Volume 6 Number 97
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Calendar Challenge
[Sara Svetitsky]
Cat Food
[Riva Katz]
Chametz in the Kinneret (3)
[Lenny Oppenheimer, Lon Eisenberg, Robert A. Book]
Jewish life in Richmond, VA
[Merril Weiner]
Kineret Water after Pesach
[Aryeh Frimer]
Shmurah kitniot
[Frank Silbermann]
Women and Pesach Sheni
[Deborah Sommer]
Word in Haftorah
[<Elliot_David_Lasson@...>]
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From: Sara Svetitsky <FNBENJ@...>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 93 04:23:33 -0400
Subject: Calendar Challenge
Some years ago my esteemed friend Jeff Houben remarked in passing that
the 'demi-mourning" aspect of the Sefira period is peculiar when you
consider that we say Hallel more times during Sefira than during any
other 49-day period in the year. This has long intrigued me, and I now
ask the mail-j community, first if this is really accurate (yes, I could
do it by hand, but maybe some of those snazzy calendar programs could be
applied here), and second what can be learned from this if it is true.
Sara Svetitsky
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From: <RKATZ@...> (Riva Katz)
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1993 16:44 EDT
Subject: Cat Food
Although Pesach is over, there are two other brands of cat food that
have potential to be Kasher L'Pesach (I haven't called them) and also
low in ash and other bad things. They are:
1- Nature's Recipe: cat food without artificial colors, flavors, sugars,
dairy products (solving the basar v' halav [milk with meat] issue)
1-800-843-4008
2- Natural Life Pet Products: cat and dog food, has lamb and rice
formula, low ash, pesticide-free grain, no artificial colors, sugars,
sweeteners, added minerals. 1-800-367-2391
I have not tried any of these foods but they are advertised in
veterinary magazines. I hope it helps.
Riva Katz <rkatz@...>
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From: <leo@...> (Lenny Oppenheimer)
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 93 11:07:07 -0400
Subject: RE: Chametz in the Kinneret
>Then the kinneret is now hametz she'ovar alav hapesach [hametz that has been
>owned by a Jew on Pesach] and is asur behana'a [not permitted to have any
>benefit from].
I would assume that the Chametz would be rendered unfit for consumption
within a short time of soaking in the Kinneret and decomposing. Once
this occurs, I do not think that the Issur Mashehu (prohibition of
minute particles), applies any longer.
Lenny Oppenheimer
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From: <eisenbrg@...> (Lon Eisenberg)
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 93 01:47:53 -0400
Subject: Chametz in the Kinneret
Frank Silbermann suggested that:
>If undetectable trace _can_ be nullified as the dust of the earth, then
>what is all the fuss about?
Nullification can be done only _before_ Pesah, not during Pesah.
However, I believe I've clarified a point that I initially questioned: I
didn't understand how Rav Ovadiah Yosef could have said (as he was
quoted in the press) that it is nullified in 60, since that, too,
applies only during Pesah. I discussed this issue with Rabbi Leff
Friday night. He had discussed the same issue, specifically what Rav
Ovadiah had actually said. He said that although he didn't see the
tshuva (response) in writing, its content was to the effect that:
The 1 in 60 applies before Pesah. During Pesah, not even "1 in 1000"
helps. But when you talk about a crumb in an entire sea (the Kinneret
is the "Sea of Galilee"), even during Pesah, such a minute amount is
nullified. There is virtually no chance that you'll drink the water
that contains that crumb. Also, the water is purified before being sent
to its drinkers.
Nevertheless, Rav Ovadiah suggested that if you have an extra tank that
can be filled before Pesah and used during Pesah, that it is a good idea
to do so. I think we've heard of enough cases in this discussion of
people doing so, although admitting that it is not essential to do so.
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From: <rbook@...> (Robert A. Book)
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 93 17:58:30 -0400
Subject: Chametz in the Kinneret
Someone writes:
> >A ruling [psak] by R' Freund of the Eda Haridit just before PesaH has
> >had many repurcussions here in Israel. He said that since the fisherman
> >used bread as bait during PesaH, the waters of the Kinneret are hametz.
> >These are admixed or the main source of water throughout the country.
Then Ben Svetitsky writes:
> Otherwise, how far does this logic extend? Does a bread crumb thrown
> into the Hatzbani (in Lebanon!) make the entire National Carrier chametz
> immediately? Why does this not apply in galut as well?
