Kosher for Passover

Rabbi Melanie Aron

March 24, 2001

This is the time of year when my phone begins to ring with questions about Passover. Can you use coconut on Passover? Of course. What about rutabaga? Well is it a legume? Actually it's in the turnip family. What about quinoa? That one, I had to look up, and it turns out you can.

At this time of year I discover how many foods there are that I know nothing about. I find it interesting that people who are not so scrupulous in other observances, still ask about these rules concerning what is kosher for Passover.

The whole issue of food rules in Judaism makes for an interesting study. The word Kosher literally means fit, or appropriate and so kosher food, means literally food fit to be eaten. That becomes very clear when you think about meat which is not kosher, neveilot vetreifot, literally, decaying carcasses that have been torn apart- sure sounds appetizing.

Some of the food laws that people are most familiar with are the Jewish prohibition of pork and shellfish and the restriction on eating meat and milk together. Jews are also commanded to eat only that meat which has been ritually slaughtered, and not meat from animals which have died a natural death, or from carcasses found in various states of decomposition.

These food laws go back to the ancient Temple and to the special foods eaten by the priests. The rabbis who assumed leadership of the Jewish community following the destruction of the Temple democratized Judaism. They argued that all Israel should aspire to be a priestly, holy people and that every home in Israel is a mikdash me'at, a small sanctuary. For that reason the food put on our tables, our mizbeach, our altar, should be as ritually pure as that offered in the Temple as sacrifices. Christianity which arose at around this time, ridiculed these laws, arguing that God was not concerned with what a person ate. Later though, when Islam arose, it continued the laws of kashrut in a related form, banning pork, and requiring ritual slaughter, halal meat.

The Reform movement has had a history of ups and downs with kashrut. Because the reason for the laws of kashrut are not clear, some Reform rabbi's argued that they were health rules. They believed that these health concerns were outmoded and unnecessary. "The meat sold in the supermarkets, is perfectly safe," they said, pre mad cow disease. "We don't need a separate system of slaughter and meat preparation."

Other Reform rabbi's argued that there was no need to keep any of the laws that related to the ancient priesthood." We have replaced sacrifice with prayer, study, and deeds of loving kindness." In 1885 they succeeded in bringing their views to the Central Conference of America Rabbis for inclusion in the Pittsburgh Platform. "All such Mosaic and Rabbinical laws as regulate diet," they wrote, "are foreign to our present mental and spiritual state."

Since World War II we have heard more voices arguing for the importance of the observance of kashrut. It is a form of identification and solidarity with Jews throughout the world and throughout history. It infuses our everyday lives with a Jewish connection. In addition it is a spiritual discipline that in the words of Maimonides, a physician and medieval Jewish philosopher "accustoms us to restrain both the growth of desire and the disposition to consider the pleasure of eating and drinking as the end of man's existence."

If you don't keep kosher all year long, is it hypocritical to observe the laws of Passover? I would frame it differently. The laws of kashrut have developed over the centuries. As we observe them today they are a rabbinic creation. The laws of Passover have a direct link to the Bible. They are part of the formative story of Jewish life. Even if we don't keep all of the later rules of the rabbis: by removing chametz, leaven from our lives for the seven days of Passover we are fulfilling one of the essential Jewish observances. In addition, the restraint one develops not eating bread, or cereal, cookies, or ice cream cones during the seven days of Passover, might carry over to other things. It may help us place our values first, in other areas of our lives as well.

Tomorrow is Rosh Hodesh Nisan, the first day of the first month on the Jewish calendar. Let's step into this important season of the Jewish year with renewed commitment to living a Jewish life.