From the Rav’s Desk: Chabad custom vis a vis avoiding sharp foods on RH and avoiding nuts etc past RH

1. Question: [Friday, 29^th Elul, 5780]

What is the Chabad custom vis a vis eating sharp foods on Rosh Hashanah, such as jalapeno peppers, Sechug, Charif, etc?

Answer:

There is no record in Chabad literature of the custom of avoiding sharp foods on Rosh Hashanah. Likewise, Rav Eli Landa Shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva of Kefar Chabad, and late son of Rav Yaakov Landa OBM, related to us that he is not aware that in Chabad we avoid eating sharp foods on Rosh Hashanah [i.e. Chabad is not accustomed to avoid eating sharp foods on RH]. It is likewise not recorded in the Poskim [with minor exception] who only record avoid nuts and sour foods, and not spicy foods. Thus, many people are not careful in this, although some are, and each is to follow their custom.

Sources: See Piskeiy Teshuvos 583:5; Aruch Hashulchan 583:3; Toras Hamoadim 583:4 in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky

2. Question: [Friday, 29^th Elul, 5780]

What is the Chabad custom vis a vis eating nuts, sour and pickled foods after Rosh Hashanah, prior to Simchas Torah?

Answer:

Many people are accustomed to avoiding eating nuts and pickled foods etc until Simchas Torah. There is no record in Chabad literature of the custom of avoiding eating such foods past Rosh Hashanah. Likewise, Rav Eli Landa Shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva of Kefar Chabad, and late son of Rav Yaakov Landa OBM, related to us that in Chabad we do not avoid eating these foods past Rosh Hashanah. Practically, each family should follow their Minhag.

Sources: See Beis Hayotzer 43; Ketzei Hamateh 583:16 [there he brings that also in Elul nuts are avoided]; Piskeiy Teshuvos 583:7; Beir Moshe 3:97; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid footnote 38