The Kitniyos Prohibition – Part 1

Kitniyos:[1]

The Halacha:
The letter of the law:[2] Only the five grains; which are 1) wheat, 2) barley; 3) rye, 4) spelt, 5) oats, can leaven and become Chametz. All other grains/flours, such as flour made from rice or millet and all other legumes [and starches], cannot ever leaven and become Chametz. Although these flours also rise when kneaded with water, this rising is not a leavening but rather a spoiling [i.e. Sirchon]. For example, if one were to take rice flour and the like and knead it with boiling water and then cover it with a cloth until it rises like dough that has leavened, in truth this act of rising is not leavening but rather a spoiling of the dough. The dough thus remains permitted to be eaten on Pesach.[3] It is likewise permitted from the letter of the law to cook a dish of these legumes on Pesach.[4]

The custom:[5] The custom in these provinces [i.e. Ashkenazim] is not to eat a cooked dish of Kitniyos/legumes on Pesach, even on the last day of Yom Tov [even in the Diaspora].[6] This accustomed prohibition is a mere stringency.[7] [Nevertheless, as a result of the custom, these foods are forbidden to be eaten by all[8] Jews of Ashkenazi origin, and one may not swerve from this  custom.[9] The Maharil writes that one who goes against this custom transgresses the prohibition of Lo Sasur and is liable for death, as he has gone against a Rabbinical command.[10] The above only applies to Ashkenazi Jewry, however the majority of Sefaradim never accepted such a custom upon themselves and it therefore remains permitted for a Serfaradi to eat Kitniyos on Pesach and so is their custom.[11] However, there does exist Sefaradi communities who likewise avoid Kitniyos, such as rice, and so is the custom of Moroccan Jewry, and the Yishuv Hayashan of Jerusalem Jewry.[12] Every person should follow the custom of his origin.[13] Those who are accustomed to eat legumes on Pesach must be careful to check the legumes for grains prior to cooking.]

Summary:
It is forbidden, due to custom, for Ashkenazim to eat Kitniyos on Pesach.

Summary of laws regarding Kitniyos:

Kitniyos:

• The custom in these provinces is to not eat Kitniyos on Pesach. The reason behind this custom is because if kitniyos were to be allowed to be cooked and eaten then the laymen would come to think that even heat/spelt/rye/oats/barley kernels is permitted to be cooked and eaten.
• The definition of Kitniyos: Based on the reason mentioned above, only legumes are forbidden due to the custom, being that they are similar when cooked, to the cooking of the 5 grains. However seeds are not forbidden according to the custom, being that they are not similar to grains. This however is with exception to mustard being that it grows in stalks similar to legumes, and with exception to cumin which is similar to wheat. However cumin which is not similar to wheat, there is no custom to forbid. All types of vegetables may be used as they are not similar to grains.
• List of Kitniyos? Corn, Rice, Buckwheat, beans including soy, lentils, sesame, mustard, Millet, chickpeas, Peas, String beans, grouts, sun flour seeds, poppy seeds, cloves, fenugreek, green beans, cumin, caraway, linseed, cardamom, coriander,  fennel; Anise, ascorbic acid, aspartame, beans (all types of beans e.g., kidney, lima, garbanzo), bean sprouts, BHA and BHT (in corn oil), black-eyed peas, buckwheat, calcium ascorbate, canola (rapeseed) oil, caraway, citric acid (sometimes Chametz), chickpeas, coriander, corn and corn oil, corn syrup, cumin, dextrose, emulsifiers, fennel, fenugreek, flax seeds, glucose, green beans, guar gum, hydrolyzed vegetable oil, kasha, kimmel, lecithin (all commercially produced lecithin is made from soy), lentils, licorice, Lucerne, lupine, maltodextrin (sometimes Chametz), millet, MSG (can be from beets [kosher for Pesach], corn [Kitniyos], or wheat [Chametz]), mustard and mustard flour, NutraSweet, peanuts, peas, polysorbates (sometimes Chametz), popcorn, poppy seeds, rice, saffron, sesame seeds, snow peas, sodium citrate, sodium erythorbate, sorbitan, sorbitol (could be Chametz unless manufactured in the U.S.A), soybeans and soy oil, stabilizers, starch (possibly Chametz), string beans, sunflower seeds, tofu, vitamin C (could be Chametz), xanthan gum (may be Chametz). Quinoa is disputed if it is Kitniyos. Flax seeds and hemp seeds from the letter of the law are not Kitniyos. However since they can be ground as flour, some opinions include them in the category of Kitniyos.
• Checking the permitted seeds for grains: Those seeds which are not similar to wheat and are thus permitted, nevertheless must be checked very well to make sure that they do not contain any grain kernels in them. For this reason one who is stringent to avoid eating cumin and sheves will be blessed as it is very difficult to sift them from grains.
• May one own and get benefit from Kitniyos? One may both own and benefit from kitniyos on Pesach even if it is wet, as it was only forbidden in eating when wet.
• May one have Kitniyos products on ones table when one eats? One may [have Kitniyos products on ones table, such as to] have Kitniyos oil on ones table which is being used for candles. The reason for this is because we do not suspect that the oil will fall into food, as even if it does it is nullified in majority.
• What is the Halacha if Kitniyos fell in ones food? It is nullified in majority as this prohibition is a mere stringency due to custom.

Q&A

May one eat Kitniyos on Erev Pesach until the night?
Some Poskim rule it is permitted to eat Kitniyos on Erev Pesach until the night on the condition that one checks the kernels for grains three times. However, other Poskim rule that eating Kitniyos is forbidden starting from the 5th hour. Practically, the widespread custom is to be stringent.

May children or an ill person eat Kitniyos?
If needed, they may be given Kitniyos to eat, even if there is no danger involved. When doing so it is proper to designate pots which will be used for the Kitniyos.

May one cook in a pot that had Kitniyos cooked in it?
After 24 hours one may cook in it even Lechatchilah. Within 24 hours one may not do so, although if he does then the food is permitted, as there is majority of Heter verses the Kitniyos taste.

What does one do if he cooked Kitniyos on his stove and some of it spilled?One must make sure to clean it well prior to cooking on it Pesach foods.

If an Ashekenazi woman married a Sefardi may she eat Kitniyos?
Yes, she may, and she does not even need to perform a removal of a vow.

Is Kitniyos Muktzah on Yom Tov of Pesach?
No.

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^[1] Admur 453/3-6

[2] Admur 453/1; Michaber 453/1; Pesachim 35a

Other opinions: The Talmud [Pesachim 35a] records the opinions of Rav Yochanan Ben Nury who holds that rice and millet are considered a grain and its leavening is actual Chametz for which one is liable for Kareis, just like the five grains. The Mishneh in Pesachim 2/5 rules that only the five grains can become Chametz, and the Gemara ibid establishes that this Mishneh does not follow the opinion of Rebbe Yochanon Ben Nury, and so is the final ruling of the Talmud, and all Rishonim and Achronim.

[3] Admur ibid; Chok Yaakov 453/4; Rambam 5/1

[4] Admur 453/3

[5] Admur 453/3; Rama 453/1 “Some Poskim prohibit it and so is the custom”; Darkei Moshe 453/2; Beis Yosef 453; Tur 453/1 in name of Yeish Osrin although concludes the custom is not like this; Terumos Hadeshen 113; Hagahos Maimanis 5/1 in name of Semak 222 and Rav Shmuel of Uroyah; Mordechai Remez 588; Peri Chadash 453/1 brings a proof for this custom from Pesachim 40b; See Kaf Hachaim 453/9-10

Other opinions: Some Poskim negate the custom of Ashkenazi Jewry, and rule it is to be nullified. [Rabbeinu Yerucham 5/3 p. 41 [brought in Beis Yosef 453] “It is a Minhag Shtus not to eat cooked Kitniyus unless they do it as a mere stringency, and I don’t know why”; Hagahos Maimanis 5/1 that Rav Yechiel and other Gedolim permitted Kitniyus; See Chasam Sofer 122 regarding a certain Ashkenazi community whose leaders permitted eating Kitniyus on Yom Tov of Pesach; Mor Uketzia 453, brought in Machazik Bracha 453/1 and Kaf Hachaim 453/10, writes his father the Chacham Tzevi protested against this custom, as it leaves people without food to eat and they end up baking a lot of Matzah of which if they are not careful, they can transgress an Issur Kareis. “Therefore, if I had the power I would abolish this custom”; See However Sheilas Yaavetz 2/146, brought in Shaareiy Teshuvah 453/1; Bashamayim Rosh 348 “It is a mistaken custom”; See Shaareiy Tehsuvah ibid that some Sages desired to nullify this custom and the leaders of the generation stopped them.]

[6] The reason: The reason behind this custom is because in the later generations the population of uneducated Jews who are not expert in the laws of Issur Viheter [i.e. Kashrus] increased. Now, if they were to see people eating a cooked dish of Kitnoyos on Pesach, they will mistakenly come to permit cooking [and eating] even grains [such as heat/spelt/rye/oats/barley]. The reason for this is because the entire year it is common to make legume dishes just as it is common to make grain dishes, and they will thus assume that they have an equal law regarding Pesach. For this reason, it became accustomed to forbid everything. [Admur ibid; 1^st reason in Hagahos Maimanis ibid, Semak 222, Mordechai Remez 588, Beis Yosef 453; 1^st reason in Chok Yaakov 453/5; Peri Chadash 453/1 based on Pesachim 40b; 1^st reason in Perisha 453/3; M”B 453/6 omits this reason and states cooked legumes is forbidden due to Lo Pelug]

Other reasons mentioned in Poskim: Some Poskim write the reason behind this custom is because wheat/grains tend to get mixed into Kitniyos, and hence people may come to stumble and eat Chametz grains during Pesach, when eating their Kitniyus dish. [Tur 453/1; 1^st reason in Taz 453/1; 2^nd reason in Chok Yaakov 453/5; 3^rd reason in Hagahos Maimanis ibid and Beis Yosef 453; 1^st reason in M”B 453/6] Alternatively, the reason is because it is possible to make flour/dough out of legumes and thus one may come to confuse it with Chametz flour/dough and come to allow even Chametz flour/dough. [2^nd reason brought in Taz 453/1; 2^nd reason in Hagahos Maimanis ibid, Semak 222, Mordechai Remez 588, Beis Yosef 453; Bach 453; 2^nd reason in Perisha 453/3; 2^nd reason in M”B 453/6; See also Biur Halacha 453/1 “Veyeish Osrin”]

The practical ramifications between the reasons: 1) May an Ashkenazi eat dry Kitniyus [Permitted according to reason of Admur, forbidden according to 2^nd reason] 2) May an Ashkenazi eat cooked Kitniyus if it was checked for grains. [Permitted according to 1st reason, forbidden according to Admur, 3^rd reason] [See Piskeiy Teshuvos 453/3 that the custom is to be stringent like all the reasons]

[7] Admur 253/5; Taz 453/1; Chok Yaakov 453/5; Tur 453/1; See Rabbeinu Yerucham ibid

[8] Beis Yosef ibid writes “Ashkenazim”; Chayeh Adam 127/1 writes it applies to all Ashkenaz and Poland; See Chasam Sofer 122 regarding a certain Ashkenazi community whose leaders permitted eating Kitniyus on Yom Tov of Pesach;

[9] Rama 453/1; Darkei Moshe ibid; Taz 453/1; Chok Yaakov 453/5; Levush 453; Bach 453; Maharil in next footnote; Chida in Shiyurei Bracha 453 and Tov Ayin ibid, brought in Shaareiy Teshuvah 453/1 and Kaf Hachaim 453/11; Chayeh Adam 127/1; See Admur 453/3-5 who uses the term “forbidden” regarding the custom, although does not write the wording of the Rama ibid.

[10] Drashos Maharil 5 Hilchos Machalos Assuros Bepesach, brought in Shaareiy Teshuvah 453/1 and Kaf Hachaim 453/11

[11] Michaber 453/1 “It is permitted to cook and eat it” Beis Yosef 453 “Only the Ashkenazim suspect for this matter”; Peri Chadash ibid; Chida in Tov Ayin 9/6; Tur 453/1 that the custom is not to prohibit Kitniyus; Rabbeinu Yerucham 5/3 p. 41 “It is a Minhag Shtus not to eat cooked Kitniyus unless they do it as a mere stringency, and I don’t know why”; Shaareiy Teshuvah 453/1 that it is similar to Takanas Rabbeinu Gershom not to marry two wives, which depends on country

[12] See Peri Chadash ibid “It is not our custom to avoid Kiyniyos, with exception to rice, being that we once checked it three times and we still found a wheat kernel in it afterwards, and from that day and onwards we stopped eating rice on Pesach.” This refers to Jerusalem Jewry, of which the Peri Chadash was its Rabbinical leader. So writes also Chida in Tov Ayin ibid and Pekudas Eliezer 51, brought in Kaf Hachaim 453/10, that Jerusalem Jewry forbids rice/Kitnitos on Pesach. Kaf Hachaim ibid concludes that today Yerushalyim is made up of many communities and each group is to follow their custom.

[13] Shaareiy Tehshuvah ibid; Kaf Hachaim 453/9-10