The logic could conceivably (though probably not correctly) be extended
a good deal beyond that. [Note: what makes the discussion about Chametz
in the Kinneret different from general Kashrut is that there is a rule
that DURING Pesach, Chametz does not become batel - nullified, even if
it is a very small amount in a much larger amount of non-chametz. The
dead lobster, etc, becomes batel basically at 60 times its volume, so
the problem does not occur. Mod.] Does a dead lobster, a non-kosher
animal dying of itself, dying in the waters of the Atlantic render the
world's entire ocean system, and by extension all the ricers and lakes
connected to it, non-kosher? If this is the case, then we are not only
prohibited from drinking all tap water (which can be assumed to come
from such sources), but from all the dishes we have washed with this
non-kosher water are now treif. Clearly, the only alternative is to
either collect rainwater, or use Evian or other spring water with a
hechsher.
So, how do *you* run your dishwasher with Evian?
--Robert Book
<rbook@...>
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From: <weiner@...> (Merril Weiner)
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 93 22:25:46 -0400
Subject: Jewish life in Richmond, VA
My sister is moving to Richmond, VA soon. I would be much obliged if someone
could inform me of any and all shuls and sources of kosher food.
Thanks,
Merril Weiner
<weiner@...>
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From: Aryeh Frimer <F66235@...>
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 93 03:22:42 -0400
Subject: Kineret Water after Pesach
To the best of my knowledge, Hametz Sheavar Alav ha-Pesach (the
prohibition of using hametz which was in Jewish possession on Passover)
is not prohibited if it is only ta'arovet hametz (Hametz admixture)
where the amount of real grain chametz is less than a "kezayit bichdei
achilat pras" (translation into non-technical jargon would be
prohibitively long - my apologies). Here we're talking of parts per
million/billion. So don't lose any halachic sleep over it! The problem
arises only ON Pesach itself since Hometz ON Pesach is Assur beMashehu
(even in infinitesmal amounts).
Allow me just to note in passing that the latter prohibition is
according to most authorities only rabbinic in origin and the sfekot
(compounded doubts) as to the water source of the water that reaches
your tap is part of the reason that most Israeli Poskim don't worry
themselves with the kashrut of tap-water on Pesach.
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From: Frank Silbermann <fs@...>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 93 11:37:44 -0400
Subject: Shmurah kitniot
I may be confused about the reason for the ban on kitniot. My
impression is that at one time kitniot tended to get mixed or confused
with the five species of grain which can become chumatzdik.
However, on Passover we _are_ allowed to eat from those five species of
grain, _provided_ we follow the rules for matzah preparation. So why
can't we make "matzah" out of kitniot?
Frank Silbermann <fs@...>
Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana USA
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From: <dway@...> (Deborah Sommer)
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 93 14:36:07 -0400
Subject: Women and Pesach Sheni
A question that came up and no one was able to answer:
Since women are chayavot (obligated) in korban pesach, it follows
that if a woman were a niddah during pesach (and unable to eat
the korban pesach), she would need to "make it up" on
pesach sheni. but, if she were a niddah for pesach, presumably
she'd be a niddah for pesach sheni too! is there any way for
her to fulfill her chiyuv?
[I suspect that the initial assumption above is incorrect. It is only
Tumat Met, the level of Tumah from being in contact with a dead body,
that activates the requirement for Pesach Sheni. I do not think there is
any problem with a Niddah partaking of the Pesach. Mod.]
thanks,
debby sommer
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From: <Elliot_David_Lasson@...>
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 93 22:33:10 EDT
Subject: Word in Haftorah
In the Haftorah which was read on the second day of Pesach (for those of
us in Chutz La'aretz), there is an often mispronounced word. The
passage is from Melachim Bet, Perek 23, Pasuk 3. "...v'lishmor
mitzvotav, v'et *eidvotav* ..." (emphasis included). Now, many people
make the mistake of reading it "eidotav", as it typically appears.
Based on the translations which I have seen, there is no difference in
the meaning between these two words. The word is clearly pronounced
"eidvotav" because of the placement of the shva under the dalet. This
is also noted by both the Radak and Minchat Shai (who by the way is
famous for this type of analysis). I did not understand all of the
references which the Minchat Shai points out there, but the gist is that
he is pointing out other occurrences. My question is that assuming
there is no difference in translation, what is the reason for sometimes
having the mesorah of "eidotav" and sometimes "eidvotav". Also, if
asnyone can figure out all of the references of the M.S., please let me
know.
Elly Lasson (<FC9Q@...>)
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End of Volume 6 Issue 97
