PASSOVER REDUX

The Kosher Nexus sent this letter to Rabbi Eidlitz (West Coast, Kashrus Conscience). After three weeks, we sent a follow up letter. To date, we have had no response. We did mention in our follow up letter that, absent, a response, we would feel free to publish our original letter.

Lichvod Harav!

Moadim l’simcha.

I have some comments about your Pesach edition of KASHRUS CONSCIENCE.

On page 3, you state:

Ashenazim refrain from eating peanuts as well. I believe you left out one very critical word, that is the word “some.” You appear to make a monolithic statement that is, at best, misleading and, at worst, simply not true as written. As you well know, many Ashkenazim do eat peanuts on Pesach. Many of them do so based on the tshuvah of Rabbi M Feinstein, OBM.

That brings me to point number two: You wrote: “However, this restriction regarding peanuts may not include peanut oil (according to the opinion of Rav Moshe Feinstein, ZT”L.)”
Once again, that is not the case. Let’s start with Rabbi Feinstein’s tshuva. He was matir peanuts for those who live in communities where there is no communal custom to avoid peanuts. That is a far cry from what you wrote. I do not believe that you can claim with any authenticity that our communities are united in their stance on peanuts. By virtue of the fact that there are observant Jews who eat peanuts, your point is unsubstantiated.

Second, as you well know, mei kitniyot was always allowed, and clearly is within the halachic system. It is an additional chumra that apparently all of the large agencies and v’adim have accepted, but it is clearly not required by halacha. There can not be a chumra on a chumra, and kitniyot is clearly a chumra. Maran referred to it as minhag shtut. The definition of minhag shtut is one that can not trace itself to the halachic system in a real manner. Depending upon non halachic sources to make a point, according to Maran, made the whole issue of kitniyot wrong. Notice the word- he called it wrong.

I do not understand how you can claim that possibly, maybe, efsher RMF allowed peanut oil. He was matir eating peanuts!

I respect your work, but I do take great issue with you on these things. I hope to hear from you.