Guide to Passover
General Statement on Food
The 2022 Guide to Kosher for Passover Foods is available online.
Prohibited Foods:
Leavened bread, cakes, biscuits, crackers, cereal, coffees containing cereal derivatives, wheat, barley, oats, spelt, rye, and all liquids containing ingredients or flavors made from grain alcohol.
Most Ashkenazic authorities have added the following foods (kitniyot) to the above list: rice, corn, millet, legumes (beans and peas; however, string beans are permitted). Peanut oil is permissible. Some Ashkenazic authorities permit the use of legumes in a form other than in their natural state, for example, corn sweeteners, corn oil, soy oil. Sephardic authorities permit the use of all of the above. Kitniyot is an example of a custom, as opposed to Jewish law.
Permitted Foods:
The following foods require no kosher le-Pesah label if purchased prior to Pesah (the 14th of Nissan – which is the morning of April 3rd): unopened packages or containers of natural coffee without cereal additives (However, be aware that coffee produced by General Foods are not kosher for Passover unless marked KP); sugar, pure tea (not herbal tea); salt (not iodized); pepper; natural spices; frozen fruit juices with no additives; frozen (uncooked) vegetables (for legumes see above); milk; butter; cottage cheese; cream cheese; frozen (uncooked) fruit (with no additives); baking soda.
The following foods require no kosher le-Pesah label if purchased before or during Pesah: Fresh fruits and vegetables (for legumes see above), eggs, fresh fish and fresh meat.
The following foods require a kosher le-Pesah if purchased before or during Pesah: All baked products (matzah, cakes, matzah flour, farfel, matzah meal, and any products containing matzah); canned or bottled fruit juices (These juices are often clarified with kitniyot which are not listed among the ingredients. However, if one knows there are no such agents, the juice may be purchased prior to Pesah without a kosher le-Pesah label); canned tuna (since tuna, even when packed in water, has often been processed in vegetable broth and/or hydrolyzed protein – however, if it is known that the tuna is packed exclusively in water, without any additional ingredients or additives, it may be purchased without a kosher le-Pesah label); wine; vinegar; liquors; dried fruit; candy; chocolate-flavored milk; ice cream; yogurt and soda.
The following processed foods (canned, bottled or frozen), require a kosher le-Pesah label if purchased during Pesah: milk, butter, juices, vegetables, fruit, milk products, spices, coffee, tea, and fish as well as all foods listed in Category C.
Detergents: If permitted during the year, powdered and liquid detergents do not require a kosher le-Pesah label.
Medicine: Since hametz binders are used in many pills, the following guidelines should be followed: If the medicine is required for life sustaining therapy, it may be used on Pesah. If it is not for life-sustaining therapy, some authorities permit it, while other prohibit. Consult your rabbi. In all cases, capsules are preferable to pills.
Utensils, Appliances and Dishware
China: Fine translucent chinaware which has not been used for over a year may be used for Pesach, if thoroughly scoured and cleaned in hot water.
Dishwasher: May be kashered for Pesach by running a full wash cycle after not using the machine for 24 hours.
Porcelain and Earthenware: Cannot be kashered for Pesach.
Glassware and Pyrex: May be kashered for Pesach by means of a thorough scouring.
Ovens and Ranges: Every part that comes in contact with food must be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned. Then, oven and range should be heated as hot as possible for a half hour. If there is a broil setting, use it. Self-cleaning ovens should be scrubbed and cleaned and then put through the self-cleaning cycle. Continuous cleaning ovens must be kashered in the same manner as regular ovens.
Metal dishes and utensils: (1) Utensils used in a fire (i.e. spit, broiler). First they should be thoroughly scrubbed and cleansed then made red hot. (2) Silverware. First it should be thoroughly scrubbed and cleansed and then dipped in boiling water. In both of these cases, the utensil should not be used for a period of at least 24 hours between the cleansing and the actual kashering.
Pressure Cooker: Can be kashered. Removable parts should be kashered separately.
Microwave Oven:Clean and then boil a cup or bowl of water in the oven after non-use for 24hours.
Laws of Passover
As on Succot, the festival of Passover requires a major change in the way we live, especially in the way we eat, for just over a week. We give up some luxuries of life in order to recall our ancestors' servitude as well as to symbolically assert our freedom from the complicating "things" in our lives. What we give up is Chametz. Chametz is any food made with grain that has had a chance to rise or ferment. The Torah states that a Jew should not only avoid eating Chametz, but he should also avoid owning Chametz. Traditionally, Jews sell their Chametz to a non-Jewish neighbor. It is sold before the holiday and bought back following the eighth day.
RABBI RUSSO ARRANGES THE SALE OF YOUR CHAMETZ IF YOU EMAIL THE OFFICE AT CSIOFFICE@OPTONLINE.NET or 845-358-3767
An acceptable way to mix the mitzvot of Pesach with the mitzvah of tzedakah is to bring unopened containers of foods containing Chametz to:
People to People, 121 West Nyack Road in West Nyack, NY 10954 (845-623-4900).
TOUCH NY, 209 Route 9W in Congers, NY 10920 (845) 268-8023.
The last weeknight before Pesach is an opportunity to participate in a beautiful ceremony. It is called "Bedikat Chametz," the search for Chametz. This year it takes place on Thursday evening, April 14th. Theoretically, the house has been cleared of all Chametz. However, in order to make the search more interesting, parents or children hide ten pieces of bread around the house. We then search by candlelight, reciting a special blessing found at the beginning of the Haggadah. As the bread is found, it is scraped by a feather into a bag, to be burnt the next morning by 9:45 a.m. At that time, a formula of cancellation ("Biyur Chametz") is said (also at the beginning of the Haggadah).
A Seder Outline ~ Passages that should definitely be included.
KADDISH - (say the Kiddush & drink the 1st cup)
URCHATZ - (wash the hands before partaking of the vegetable)
KARPAS - (dipping the vegetable into the saltwater)
YACHATZ - (breaking the middle of the 3 matzot for the Afikoman)
MAGGID - (narrating the Passover story)
ha lachma anya
The four questions
We were slaves
The four sons
Jewish history
God's promise
The ten plagues
Dayenu
Passover symbols
the Hallel psalms
the 2nd cup of wine
RACHTZAH -(washing the hands before the meal)
MOTZEE/MATZAH -(the double beracha before the meal)
MAROR - (partaking of the bitter herbs)
KORECH - (partaking of the matzah-and-maror sandwich)
SHULCHAN ORECH - (the meal) no page needed!
TZAFUN - (getting back the Afikoman (the hidden matzah half) from whomever has it, and partaking of it as the last morsel of the evening)
BARECH -Grace after meals - & the third cup of wine. Plus filling the cup of Elijah and opening the door for him while singing Eliyahu Hanavee and Ani Ma'amin
HALLEL (psalms of praise) The fourth cup of wine
NIRTZAH - (The seder is officially concluded) Additional songs are usually added at the end or before Nirtzah (or even inserted earlier, during the meal). Such as: Adir Hu, Echad mee yodeh-a, Chad gadya
