Sunday, March 18, 2012

Pesach פסח


 

>Very few haggim have as many "unique-to-the-holiday" laws as Passover.

Law vs. traditions, minhagim מנחגים.

The following are a few minhagim of North African Jews. As with all things Jewish, there is the ubiquitous caveat: "Ask your rabbi."

As usual, the sources are


הוד יוסף חי של הרה''ג יובף משאש, ע''ה

ילקוט שמ''ש של הרה''ג שלום משאש, ע''ה

דברי שלום ואמת של הרב מאיר אביטבול-מייסדת, עורך

קצורשלחן ערוך בשלם של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו, ע''ה

Fast of the first born סיום בתענית הכורות

According to Hakham Yosef Messas in his work Waters of Life
(מים חיים) a syium can be on even one portion (perek) and that portion can be completed again and again so that all can enjoy the simha of the syium. (דברי שלום ואמת)

Eating rice on Pesach אכילת אורז בפסח

Rice is permitted providing (a) it has not been shipped in a sack that once contained any of the five species and (b) that it is carefully inspected to assure there are no other grains mixed in. (Rice K for P is acceptable without additional inspection. See http://kashrut.com for Passover guides and lists of acceptable products.) (דברי שלום ואמת)

All manner of kitniyot are permitted during Pesach, except that rice must be checked as above to assure no grain from any of the 5 species is mixed with the rice. (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Personal; aside: Rice was introduced to my Moroccan family when a Syrian son of a rabbi married into the family, already settlrf in Bet Shean. Before Shlomo's arrival, rice was absent from the Pesach menu.

Counting the omer ספירת העמר>

The North African custom is to count the omer after the last Borahu ברכו and before Alenu עלינו.

(דברי שלום ואמת)

Kashering an oven כשר תנור האפיה

If you don't have a self-cleaning oven, the procedure is to theroughly clean the stove, even cleaning out all the accessible screws, then turning on the oven to a temperature higher than normally used to cook food (bake, broil) for 3 hours. Once the oven cools, wash it with very hot water. Ideally change the racks, but if this is not possible, wash them in very hot water. (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Kashering glassware כשר כלי זכוכית

If necessary, glassware may be used sans any kashering process other than to thoroughly clean the items. (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Measuring an olive and egg כזית וכביצה

We measure quantity of food not by weight (משקל) as normally is done, but by volume (נפח). (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Microwave ovens מקרוגל

Rabbi Mordekhai Eliyahu, ע''ה, describes a four step process to make it kosher.

1. It should be cleaned thoroughly with a damp cloth.

2. It should not be used for 24 hours.

3. A bowl of water should be boiled in it till the water evaporates. (A word of caution is in order here, there have been isolated reports of the bowl exploding when the door is opened

Extreme care must be taken if a person wishes to kasher a microwave oven).

4. When used during Pesah, the food should only be heated in a closed container.

Maamar Mordekha - Hilkhoth Haggim, 5:77

As with all things, your rabbi should be the "final authority."


הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי