbe's Hallel" and they've also published a special version of Al-HaNissim for these two special days. The Talmud (Pesahim 117a) informs us that the Hallel prayer “was instituted by the Prophets to be said by the Jewish People on Festivals, and [in addition] upon having been saved from grave danger, they are to recite it in thanksgiving for their salvation.” This statement is quoted by several Halachic codifiers (e.g. Rid ad loc.; Rosh Pesahim 1:10). Salvation from national disaster is the yardstick; where this standard is met, we are obligated to express our gratitude to Hashem. Indeed, the Hatham Sopher (OH 161; 191& 208) opines that this obligation is mandated by the Torah. Like Hannukah, the Divine salvation experienced is in 1948 and 1967 is an immutable fact independent of subsequent developments. In addition, Al-HaNissim should be added to the Amidah and Birkat Ha...

By Rav David Bar-Hayim The story is told of the Hassidic rebbe who, upon the establishment of the State of Israel, began to recite the thanksgiving prayer of Hallel on Yom Ha'assmauth, Israel's Independence Day. After a few years, his followers noticed that the rebbe no longer recited Hallel. When queried about this he explained: "When a child is born, everyone is happy. But if, as he grows up, he goes off the correct path and moves away from the Torah, the earlier jubilation becomes inappropriate". It is becoming increasingly apparent that certain circles of the National-Religious camp feel the same way. Exactly one year ago, in the weeks leading up to Independence Day - nearly a year after the unprecedented tragedy and debacle that was the "disengagement"--a lively debate was conducted in National-Religious newspapers and Internet forums regarding the correct attitude to Yom Ha'assmauth and the reciting of Hallel. Some of the participants expresse...

Important announcement from louis@machonshilo: Hi Jewish Bloggers (and friends), Machon Shilo would like to encourage you to dress up your blog for chag with the attached photo [see it on the right column of this page]. You can use any caption you want, but please write "( Photo: courtesy of www.machonshilo.org )." Suggested captions: I believe with complete faith in a Jewish State not a State of Jews This year, I'm saying Hallel with a bracha and Al HaNissim. Chag Sameach leGeula Shelayma Or whatever floats your boat. To learn about why you should say Hallel with a bracha and Al HaNissim, visit www.machonshilo.org . Chag Sameach leGeula Shelayma, Louis P.S. Please pass this on to other Jewish bloggers. ------------------------------ ----------------- Machon Shilo - Torah Leam Velaarets www.machonshilo.org

Rav Bar-Hayim is giving a shiur on his kitniyot psak. He is an excellent debater, so if opponents of the psak muster the courage to show up, it could get very exciting. Thoughts and Comments on the Kitniyot Psak Contraversy Date: Monday, 28 Nissan (18 April 2007) Place: Beth Midrash Machon Shilo, Najarah 34, (opposite #47) Givat Shaul, Jerusalem Time: 19:45 Date: Wednesday evening, 30 Nissan, 18/4/07 Place: Mosdot HaRav Aharon Soloveichik, Nachal Maor 27, Ramat Beth Shemesh A Time: 21:15 (Maariv is at 21:00) Disclaimer: Rav Chaim Soloveichik has not endorsed the psak halacha (but any disagreements have been expressed as befitting a true Torah scholar). If you can't make it, I am sure that at least one of the shiurim will be posted at www.machonshilo.org .

Thousands of Jews went up to Har HaBayith during Chol HaMoed in ritual purity. Although I was not able to go up during the festive time, I went earlier this month. Rav Dov Lior, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Arba, went up and called for easier access for all Jews and that our sovereignty should be reasserted over the site. May it soon be so--in time for Korban Pesah next year--with soft matzoth, some romaine lettuce, a dash of charif and some hummous and tehina. See more details at: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/124469

According to Shmuel Poppenheim, a spokesman for the Eidah Haredit: Every Jew carries with him the customs that he received from his father and his father's father. Smart alecks like [Bar-Hayim] think that they can come along and change everything. (Jerusalem Post, April 6, 2007, page 5) Mr. Poppenheim neglected to mention why he has abandoned the custom of his father's father's father's father's father's father's father, who lived in Erets Yisrael and ate kitniyot during Pesah. Nor would he confirm or deny that his forefather had dressed like Sinai Tor and those hilltop guys.

The Jerusalem Post has an interesting article on Machon Shilo and the Neturei Kitnyos. Head of Shilo Institute attacked for permitting 'kitniyot' on Pessah By MATTHEW WAGNER In recent weeks irate members of the Orthodox community have hurled threats and anathemas at Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, head of the Shilo Institute, his only crime apparently being an attempt to make the culinary lives of Ashkenazim living in Israel a little bit easier. Bar-Hayim, together with four other rabbis, issued a halachic opinion two weeks ago that would permit Ashkenazi Jews to eat kitniyot (legumes.) If Bar-Haim has his way, no longer will foods such as rice, humous, peanut butter and tofu be permissible for Sephardim only. Rather, Jews of European descent would adopt "the custom of the Land of Israel" and partake of kitniyot, as well. Bar-Hayim's detractors, however, do not want their lives to be made any easier if it means compromising tradition. "Your place in Gehinom (hell) ...

To the Neturei Kitniyos who are also defending the practice of observing an extra day of chag in Erets Yisrael, should note that the Chacham Tzvi wrote that: "...it would be forbidden for them to observe more than one day because of baal tosif. It is known that one who sleeps on the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret is punished by flogging and similarly on Pesach on who observes one additional day of holidy beyond the requirement of the mitzva has violated baal tosif."

Baruch HaShem Machon Shilo's psak has received wide coverage on Ynet in both Hebrew and English . (They are must-read articles in either language). I received an email that their website has received over 215,000 hits in March. Clearly, they have made their mark. Some disagreements have been l'Shem Shamayim and with respect, while others have merely besmirched Rav Bar-Hayim. To paraphrase another Rav: If anyone knows anything about the Sitra Achra and how he works in this world, then he would also know that the controversy surrounding an issue is perhaps a clue that it is authentic. For the Sitra Achra fights on behalf of two causes: in favor of that which distracts Jews away from Torah, and against that which will lead to the redemption of the Jewish people — the arrival of which means his own demise (Succah 52a). And so Neturei Kitniyos was born... fighting for shtuth and hiding the truth.

פסק הלכה מהפכני: "כן" לקטניות בפסח החומה נסדקה: אחרי מאות שנים בהן הקפידו האשכנזים באדיקות על איסור אכילת קטניות בפסח, פוסקים רבני בית הדין של "מכון שילה": מדובר במנהג מוזר ורעוע. רבני הזרם המרכזי עדיין לא בעניין, אך גם הרב שרלו יוצא נגד ה"עצבנות האשכנזית" - החומרות שנוספו בשנים האחרונות. היה שווה לחכות הציבור מתחנן כבר שנים, יש שלא התאפקו, פסקו לעצמם והתירו את הנדר, ולקראת פסח תשס"ז כבר רואים תוצאות. 800 שנה אחרי שהונהג, נשבר לראשונה הקונצנזוס בקרב הפוסקים האשכנזים בשאלת הרלוונטיות של איסור הקטניות: רבני "בית הועד של מכון שילה" פרסמו פסק הלכה המתיר לאשכנזים בארץ ישראל לחדול מהמנהג. בפסק שפורסם בימים האחרונים טוענים רבני המכון, דוד בר-חיים, יהושע בוך וחיים וסרמן, כי אזרחי ישראל אינם אשכנזים או ספרדים, אלא "יהודי ארץ ישראל", וככאלה עליהם לנהוג כמנהג המקום ולא לחשוש למנהג הקדום. http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3382136,00.html For English, see http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3382886,00.ht...

I'm thinking of converting, to be a Sfaradee. Fill myself with kitniyot, Be happy as can be, The problem is I'm overweight, and that is sad to see, And kitniyot are fattening, Where does that leave me? -Pogoda Very cute. Now all we need is some sort of jig and musical accompaniment.

Kitniyot is a small problem compared to another questionable Pesah practice: observing two days of chag in Erets Yisrael. Personally I find this highly offensive to the kavod of Erets Yisrael. I'm not alone. Rav Kook too held this way: In Celebration of the Soul by Rav Moshe Zvi Neriyah (founder of Bnei Akiva youth movement and a disciple of Rav Kook), he writes about a the Keren Kayemet's second seder for American visitors in 1934. They ask Rav Kook to sponsor and supervise the seder. He refused, insisting that the second seder was an institution of the Diaspora and would violate the honor of Erets Yisrael. Then the organizers turned to one of the Rav's students and asked him to supervise the seder--and promised to compensate him generously--but that he needed Rav Kook's approval. Unaware that the Rav had already rejected the idea, the student approached the Rav. Rav Kook was sensitive to his student's financial situation and arrived at a decision: I will...

Machon Shilo and its Beth HaWaadh have made the headlines at Arutz-7 (Israel National News) and was briefly the #1 item. Kol hakavod to the Rav and the Machon for their efforts in fighting for truth and abandoning shtuth. Jerusalem Institute Questions Post-Diaspora Kitniyot Abstinence by Ezra HaLevi (IsraelNN.com) The religious court of a Jerusalem Talmudic research center has taken aim at the Ashkenazi practice of abstaining from legumes on Passover in Israel. The Beit Din (religious court) of Machon Shilo, headed by Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, issued the ruling, which permits the consumption of Kitniyot (legumes) by all Jews in Israel during the Pesach holiday. Co-signing the ruling were Jerusalem Rabbis Yehoshua Buch and Chaim Wasserman. The article then went on to discuss the background and reasoning for the psak. Unique to the article were interviews with Rabbi Zalman Melamed (Chief Rabbi of Beit El), Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl (Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem’s Old City), and Rabbi Nachum Rabin...

It's worth a read if you can navigate the Hebrew! http://hydepark.hevre.co.il/topic.asp?topic_id=2172108

The announcement we've been waiting for is here! OK we're waiting for other announcements too... but this is good news in any case. Beth HaWaadh of Machon Shilo permits the consumption of Kitniyoth by all Jews in Israel during Pesah JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, March 20, 2007 (Nissan 1, 5767) —Beth HaWaadh, the beth din (religious court) of Machon Shilo, has issued a religious ruling permitting all Jews in the Land of Israel to consume Kitniyoth (legumes) during the Pesah holiday. The signatories to this ruling were Rav David Bar-Hayim, Rav Yehoshua Buch, and Rav Chaim Wasserman, all of Jerusalem. "The custom of refraining from eating Kitniyoth—legumes such as rice, lentils, beans etc.—during the Pesah holiday has always been a matter of debate" says Rav David Bar-Hayim, Head of Machon Shilo, a Talmudic research institute, and president of the Beth HaWaadh rabbinical court. For more infomation see: www.machonshilo.org .