SAN DIEGO — In the weeks before Pesach I am asked more questions about one topic more than anything else: kitniot. Kitniot are vegetables and grains that Ashkenazic Jews avoid eating during Pesach even though they are not chametz.
“Kitniot” are often erroneously translated as “legumes.” However, while most legumes are kitniot (i.e., beans and peas), there are also kitniot that are not legumes (i.e., rice and corn).
In general, kitniot are vegetables or grains (other than wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt) that were once ground into flour and used for baking. Ashkenazic rabbinic authorities forbade them lest someone using rice flour might think that it was also permitted to use wheat flour, which is chametz. It was kind of a guilt by association. Further complicating matters is that some oils from kitniot (such as peanut oil) are permitted by some authorities while the kitniot themselves (peanuts) are forbidden.
So strong was the prohibition that even New World foods, such as corn which was unknown to European Ashkenazic authorities, were forbidden, “lest an error be made.” In recent years Quinoa, a grain from Peru, was at first permitted but is increasingly being prohibited by Orthodox Ashkenazic authorities. Why? “Lest an error be made.”
It is clear that any and all prohibitions against eating Kitniot during Passover are customs and not law. This is made even clearer by the fact that most Sefardic Jews do eat kitniot during Pesach, and many of their menus include beans and rice. (Kosher l’Pesach humous, anyone?)
Further complicating the matter is that in recent years the Orthodox Ashkenazic Rabbinate in Israel has begun permitting kitniot during Passover, though American authorities continue to forbid them. If you shop at The Place or another kosher market you will often see Passover foods from Israel marked “Kosher for Pesach for those who eat kitniot.” Since this marking is often in Hebrew it is often not recognized by local Ashkenazic Jews who are still trying to avoid kitniot, who buy them and most likely enjoy them.
Does all of this kitniot business sound confusing? It is! I often squirm when explaining kitniot because not only are the customs of kitniot mystifying and inconsistent, but once people understand them, the reasons for the restrictions seem foolish!
Who in their right mind would ever confuse rice or corn with wheat?
Kitniot have long been a bone of contention in my home. Judy (who wishes she could convert to being a Sefardic Jew) thinks the ban on kitniot is ridiculous and wants to eat them on Pesach. I agree that the ban on kitniot is ridiculous but I don’t want to eat them on Pesach. Why? Because it’s a tradition! I am so used to avoiding them that I can’t bring myself to eat them. It just wouldn’t seem right.
So far we are maintaining the status quo at home (no kitniot) but I can’t say that one day I will not be convinced to do otherwise…or move to Israel!
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Rabbi Rosenthal is the spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego.