Chicago Rabbinical Council

2011 Passover Guide

Table Of Contents

Policy on Medicines, Cosmetics and Toiletries ........................................... 3

How to Use This Guide ............................................................................. 6
Passover — an Introduction ....................................................................... 6
Preparation for Passover
What Constitutes Chametz ........................................................................ 7
Guidelines on Buying Food Before and After Passover ............................... 7
Kashering the Kitchen.........................................................................10-12
Countertops ............................................................................................. 13
Tevillas Keilim and Hechsher Keilim...................................................16-19
Shaimos Guidelines.................................................................................. 22
Proper Disposal of Chametz ................................................................22-23
Pre-Pesach Cleaning Checklist ................................................................. 23
Leaving Home Before Passover ................................................................. 25
Reflections on the Egyptian Experience.................................................... 25
Taanit B’chorim — Fast of First Born Sons .............................................. 26
The Seder ................................................................................................. 26
Seder Plate ............................................................................................... 27
Basic Seder Requirements and Measurements .....................................28-29
Passover Information
Product Information and Shopping Guide ..........................................33-51
Candle Lighting Times........................................................................52-53
Passover Dates to Remember.................................................................... 53
General Information
Guide for Wedding Dates ........................................................................ 53
Calendar of Holidays ............................................................................... 54
Sefirat Haomer Chart............................................................................... 55
Information about the cRc .................................................................56-58
cRc Members ......................................................................................59-61
Glossary of Hebrew Terms ..................................................................62-63
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www.crcweb.org 3
How to Use This
Guide
W e have designed the 2011
Passover Guide to provide
a user-friendly reference on
the wide-ranging, complex issues
involved in Passover observance.
Please disregard any previous ver-
sion of this publication, as kashruth
information may have changed.
While all of the information in
Passover —
An Introduction
T he Mishna (Pesachim, 10:5)
tells us, “In every generation
one is obligated to envision
himself as if he left Egypt.” In copy-
ing this particular passage into his
compendium of Jewish law, Mai-
monides altered the text slightly,
to read, “…as if he himself has just
left Egypt.”
What did Maimonides aim to
teach us with this change? Very
simply, that Passover is not like
other holidays, in which we com-
memorate a particular miracle
or event. Rather, the obligation
is upon us to feel as though
we have just been physically
and emotionally redeemed from
slavery in Egypt.
The matter of fulfilling this
obligation, however, is the sub-
ject of much debate among our
Rabbinic authorities. In his expla-
nation of the Mishna, Maimonides
explains that the various mitzvot and
customs of Passover exist so that we
might make it apparent to others that
we have just been granted the most
6 www.crcweb.org
this booklet has been reviewed by
Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, Av
Beth Din of the cRc, please consult
your Orthodox Rabbi for specific
decisions on matters of Jewish Law
(halacha). For further details on
any matters related to kashruth,
please visit www.crcweb.org.
miraculous salvation by Hashem. On
a practical level, what is it that we
actually do to impress upon others
that we are now free?
We drink four cups of wine in a
reclining position — the drink and
posture of free people. We speak
openly about our redemption from
slavery in Egypt, and our subsequent
receipt of Hashem’s Torah on Mount
Sinai. In short, we must demon-
strate our freedom by playing the
part of the free person and actively
celebrating that freedom.
Sephardic laws and customs,
followed by Jews of Mediterranean,
Near Eastern or Spanish descent, are
indicated with a ≈ symbol and have
been carefully reviewed by Rabbi
Michael Azose. Finally, all translit-
erated Hebrew words are in italics;
most italicized words are defined
in a brief glossary on pages 62-63.
Every Passover grants us the
opportunity to educate our children
about the beauty of our Torah, and
the freedom we have always fought
to protect, through the Seder and
the many beautiful mitzvot of the
holiday. In this spirit, the Chicago
Rabbinical Council offers this Pass-
over Guide to the community, with
the prayer that our observance
of Hashem’s redemption of our
People more than 3,300 years
ago will lead to the Ultimate
Redemption in 5771.
Passover begins with the
first Seder on the eve of the 15th
day of Nissan, corresponding
to Monday evening, April 18,
2011, and ends outside of Isra-
el at the conclusion of the 22nd
day of Nissan, corresponding
to Tuesday evening, April 26,
2011. For specific times relevant to
the Chicago area and Chicago Rab-
binical Council member communi-
ties for the 2011 Passover festival,
please turn to pages 52-53.
Chametz
C hametz includes leavened
foods, drinks and ingredients
that are made from or contain
wheat, rye, barley, oats or spelt.
Therefore, all grain products such as
breads, cereals and other breakfast
foods, grain alcohol, grain vinegar
and grain malts, are forbidden dur-
ing Passover. Certain other foods
known as kitniyot, such as beans,
corn, peas, rice, alfalfa sprouts, bean
sprouts, green beans, mustard, and
the derivatives of these foods, are
not eaten by Ashkenazic Jews due
to their similarity to the five chametz
grains. (For more information on
foods which may be kitniyot see
the center pull-out, color-coded
shopping guide.)
Guidelines on Buying Food
Before and After Passover
T he purchase of food items
for Passover that do not bear
special Passover certification
is not permissible, even for prod-
ucts that have year-round kosher
supervision (this does not apply to
foods that require no certification
during the year, such as fresh fruits
and vegetables).
Special Passover endorsement is
required for all baked and processed
goods, candy, soft drinks, wines,
liquors, milk and milk products,
horseradish, vinegar, and canned
goods. Passover foods such as mat-
zot, cakes, macaroons, egg noodles,
etc., also require reliable rabbinic
endorsement. Fresh fruits and veg-
etables may be purchased without
≈ There are many differences in the
halachot followed by the Ashke-
nazic (Jews of European descent)
and Sephardic (Jews of Mediter-
ranean, West Asian or Spanish
descent) communities, and the
laws of chametz are no exception.
Some Sephardim have adopted the
Ashkenazic custom of refraining
from rice and kitniyot during Pass-
over. Others do eat rice, however
it must be checked three times
prior to Passover to make abso-
lutely certain there are no kernels
of chametz. In order to determine
your family’s customs, as well as
to determine what Rabbinic cer-
tification is required on products
containing kitniyot, it is important
special Passover certification; leafy
vegetables must be thoroughly
washed and checked for bugs. Jew-
ish grocers, bakers and other food
merchants who deal in chametz must
sell their chametz before Passover. If
they fail to do so, these chametz
products are forbidden even after
Passover. In such an event, pur-
chases of chametz goods should not
be made for the period of time it
normally takes for complete replen-
ishment of such stock. It is therefore
preferable when purchasing from
a Jewish merchant to deal with a
proprietor who is known to have
sold his chametz before Passover,
and who sells no chametz during
the holiday.
www.crcweb.org
to contact your Orthodox Rabbi,
especially one who is well-versed
in the laws followed by Jews of
Sephardic descent during Passover.
One should not rely on list-
ed ingredients on the label alone
to determine whether a prod-
uct merely contains kitniyot and
may be used on Passover as many
times these products may con-
tain actual undeclared chametz.
The following sections discuss
chametz as it relates to food pur-
chases, preparing the kitchen for
Passover, cleaning the home and
office for Passover, and other issues
central to the observance of this
Yom Tov.
The prohibition against chametz
applies to all products prepared or
baked during Passover. This means
that you may not purchase bread
on the evening following the last
day of Passover, April 26, 2011,
if baked by a Jewish-owned firm
during Passover. Please check with
your Rabbi when you may resume
purchasing products from that
establishment. All kosher certified
bakeries cease their operations on
Monday, April 18, 2011, and do
not begin baking until after the
conclusion of the entire holiday.
cRc-certified bakeries will be open
for business on Wednesday, April
27, 2011.
7
Kashering the
Kitchen
Introduction

D ishes, utensils, kitchen appliances, countertops, and anything else used with food year-round, cannot
be used for Passover unless it goes through a process known as “kashering” or “hechsher keilim”. For a
few items kashering just involves thoroughly cleaning the item, but for most items kashering also requires
submerging the item in boiling water or a similar hot process. The laws of kashering are quite complex, and this
article will present practical points; readers are encouraged to discuss any questions not covered in this article
with their local Orthodox Rabbi.

The following items may not be Flatware

kashered for Passover:
• China, pottery, earthenware,
cement/concrete and enameled
pots may not be kashered for Pass-
over. The Ashkenazic custom is to
not kasher glass, with the excep-
tion of glass stovetops discussed
below. There is a difference of
opinion as to whether plastic
and other synthetic materials are
included in this rule, and the cRc
position is that those materials
may be kashered.
• Utensils and appliances which
cannot be thoroughly cleaned
such as those having crevices in
which chametz can accumulate
may not be kashered for Passover.
Some examples of this are dish-
washers, sieves, graters, utensils
with loose-fitting handles, and
bottles with narrow necks.
• Materials which might get ruined
during the kashering process may
not be kashered for Passover, as the
Rabbis were concerned that the
person would not kasher properly
for fear of ruining the utensil or
appliance.
We now turn to the parts of the
kitchen which can be kashered.
Silver, stainless steel, and plastic
flatware may be kashered. The pro-
cess begins with a thorough cleaning,
after which the utensil should not be
used for 24 hours. A pot of water
is brought to a rolling boil, and the
pieces of flatware are dropped into
the water one at a time. If the water
stops boiling at any point, one must
wait until it returns to a boil before
putting in any more flatware. The
custom is to rinse the flatware with
cold water after kashering.
Some have the custom to kasher
in a dedicated “kashering pot” which
is not used for anything else, but
most kasher in any pot which is clean
and has not been used for 24 hours.
Pots and Pans
Standard metal pots are kashered in
the same manner as flatware; consult
with your Rabbi if the pot which
requires kashering is too large to fit
into any other pot of boiling water.
Enameled pots and glass pots
(e.g. Pyrex) cannot be kashered.
In general, baking, roasting,
and frying pans cannot be kashered
for Passover unless they are always
used with generous amounts of oil
or other grease when cooking. If
New Utensils
Many people choose to purchase
extra dishes, flatware, and other
utensils which are kept from year
to year for Passover use, thereby
avoiding the need to kasher those
items.
• All new metal, aluminum and
glass utensils require tevilat
keilim (ritual immersion) in
a kosher mikvah (ritual bath).
• New disposable aluminum
pans are acceptable for Pass-
over without special certifica-
tion. Ritual immersion and
the appropriate bracha (bless-
ing) are required if the pans
will be used more than once.
• New utensils made of plastic
or Styrofoam are acceptable
without special certification,
and ritual immersion is not
required.
that is the case, they can be kashered
via libun kal which involves cleaning
the pans well, not using them for 24
hours and then putting them on an
open flame until both the inside and
outside of the pan are hot enough
to singe paper.

10 www.crcweb.org
Drinking Glasses
The Ashkenazic custom is that drink-
ing glasses made of glass cannot be
kashered if they were ever used for
hot beverages or washed with hot
water, such as in a dishwasher. If
they were never used or washed hot,
contact your Rabbi for directions
as to how they may be kashered.
Drinking glasses made of plastic
can be kashered in the same man-
ner as flatware outlined above, and
drinking glasses (or anything else)
made of ceramic or china cannot
be kashered.
Tablecloths
Fabric tablecloths may be used
for Passover after being laundered.
Vinyl tablecloths cannot be kashered
and should be replaced for Passover.
Electric Mixers, Food Processors
and Blenders
The motor area of small electric
appliances (e.g. mixers, food proces-
sor, blenders) is often exposed to
chametz and is very difficult to clean;
it is therefore recommended that one
purchase separate appliances which
should be reserved for Passover use.
Food processors and blenders whose
motor area is truly sealed (i.e. they
cannot be unscrewed or opened by
consumers) are not affected by this
issue and may be used for Passover
after separate bowls and blades are
purchased for Passover use.
Sinks
Stainless steel or Corian sinks
may be kashered by cleaning them
thoroughly, leaving them unused
for 24 hours, and then carefully
pouring boiling water from a kettle
over all surfaces of the sink and
faucet. The strainer covering the
sink’s drain should be replaced for
Passover. Porcelain sinks cannot
be kashered. Dishes and other Pass-
over utensils may not be placed in a
sink which was not kashered; rather,
an insert or basin which was never
used for chametz must be placed in
the sink, and all dishes should be
put into that insert.
Stovetops and Ovens
Stovetops (ranges) and ovens may
be kashered for Passover use, and the
process for doing so is as follows:
Stovetops
The most common type of stovetop
is a metal grate over an open flame,
which is situated on a porcelain
surface. Others have electric coils in
the place of an open flame or have a
glass surface covering electric coils,
and the most popular brands for
this type of stovetop are Corning
and Ceran.
The kashering of all of these
stovetops is similar. All parts of
the stovetop should be thoroughly
cleaned, including scraping residual
food from the surface and catch-tray,
and not used for 24 hours. Then
the fire or coil should be turned to
its maximum temperature for one
hour. Finally the knobs, catch trays
and all areas between the burners
must be covered with aluminum foil.
www.crcweb.org
Non self-cleaning oven
The interior and exterior surfaces
of the oven must be thoroughly
cleaned, the oven should not be
used for a full 24 hours, and then
it should be turned on to its high-
est temperature for one hour. As
an added precaution for Passover,
once this process is complete, the
racks and grates should be covered
on both sides with aluminum foil
(which should be perforated for
air circulation). Additionally, no
food should be permitted to touch
the side, bottom or top of the oven
on Passover.
Self-cleaning oven
A complete self-clean cycle should be
run with the racks inside the oven,
and then the oven may be used for
Passover without covering the racks.
This kashering may be done even if
the oven was not left unused for 24
hours. If the racks are not inside
the oven while the self-clean cycle
is run, the racks should be kashered
separately.
Note: All oven cleaners are
acceptable for year-round use
including Passover.
Microwave oven
Microwave ovens may be used on
Chol HaMoed, but not on Shabbat and
Yom Tov. The glass plate cannot be
kashered (or used) and should be
removed before kashering begins. To
kasher the appliance itself, the micro-
wave must be thoroughly cleaned,
with special detail to the fan area,
and not used for 24 hours. Then,
11
 a cup of water should be boiled
in the chamber for an extended
amount of time, until the chamber
fills with steam and the water over-
flows from the cup. For Passover, it
is highly recommended to cover all
foods in the microwave, even after
performing the above kashering. If
a microwave has a metal grate, it
should be kashered in a pot of hot
water as described in the Flatware
section above.
For convection microwave
ovens, the same kashering process
as a conventional oven should be
followed, paying particular atten-
tion to cleaning out the chamber
and fan assembly.
Refrigerators and Freezers
All parts of refrigerators and freezers
must be thoroughly cleaned and
washed, including storage bins. The
shelves should be lined with plastic
or foil, which should be perforated
with small perforations to allow for
air circulation.
Countertops
The procedure for kashering a coun-
tertop is to clean it thoroughly,
not use it for 24 hours, and then
carefully pour boiling water on all
surfaces. Once the countertop is
kashered, it may be used without
being covered. However, many
people have a custom to both kasher
and cover their countertops. As
noted at the beginning of this article,
one may not kasher utensils made of
certain materials (ceramic, cement,
glass), materials which are not robust
enough to withstanding kashering,
and any utensil that has cracks,
12 www.crcweb.org
nicks or scratches where pieces of
food might get stuck. These same
restrictions apply to countertops.
In any situation where the
countertop cannot or will not be
kashered, it may only be used on
Passover after being covered with
a non-porous material which will
not easily rip or tear.
There are many countertop
materials available for home use
today, with the old favorite being
plastic laminate, manufactured by
laminating a hard plastic material
onto a thin piece of wood. Some
popular brands of laminate are For-
mica, Pionite, Wilsonart, and
Nevamar. In some cases, there are
seams where two pieces of laminate
meet, creating the potential for cha-
metz collecting in that area during
the year, and special attention should
be paid to cleaning those seams.
Butcher block or wood sur-
faces are once again becoming
popular. Wood may be kashered only
if it contains no cracks that might
trap chametz. Due to the likelihood
of such cracks developing, it was
the practice to sand down wooden
surfaces in butcher shops before
Passover. If sanding the countertops
is practical in one’s home or if the
countertop contains no cracks, the
countertop may be kashered; other-
wise the wooden countertop should
be covered for Passover. Some of the
popular wood brands on the market
are John Boos, Craftart, Spekva,
and Omega.
Many kitchens use natural stone
such as granite, marble, lime-
stone, soapstone, slate, and onyx
for countertops. All of these may
be kashered for Passover regardless
of which sealant is used to coat
the stone.
Another material used for coun-
tertops is quartz resin, a man-made
material made to look like granite
or marble. It is different than natu-
ral stone in that it is not porous.
Therefore the surface does not need
to be sealed. Some common brands
are Cambria, Silestone, Zodiaq,
and Caesar Stone. These may be
kashered for Passover.
Similarly, there is another coun-
tertop material which is made to look
like stone but it is actually an acrylic
or polyester and therefore easy to
maintain. Some popular brands
are Corian, Staron, Swanstone,
Gibraltar, Surrell, and Avonite.
These materials may be kashered for
Passover if they do not contain any
scratches or stains; otherwise they
must be covered.
There are also glass, ceramic,
cement, and porcelain counter-
tops available, with porous grout
between each tile. Buddy Rhodes
and Cheng Design are popular
brands of cement countertop. These
countertops may not be kashered
for Passover and must be covered.
While not used as often in a
home, stainless steel, copper,
and zinc countertops are also avail-
able, and they may be kashered for
Passover.
There can always be unique
situations that might arise in one’s
own home. When in doubt, contact
your local Orthodox Rabbi. Special
thanks to Rick Glickman of “Dream
Kitchens” for his assistance with our
countertop research.
A summary of the information
about countertops is included in the
chart on the following page.
 Countertops
Countertops
The following
The following is a summary
is a summary of the countertop
of the countertop information
information presentedpresented in the preceding
in the preceding article. article.
Brand Name or Can it be
Comment
Material kashered?
Acrylic Yes May be kashered if there are no scratches or stains; otherwise cover.
Avonite Yes May be kashered if there are no scratches or stains; otherwise cover.
Buddy Rhodes No Must be covered for Passover
Butcher Block Yes May be kashered if there are no cracks; otherwise sand or cover.
Caesar Stone Yes
Cambria Yes
Cement No Must be covered for Passover
Ceramic tile No Must be covered for Passover
Cheng Design No Must be covered for Passover
Concrete No Must be covered for Passover
Copper Yes
Corian Yes May be kashered if there are no scratches or stains; otherwise cover.
Craftart Yes May be kashered if there are no cracks; otherwise sand or cover.
Formica Yes Carefully clean seams before kashering.
Gibraltar Yes May be kashered if there are no scratches or stains; otherwise cover.
Glass tile No Must be covered for Passover
Granite Yes
John Boos Yes May be kashered if there are no cracks; otherwise sand or cover.
Laminate (plastic) Yes Carefully clean seams before kashering.
Limestone Yes
Marble Yes
Nevamar Yes Carefully clean seams before kashering.
Omega Yes May be kashered if there are no cracks; otherwise sand or cover.
Pionite Yes Carefully clean seams before kashering.
Plastic Laminate Yes Carefully clean seams before kashering.
Porcelain No Must be covered for Passover
Quartz Resin Yes
Silestone Yes
Slate Yes
Soapstone Yes
Spekva Yes May be kashered if there are no cracks; otherwise sand or cover.
Stainless Steel Yes
Staron Yes May be kashered if there are no scratches or stains; otherwise cover.
Surrell Yes May be kashered if there are no scratches or stains; otherwise cover.
Swanstone Yes May be kashered if there are no scratches or stains; otherwise cover.
Wilsonart Yes Carefully clean seams before kashering.
Wood Yes May be kashered if there are no cracks; otherwise sand or cover.
Zinc Yes
Zodiaq Yes

www.crcweb.org 13
cRc Guide to Tevillas Keilim and
Hechsher Keilim (Kashering)
Revised January 2011 / a"E$T UB$
T hese guidelines presented on the following pages were formulated by the Av Beth Din of the Chicago
Rabbinical Council (cRc), Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz a”uyl$.
The following are general guidelines
for tevillas keilim:
• Metal or glass items require tevil-
lah with a beracha/hkrb.
• Ceramic, plastic, rubber or wood
items don’t require tevillah.
• China (i.e. glazed ceramic)
requires tevillah without a beracha.
The following are the procedures
for tevillas keilim:
• Inspect the utensil to be sure that
it is free of labels, glue, dirt, rust,
and other foreign substances.
• Moisten your hand by immersing
it in the mikvah.
• Grasp the utensil in your wet
hand, recite the bracha (where
required), and immerse the uten-
sil in the water. Care should be
taken to immerse the entire utensil
simultaneously.
This guide will discuss the following
3 forms of hechsher keilim (kasher-
ing).
1. Hag’alah (HLEGH)
The item is cleaned thoroughly
and left unused for 24 hours.
[The 24 hour idle period is
known as rendering the item
aino ben yomo/WMWY IB WNYA.] All
surfaces of the item are then
placed into a pot of water that is
on the fire and at a rolling boil.
Some families own a dedicated
16 www.crcweb.org
“kashering pot”, but it is also
acceptable to use an ordinary pot
that had previously been used for
chametz, dairy or meat, if the pot
is clean and aino ben yomo.
2. Irui Kli Rishon
(IW$AR YLK YWRYE)
The item is cleaned thoroughly
and left unused for 24 hours.
Water is brought to a rolling
boil in a pot on the fire, and that
water is poured directly from the
pot onto all surfaces of the item
being kashered. Extreme caution
should be exercised during this
method of kashering, to protect
against anyone accidentally
getting burned by the cascad-
ing boiling water. Some families
own a dedicated “kashering pot”,
but it is also acceptable to use an
ordinary pot that had previously
been used for chametz, dairy or
meat, if the pot is clean and aino
ben yomo.
3. Libun Gamur
(RWMG IWBYL)
The item is heated with a blow-
torch or hot coals until the item
begins to glow red-hot. Aino ben
yomo isn’t required for this form of
kashering. This method of kash-
ering is impractical for most
individuals and should only
be done by someone specially
trained in this area.
Under no circumstances may
something be kashered if there is
a concern that it'll break, as this
might lead the person performing
the kashering to be apprehensive and
therefore not perform the kashering
properly. For this reason, some items
are listed as not being eligible for
kashering even if technically there
is a way that kashering can be done.
A number of items in the
guideline are differentiated between
whether they are used with or with-
out liquids. This refers to whether
the food is cooked or fried in a
meaningful amount of water or oil.
For example, a pot used to cook
pasta is considered to have been
used “with liquids” (even though
the pasta/chametz is a solid) because
cooking is always done with liquid
in the pot. On the other hand, a
baking sheet used to bake bread
is considered to have been used
“without liquid” (even though the
bread/chametz contains water) since
bread is basically a dry item.
The guidelines record the gen-
eral ruling that china cannot be
kashered. However, if the china is
particularly expensive and/or of
great sentimental value, please con-
sult a Rabbi as there are cases where
kashering is permitted for year-round
use.
 CAN IT BE KASHERED?
Requires Method of kashering (where applicable)
Item For Year-
tevillah? and other notes
Pesach round

No,
Aluminum unless used  If used with liquid, kasher via hag’alah
See note See note
(disposable) more than  If used without liquids, requires libun gamur
once

Aluminum  If used with liquid, kasher via hag’alah

Yes See note See note
(not disposable)  If used without liquids, requires libun gamur

Baking sheet Yes Yes Yes Libun gamur

For year-round, clean blech well and don’t use for 24 hours,
then place blech on stovetop burners and turn on all burners
Blech No No Yes to their highest setting for 30 minutes. Exercise caution as
the blech will become very hot.

Bone China Yes, without No No

a beracha

 If used with liquid, kasher via hag’alah

Cast Iron Yes Yes Yes
 If used without liquids, requires libun gamur

Ceramic
No No No
(e.g. coffee mug)

China Yes, without No No

a beracha

Yes, For year-round, clean well, do not use for 24 hours, and
Coffee maker for the glass No Yes then run through one cycle
portions

Colander Yes No Yes For year-round, kasher via hag’alah

Corelle Yes No No

Cork No No No

 If manufactured before 1995, requires tevillah with a

beracha (as it is glass)
Corningware See note No No
 If manufactured after 1995, requires tevillah without a
beracha (as it is glazed ceramic)

Crystal Yes No No

www.crcweb.org 17
 CAN IT BE KASHERED?
Requires Method of kashering (where applicable)
Item For Year-
tevillah? and other notes
Pesach round

Not
Dentures (false teeth) No Yes For Pesach, kasher via irui kli rishon
required

Dishwasher made of…

No No No
Porcelain

Dishwasher made of…

For year round, replace racks, do not use for 24 hours, and
Stainless steel or No No See note then run through one cycle
plastic

Duralex Yes No No

For kashering, see individual utensils (e.g. baking sheet, frying

Farberware Yes Yes Yes pan, pot)

Yes, For year-round, kasher all parts including those made of hard
Food Processor for the metal No Yes plastic via hag’alah
portions

Frying pan,
Yes No No
with Teflon coating

 If used with generous amounts of oil or other grease,

Frying pan, kasher via libun kal (clean well and do not use for 24
hours, then put on open flame until both inside and
without Teflon Yes See note See note outside are hot enough to singe paper).
coating  If used with insignificant amounts of oil (e.g. cooking
spray) kasher via libun gamur

 For year-round, kasher via leaving all burners on highest

setting for half an hour
Glass-topped range No Yes Yes
 For Pesach, kasher as above but do not use the range on
Pesach unless the space between the burners is covered

If used with hot beverages or washed in a dishwasher, they

cannot be kashered for Pesach. Otherwise, fill the glasses with
Glasses used for drinking Yes See note No water and leave the water in the glasses for at least 24 hours.
Repeat this procedure two additional times with fresh water.

To kasher, clean and do not use for 24 hours, then leave on

Hot Plate No Yes Yes highest setting for half an hour

18 www.crcweb.org
 CAN IT BE KASHERED?
Requires Method of kashering (where applicable)
Item For Year-
tevillah? and other notes
Pesach round
To kasher, clean microwave thoroughly and do not use for
24 hours. Boil a cup of water in the chamber for an
extended amount of time, until the chamber fills with steam
Yes, Yes, Yes, and the water overflows from the cup. The glass plate
Microwave oven only for the except for except for glass cannot be kashered (or used) and should be removed before
glass plate glass plate plate
kashering begins. For Pesach, it is a commendable extra
precaution to cover all foods in the microwave, even after
performing the above kashering.

Pot made of…

Metal (uncoated) or Yes Yes Yes Hag’alah
Teflon-coated metal

Plastic No Yes Yes Hag’alah

Pyrex Yes No No

Hag’alah, assuming there are no cracks where food might get

Rubber No Yes Yes trapped. If there are cracks, it cannot be kashered (or used).

For kashering, see individual utensils (e.g. baking sheet, frying

Stainless steel Yes Yes Yes pan, pot)

Yes,
Stoneware without a No No
beracha

For kashering, see individual utensil (e.g. Baking Sheet, Frying

Teflon-coated cookware Yes See note See note Pan, Pot)

Hag’alah, assuming there are no cracks where food might get

Wood No Yes Yes trapped. If there are cracks, it cannot be kashered (or used).

www.crcweb.org 19
cRc Guidelines for Shaimos
A s we clean and prepare our homes for Passover, it is not uncommon to come across many items, other
than chametz, that we would like to discard. Questions often arise regarding papers or publications that
bear Hebrew letters and may be considered shaimos, religious items or texts, which require special disposal.
Therefore, we present the following guidelines established by our Av Beth Din, HaRav Gedalia Dov
Schwartz A”UYL$.

Shaimos Guidelines
In regard to disposal of items
containing Hebrew script, etc. and
shaimos, the following guidelines
are recommended:
• Any parts of Kisvei Kodesh such
as Tanach, Gemara, and siddurim,
etc. must have geniza, burial of
religious items. This includes tefil-
lin, mezuzot, rabbinic sefarim, and
mezuzah covers.
• It would be advisable that work-
sheets, etc. not be reproduced or
written in ksav ashuri (printed
Hebrew letters – not handwrit-
ten script) if possible, and it is
advisable that entire p’sukim not
be reproduced. These worksheets
then can also be recycled.
• Jewish newspapers may be put
into double plastic bags and then
disposed of. This includes such
publications as the Jewish Press,
the Yated, etc.
• In Jewish publications such as
Likutei P’shatim and shul newslet-
ters, only the Divrei Torah sections
must have geniza. The social sec-
tions may be recycled.

Important note: Please do not bring your shaimos to the cRc office during the Passover season. As in past
years, the cRc plans to coordinate a shaimos collection for the Chicago community during the summer.
Details of that collection will be announced at that time.

Proper Disposal of Chametz

E very Jew is obligated to cel-
ebrate the entire holiday of
Passover without owning or
benefiting from chametz. There are
three components to ensuring that
him to a non-Jew. This transaction is
completely legal, giving the non-Jew
all rights of ownership over the cha-
metz that has been sold to him. After
the conclusion of the festival, your
address as well as your office address
when selling your chametz through
your Rabbi.

this obligation is fulfilled:
1. Mechirat chametz (sale of
chametz)
2. Bedika and bitul of cha-
metz (the search for and
nullification of chametz)
3. Biur chametz (destruc-
tion of chametz)
Mechirat Chametz
One who cannot dispose of all of
his chametz before Passover must
authorize his Orthodox Rabbi, in
advance, to sell this chametz for
Rabbi may re-purchase the chametz
from the non-Jew. You should wait
at least one hour after Passover
before using this chametz, to give
the Rabbi time to complete the
re-purchase of the chametz and
restore its ownership to you.
All chametz that is to be sold
should be placed in a special room
or section of the house, together with
chametz dishes and utensils, until
after Passover. This area should be
locked or closed off so that access
to it will be difficult.
It is important to list your home
Bedikat Chametz
The search for chametz is made on
Sunday evening, April 17, 2011,
immediately after dark. By that
time, your home should be thor-
oughly cleaned of all chametz except
for food you have set aside for the
bedikat chametz ceremony and the
chametz you intend to eat before
it becomes prohibited (for specific
times for the 2011 holiday, please
see pages 38-39).
Traditionally, we spread 10
small pieces of bread to be gathered
up throughout the home during a

22 www.crcweb.org
 search by the light of a single-wick
candle. It is important to be very
careful when placing pieces of cha-
metz that they be placed on a piece
of paper, napkin or paper plate to
prevent the spread of chametz. The
person conducting the search first
recites a blessing:
OLWEH VLM WNYQLA ‘H HTA VWRB
RWEB LE WNWCW WYTWCMB WN$DQ R$A
.JMX
BA-RUCH A-TA ADO-NAI ELO-HEINU
ME-LECH HA-O-LAM ASHER KID’SHANU
B’MITZ-VOTAV V’TZI-VANU AL BI-UR
CHAMETZ.
Once the blessing has been
recited, one then proceeds with the
search, going from room to room
to look for his chametz. At the same
time, a spot check is made to be
sure that all other chametz has been
removed. Using a feather as a brush,
all the chametz is gathered into a bag
or cloth, and carefully set aside to
be burned the following morning.
Bitul Chametz
After the search for the chametz has
been completed, a formal renuncia-
tion of ownership or desire to benefit
Pre-Pesach Cleaning Checklist
Disposal of Chametz
Check List
D id you remember to…
 …check your medicine cabinet
for sprays, toiletries, and cosmetics
including mouthwash, that are not
recommended for Passover use?
 …thoroughly clean and wash the
playpen, including padding, as
well as the high chair and crib,
carriages and strollers, as well as
from any undiscovered chametz in
one’s possession must be recited by
everyone. Since the person making
this declaration must understand
what he or she is reciting, it may be
recited in any language the reader
understands. Here is the bitul cha-
metz statement, in Aramaic and
English:
,YTW$RB AKYAD AEYMXW ARYMX LK
ALDW,HTREB ALDW,HTMX ALD
RQPH YWHLW LUBL,HYL ANEDY
AERAD ARPEK
“Any chametz or leaven that is in my posses-
sion, which I have not seen, have not removed
and do not know about, should be nullified
and become ownerless, like dust of the earth.”
Biur Chametz
On Monday, April 18, 2011, cha-
metz may be eaten no later than
10:12 a.m. Daylight Savings Time
in the Chicago area. All chametz
remaining in one’s possession must
be kept in a sealed cabinet or room
throughout Passover.
All chametz that has not been
sold (see prior section) must be
burned on Monday, April 18, 2011,
no later than 11:31 a.m. Daylight
toy boxes?
 …make certain that your pets are
not fed chametz during Passover?
 …turn your children’s pockets
inside-out to shake out all crumbs;
see that all family members do the
same with their clothes? (Women
should also be careful not to leave
candy, gum or chametz cosmetics
in their purses).
 …thoroughly clean the glove com-
partment of the car, and vacuum
the inside of both the front and
www.crcweb.org
Savings
Ti m e
in the
Chica-
go area.
The fol-
lowing
formula
is recit-
ed at the
time of
burning of the
chametz on Monday, April 18,
2011:
,YTW$RB AKYAD AEYMXW ARYMX LK
ALDW HTMXD HTZX ALDW HTZXD
LUBL,HTREB ALDW HTREBD HTMX
aerad arpek rqph ywhlw
“Any chametz or leaven that is in my pos-
session, whether I have recognized it or
not, whether I have seen it or not, whether
I have removed it or not, should be nulli-
fied and become ownerless, like dust of the
earth.”
For those who wish to take
advantage of a community service,
the Agudah will hold a public biur
chametz on Monday, April 18, 2011
between 8:00 A.M and 11:00 A.M.
at Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov at 3200
West Peterson in Chicago.
back seats, as well as the trunk?
 …meticulously clean your kitchen
area: stove, cupboards, refrigerator,
table top, shelves, sink, etc.?
 …“kasher” any utensils or silver-
ware before Monday, April 18,
2011 at 11:31 a.m.
 …check the drawers, filing cabi-
nets, etc. in your office, as well as
in your home, for “chametz” you
may have forgotten?
 …replace all vacuum cleaner bags
23
Guidelines for
Those Leaving
Home Before
Passover
Note: For specific questions about these laws please
consult your Orthodox Rabbi.
Bedikat Chametz —
Search for Chametz
A
s outlined in the Shulchan
Aruch (Rabbi Yosef Karo’s
Code of Jewish Law), anyone
leaving home before the traditional
evening of bedikat chametz, must
carry out the search on the night
before he or she departs. However,
since this is not the normal evening
for bedika, no bracha is recited.
Another option is to appoint a she-
liach — agent — to perform the
bedika at the normal time. On the
morning of Erev Passover (Monday,
April 18, 2011), the statement of
bitul should be pronounced at the
required time of the place where the
chametz is kept.
Mechirat Chametz —
Selling the Chametz
Because of differing opinions regard-
ing those who travel to Eastern time
zones (where the holiday begins
earlier) a separate sale of chametz is
arranged earlier in the home com-
munity for those traveling towards
the Eastern time zones. Another
option would be the transfer of the
chametz as a gift to someone else
who remains in the community; the
recipient of the gift would arrange
the sale of the chametz. Call your
Orthodox Rabbi for the proper
forms or for questions regarding
international travel.
Reflections on the
Egyptian Experience
Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz
The Exodus from Egypt represents more than one specific event of leav-
ing that country, but it is in reality a title for the entire sojourn of the
Jewish people while in Egypt. As we prepare for the great celebration
of Pesach, we review the happening not only as a major historical
landmark for our people, but we literally immerse ourselves in the
comments and analyses of Chazal regarding the people and particular
persona involved in the story.
There is a statement by Rashi from the Midrash that has a most insightful
significance in regard to the attitude of the Egyptian populace towards the
Jewish people. When the Torah describes the effect of the tenth plague,
the destruction of the firstborn, it states, “And it came to pass at midnight
and Hashem smote every firstborn son in the land of Egypt from the first-
born of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn in the dungeon,
and every firstborn animal.” (Shemos XII, 29) The obvious question on
this verse would seem to be, why punish the lowliest individual in the
kingdom of Pharaoh who enslaved and tortured the Jewish people? What
did this prisoner have to do with the edicts against the Jewish people? It
was Pharaoh and his entire hierarchy of government that committed all
those acts of pain and suffering. The response to this implied question
is that even those who were in the most downtrodden state rejoiced at
the plight of the Jewish people. ("‫)"שהיו שמחים לאידם של ישראל‬
In glancing at the Holocaust Period and the subsequent establishment
of the State of Israel, the above comment has relevance to those events
even up to the present time. During the horrors of the annihilation of
European Jewry there were many of the original non-Jewish population
surrounding Jewish communities who openly rejoiced as their Jewish
neighbors were being hauled off to the death camps by the German occu-
pation forces and their collaborators. This is a constant recurring theme
pervading the Holocaust literature, regardless of geographical or national
boundaries. There existed a common deep-rooted anti-Semitism in these
areas amongst those who directly had no part in the roundup of Jews.
They were happy at the awful scenes that they witnessed or heard about.
Although Medinat Yisrael has been in existence for over sixty years, it
is actually shocking to hear, see, and read about a tide of anti-Semitism
that is expressed by even lowly, economically-depressed people who
hardly had any contact with Jews whose governments play no major role
in world geopolitics. They unfortunately are a present-day projection of
Rashi’s phrase, "‫"שהיו שמחים לאידם של ישראל‬, “rejoicing about anything
negative happening to Israel”.
Although the above is a troubling residual reminder of the Egyptian
experience, in applying Rashi’s remark, it serves to remind us of Hashem’s
protection in preserving the continuity of Klal Yisrael. Our great cel-
ebration of Pesach is a statement of our awareness as an eternal people
despite all odds arranged against us. Consequently let us look forward
to a most wonderful and positive Yom Tov! ‫חג כשר ושמח‬
www.crcweb.org 25
Taanit B’chorim —
Fast of First Born Sons
O n Monday, April 18, 2011,
Taanit B’chorim, Fast of First
Born Sons, is held to com-
memorate their deliverance from
death during the tenth plague in
The Seder
T he Passover Seder is a time
when families come together
to relive our Exodus from
enslavement in Egypt, and rejoice
in our receipt of the Torah on Mount
Sinai. Passover is, in essence, the
birthday of the People of Israel,
the defining event that brought us
together for the first time as a nation
and set the stage for our arrival in
the Land of Israel after hundreds of
years in exile.
More than just our physical
exile, however, the Exodus was also
a redemption of the soul. The Torah
tells us that we were redeemed from
Egypt “in haste.” Why was that so?
Couldn’t Hashem have redeemed us
in a more leisurely manner? One
answer is that in Egypt the Jewish
people had sunk to the 49th level of
impurity. According to the Maharal,
we had lost the characteristics of
righteousness that Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob had imbued in our people
years before. Had Hashem not res-
cued the Children of Israel in haste,
we would have lost the last vestiges
of our faith in Him, and would have
succumbed to Egyptian society as
a persecuted subclass instead of the
26 www.crcweb.org
Egypt. It is customary for first-
born sons to participate in the meal
served in celebration of a mitzva,
such as a Brit Mila (circumcision)
or siyum (e.g. the completion of a
exalted recipients of our precious
Torah.
Passover, through the Seder, is
an active demonstration of both our
spiritual and physical redemption
from Egypt; the foods we eat, prayers
we say, and the stories we tell bring
this experience to life. Our guide
is the Haggadah — a book filled
with Scripture, Rabbinic teachings,
songs, prayers and rituals — a work
unique to the holiday of Passover.
The Seder service is divided into
14 sections (the word Seder means
“order”):
 Kadesh — Sanctifying the day
over a cup of wine
 Urchatz — Washing the hands
prior to eating karpas
 Karpas — Eating a vegetable
like potatoes or parsley or celery
dipped in salt-water
 Yachatz — The breaking of the
middle matza
 Maggid — The story of our Exo-
dus from Egypt
 Rachtza — Washing the hands in
preparation for eating the matza
 Motzi-Matza — Eating the
required amount of matza
 Maror — Eating the required
tractate of the Talmud). Those who
attend one of these events on erev
Passover celebrate with the partaking
of refreshments and are then exempt
from this fast.
amount of bitter herbs dipped in
charoset
 Koraich — Eating the “Hillel
Sandwich” of matza and maror,
dipped in charoset
 Shulchan Oraich — Eating the
festive meal
 Tzafun — “Dessert,” through
eating the required amount of
Afikomen (matza)
 Barech — Grace After Meals
 Hallel — Prayers in praise of
Hashem
 Nirtzah — Conclusion of the
Seder and the festive songs
≈At the beginning of the Seder,
many Sephardic communities
have a young child go outside
the door of the house and knock.
“Who’s there?” ask those on the
inside.
“An Israelite,” responds the child.
“Where are you coming from?”
they ask.
“From Egypt,” says the child.
“Where are you going?” they ask.
“To the Land of Israel!” the child
exclaims.
The child then re-enters the house,
and the Seder begins.
Seder Plate
T he Seder plate, upon which all
the symbols of Passover are
placed, is at the center of the
celebration. A large plate is set at
the head of the table (and in many
households, before each guest at
the Seder) and includes the follow-
ing items:
 Three matzot (covered)
 A roasted meat bone, on the upper
right, to remember the time when
our ancestors would offer the Kor-
ban Pesach (Passover Sacrifice) in
observance of the holiday.
 A roasted egg, on the upper left, as
a remembrance of the additional
festival offering by our ancestors
in celebration of Passover.
 Maror/Chazeret (bitter herbs:
horseradish or romaine lettuce
leaves) placed in the center and at
bottom, to remind us of the bit-
ter slavery suffered by our people
during their long stay in Egypt.
 Charoset, on the lower right, a mix-
ture of nuts, apples, cinnamon,
and wine, that serves as a symbol
of the mortar used for making the
bricks with which our ancestors
built cities for Pharaoh.
≈ Many in the Sephardic commu-
nity add to the charoset fruits to
which our People are compared,
such as raisins, pomegranates,
cinnamon, ginger and other sweet
ingredients.
 Karpas (potatoes, parsley, or any
vegetable) on the lower left, to be
www.crcweb.org
dipped in salt-water during the
Seder service, signaling the festive
nature of the meal and to arouse
the curiosity of the children.
≈ Some in the Sephardic community
dip the karpas into vinegar instead
of salt water.
Since everyone is obligated to
drink four cups (see page 28) of
wine during the Seder ceremony to
commemorate the redemption of
our people, each person attending
the Seder should have his or her own
cup of wine. Ashkenazim say a bracha
over each of the four cups of wine.
≈ Most Sephardim only recite bless-
ings over the first and third cups
of wine.
27
Basic Seder Requirements
and Measurements
Wine
T he first of the Seder night mitz-
vot is the drinking of four cups
of wine (known in Hebrew
as Arba Kosot) by both men and
women, in tribute to the Almighty
for the four promises made and
fulfilled concerning the redemption
(see Exodus 6:6-7).
In honor of the prophet Elijah
(Eliyahu), an additional goblet of
wine is placed on the table. This
wine is not drunk. Elijah is the
symbol of peace and freedom that
one day will reign throughout the
world.
According to Rabbi Gedalia
Dov Schwartz, Av Beth Din of the
Chicago Rabbinical Council, based
on the halachic decisions of the late
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt’l, that
are quoted by his son, Rabbi Dovid
Feinstein Sh’lita in his Haggadah,
“Kol Dodi”, the following are the
minimum amounts of wine required
during the Seder:
 For the Arba Kosot (four required
cups of wine), for Kiddush (except
on Friday night when the cup
must contain at least 4.42 fluid
ounces) and for Havdalah, the
cup must contain at least 3.3 fluid
ounces (revi’it ha-lug) in size. The
obligation is fulfilled if more than
one-half (rov kos) of each cup is
consumed after each blessing over
the wine.
Minimum Strength of Wine
 Full strength (undiluted) wine is
required for the Arba Kosot.
 If one’s health does not permit
this, then one may dilute the wine
28 www.crcweb.org
with grape juice. One should be
careful to only dilute the wine as
much as necessary, with the least
amount of grape juice possible.
 If for health reasons one cannot
use wine at all, one may substitute
grape juice.
 If one must dilute 100% grape
juice with water, the ratio should
not exceed two-thirds cup water
to one-third cup grape juice.
 If one does not have enough wine
to perform the mitzva (Kiddush,
Havdalah, etc.) water may be
added but not in excess of two-
fifths cup wine to three-fifths cup
water.
Note: The Bracha over all these
mixtures is “Hagafen.”
Maggid
Relating the story of our Exodus
from Egypt is the vital mitzva of
the Seder night. The Torah teaches
us that one is specifically obligated
to tell the story of Passover to the
children (V’hegadita l’vincha, Exodus
13:8). It is therefore important for
everyone present, and children in
particular, to understand the story.
Throughout the Seder, it is appropri-
ate to offer commentary or insights
into the Exodus, and anyone who
amplifies the story through ques-
tions, interpretations, or discussion,
is deemed to be “praiseworthy.”
Most importantly, children should
be encouraged to raise any questions
they have at the Seder — separate
from the well-known “Mah Nishta-
na” — to further demonstrate the
true meaning of freedom.
Matza
The mitzva of eating matza at the
Seder is one of the most important
of our Torah commandments, and
both men and women are required
to fulfill this mitzva. We eat matza
at three specific points during the
Seder service:
 Motzi-Matza — this matza is eaten
immediately after the appropriate
blessings are recited.
 Koraich — the sandwich of matza
and maror, eaten prior to the main
meal.
 Afikomen — dessert — the eating
of matza at the conclusion of the
Seder.
The halachic requirement is to
eat a minimum of a “k’zayit” (the
volume of an olive) of Shmurah
Matza, at each of these points dur-
ing the Seder as follows: 2 k'zaytim
for Motzi-Matza, and 1 k'zayit each
for Koraich and Afikomen. Matza
Shmurah has been supervised by a
Jew from the time of harvest through
baking.
According to Rabbi Gedalia
Dov Schwartz, Av Beth Din of the
Chicago Rabbinical Council, based
on the halachic decisions of the
late Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt’l,
that are quoted by his son, Rabbi
Dovid Feinstein, Sh’lita in his Hag-
gadah, “Kol Dodi”, the following are
the minimum amounts of Matza
Shmura required during the Seder:
 Motzi-Matza: a piece equivalent
in size to 6¼ inches by 7 inches
 Koraich: a piece equivalent to 6
inches by 4 inches
 Afikomen: a piece equivalent to
6¼ inches by 7 inches
If for health rea-
sons, one can-
not eat matza,
Shmurah
Matza meal
( u p o n
which one
is permitted
to recite the
Hamotzi) may
be substituted as
follows:
 After reciting the bracha “Al Achi-
lat Matza” and for the Afikomen,
an amount of matza meal that
can be compacted into a vessel
measuring 1.5 fluid ounces.
 For Koraich — an amount of
matza meal that can be compacted
into a vessel holding 1.1 fluid
ounces.
≈ Most Sephardim permit matza
ashira, which is made from fruit
juice or eggs on Passover, although
not for the mitzvah of lechem oni
(motzi-matza). Please check with
your Orthodox Rabbi to deter-
mine the appropriate use of these
products on Passover.
≈ Some Sephardic communities pass
the Afikomen around the Seder
table from right shoulder to right
shoulder, thus reenacting the Exo-
dus from Egypt.
Maror (Bitter Herbs)
(Horseradish or Romaine Lettuce)
The eating of bitter herbs
is another Seder
night mitzva,
reminding us of the
bitterness of slav-
ery. Both men and
women must eat the equiva-
lent of a k’zayit. Bottled horserad-
ish does not fulfill the mitzva of
maror.
When Romaine lettuce is used,
one must be careful to ensure that
there are no insects found. There
are two ways to verify the absence
of insects as follows: 1) Wash each
and every leaf under a strong stream
of water, and then check each leaf in
the sun or under a strong light. OR
2) Soak the leaves in a soap solution
or Kosher for Passover vegetable
wash (with a sufficient amount of
either to make the water “slippery”)
and agitate the water; then a chaza-
ka check should be
done. When we
refer to a "chaza-
ka check", three
samples or batch-
es must be checked
and if no bugs are
found, the remaining
product may be used
without further check-
ing. In all cases, if bugs are
found in the initial inspec-
tion, the product should be
washed and checked again,
or not be used. Careful wash-
ing will ensure that no Torah
laws are violated by the ingestion
www.crcweb.org
of insects. Please note that when
using either method, activities which
may eradicate insects (e.g. soaking)
should be done prior to Yom Tov.
According to Rabbi Gedalia
Dov Schwartz, Av Beth Din of the
Chicago Rabbinical Council, based
on the halachic decisions of the late
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt’l, that
are quoted by his son, Rabbi Dovid
Feinstein, Sh’lita in his Haggadah,
“Kol Dodi”, each person must eat
a minimum amount of Maror twice
during the Seder, once after the
bracha “Al Achilat Maror” and once
for Koraich, as follows:
If using pure, grated horseradish, use
the following amounts:
 After reciting the bracha “Al Achi-
lat Maror”— eat an amount that
can be compacted into a vessel
measuring 1.1 fluid ounces.
 For Koraich — eat an amount that
can be compacted into a vessel
measuring .7 fluid ounces.
If using whole leaf Romaine lettuce,
use the following amounts:
 After reciting the bracha “Al Achi-
lat Maror” and Koraich — eat
enough leaves to cover an area
of 8 by 10 inches.
If using Romaine
lettuce stalks
only, use the follow-
ing amounts:
 After reciting
the bracha “Al Achilat
Maror” and Koraich —
eat enough stalks to cover
an area of 3 by 5 inches.
≈ Sephardim do not use horse-
radish, as it has a sharp taste and
not a bitter one. The Sephardic
custom is to use the fresh leaves
or stalks of Romaine lettuce or
endives, but not the root.
29
 Shopping Guide
P E S A C H 2011
This list of products is marked as follows:

 Acceptable without Passover Certification

Food items in this section should preferably be purchased before Passover

▲ Must bear reliable Passover Certification

 Not acceptable for Passover

Sephardim should contact their local Sephardic rabbi regarding issues of kitniyot

Product Status Notes Product Status Notes

Adhesive bandages  Bean sprouts  Kitniyot

Air freshener
Liquid ▲ Benefiber  Chametz
Solid 
Beverages ▲
For drinking ▲
Alcohol Bicarbonate of soda 
Isopropyl alcohol 
Alfalfa  Kitniyot Bird food See pet food pages

Aluminum products  Includes aluminum foil and pans Bleach 

Amaranth is not kitniyot but Bleach wipes 
Amaranth requires certification to be sure Blush 
no other grains are mixed in
Body wash 
Ammonia 
Wax for braces is also
Anise  Kitniyot Braces  acceptable
Antacid (chewable) ▲ Brewer’s yeast  Chametz
Concentrate also requires Brown sugar ▲
Apple juice ▲ Pesach certification
Brussels sprouts ▲
Apple sauce ▲
Buckwheat  Kitniyot
Aspartame ▲
One may own and derive
Raw are acceptable if they Buckwheat pillow  benefit from kitniyot
Baby carrots contain no additives
Canned or cooked ▲ Butter ▲
Baby food ▲ Includes jarred or canned Candles  Scented is also acceptable
See www.crcweb.org for Candy ▲
updated information
When acceptable, bottles should Canned fruits or
Baby formula ▲
be filled and cleaned separately vegetables
from Pesach dishes since Canola oil  Kitniyot
formula is kitniyot
Caraway  Kitniyot
Baby oil 
Raw (including baby carrots) are
Baby ointment  Carrots acceptable if additive free
Baby powder  Canned or cooked ▲
Acceptable if they do not Cat food See pet food pages
Baby wipes contain ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
Charcoal 
Bags 
Cheese ▲
Baking powder ▲
Cheese spreads ▲
Baking soda 
Chewable pills See medicine letter (page 3)
If powdered, wash before
Balloons Pesach Chewing tobacco ▲ Contains flavors

Band-aids  Chickpeas  Kitniyot

Beans  Kitniyot

Chicago Rabbinical Council  2701 W. Howard St., Chicago, Illinois 60645  773-465-3900  www.crcweb.org
 SHOPPING GUIDE – PESACH 2011

Product Status Notes Product Status Notes

Some have a custom not to use Eye liner 
Cloves ▲ cloves for Pesach because they
used to be soaked in alcohol Eye shadow 
Acceptable if 100% pure and Fabric protector 
Cocoa powder not processed in Europe
Fabric softener
All Hershey’s are acceptable

Seeds  (Kitniyot)
Coconut (shredded) ▲ Fennel
Leaves 
Beans which are plain,
Fenugreek is not kitniyot
unflavored, and not Fenugreek
decaffeinated do not require See spices
certification, but the grinder Fresh 
Coffee ▲ must be clean Fish
Canned, frozen or processed ▲
Instant, flavored or
decaffeinated coffee requires Fish food See pet food pages
certification
Flax seeds are not kitniyot
Flax seeds
Coffee filters  See spices
Coffee whitener ▲ Flour  Chametz

Cologne See cosmetics pages Acceptable (including waxed) if

Floss (dental) not flavored
Colonoscopy drink See FAQ on www.crcweb.org
Foil (aluminum) 
Confectionary sugar ▲
Food coloring ▲
Contact lens solution 
See www.crcweb.org for
Food supplements
Contact paper  updated information
Cooking oil spray ▲ Foot powder 
Cooking wine ▲ Formula for infants See baby formula

Coriander  Kitniyot Frozen dinners ▲

Corn & corn products Canned, cooked, dried or
 Kitniyot
(e.g. corn oil, corn syrup) sweetened ▲
Fresh 
Corn remover  Fruit
Frozen is acceptable if it isn’t
Cosmetics See cosmetics pages sweetened or cooked, and
contains no additives
Creams (e.g. cosmetics) 
Pure frozen concentrated
Crock pot liner  Fruit juice ▲ orange juice 
Cumin Kitniyot Other concentrates ▲

Cutlery (plastic)  Fruit preserves ▲

Dates ▲ Glaze may be problematic Furniture polish 

Lipton decaffeinated tea bags Fresh 
Decaffeinated coffee or Garlic
▲ are acceptable without Peeled (in jars or cans) ▲
tea certification Powder free 
Gloves (disposable)
Acceptable (including waxed) if Powderless or with powder ▲
Dental floss or tape not flavored
Glue 
Dentures 
Grape juice ▲
Deodorant See cosmetic pages
Grapefruit juice ▲
Dessert gels &
▲ Green beans  Kitniyot
puddings
Detergent  Gum (chewing) ▲
Seeds  (Kitniyot) Hair gel 
Dill
Leaves  Hairspray See cosmetic pages
Dishwashing soap  Herbal tea ▲
Dog food See pet food pages Honey ▲
Dried fruit ▲ Raw 
Horseradish
Edamame  Kitniyot Prepared ▲

Cooked or liquid ▲ Hydrogen peroxide 

Eggs
Whole and raw  Ice (in bag) 
See www.crcweb.org for Ice cream ▲
Ensure updated information
Ices ▲
Eye drops 

 = Acceptable without Passover Certification ▲ = Must bear Passover Certification  = Not acceptable for Passover
 SHOPPING GUIDE – PESACH 2011

Product Status Notes Product Status Notes

Infant formula See baby formula Mousse (for hair) 

Ink  Mouthwash See cosmetic pages
Sprays  MSG ▲
Insecticide Some traps may contain
chametz Canned ▲
Mushrooms
Raw or dried 
Instant coffee or tea ▲
Mustard  Kitniyot
Invert sugar ▲
Nail polish 
Isopropyl alcohol 
Nail polish remover 
Jam ▲
Napkins 
Jelly ▲
Non-dairy creamer ▲
Pure frozen concentrated
Juice (fruit) ▲ orange juice  Nutritional
See www.crcweb.org for
Other concentrates ▲ supplements (e.g. updated information
Ensure)
Kasha  Kitniyot
Peanuts are kitniyot 
Ketchup ▲ Pecan halves or wholes 
Kimmel  Kitniyot Pecan pieces ▲
Nuts Other nuts are acceptable
Lactaid milk may be used if without certification if whole,
purchased before Pesach. free of BHA/BHT, and not
Lactaid Chewable pills  blanched or roasted
Non-chewable pills 
Ointments 
Powder free 
Latex gloves Extra virgin (unflavored) 
Powderless or with powder ▲
Olive oil All other types, including extra
Laundry detergent  light ▲
Laxatives See FAQ on www.crcweb.org Pure frozen orange juice
Orange juice ▲ concentrate doesn’t require
Concentrate also requires Pesach certification
Lemon juice ▲ Pesach certification
Orthodontics 
Lentils  Kitniyot
Oven cleaner 
Lip products See cosmetic pages
Paint 
Liqueur ▲
Pam ▲
Liquid dish detergent 
Pans (aluminum) 
Liquid medicines See medicine letter (page 3)
Including bags, napkins, plates,
Liquor ▲ wax paper
Requires Passover certification, Paper products  Paper plates shouldn’t be used
Listerine PocketPaks  and this brand isn’t certified with hot foods unless specially
certified for Pesach
Lotions 
Paraffin 
Makeup See cosmetic pages
Parchment paper ▲
Margarine ▲
Peanuts  Kitniyot
Mascara 
Peas  Kitniyot
Matzah ▲
Halves or whole 
Mayonnaise ▲ Pecans (raw)
Pieces ▲
Fresh or frozen raw meat in Perfume See cosmetic pages
original packaging is acceptable,
Meat but ground, cooked or repacked Pet food See pet food pages
requires Pesach certification
Petroleum jelly 
Medicine See medicine letter (page 3)
Pickles ▲
See separate list of certified milk
producers in the Midwest Pills See medicine letter (page 3)
Milk ▲ If certified is unavailable, buy Pineapple (canned) ▲
before Pesach
Plastic (cutlery, plates) 
Millet  Kitniyot
Plastic wrap 
Mineral oil 
Including paper, plastic and
Acceptable if it doesn’t contain Styrofoam
Mineral water flavors or vitamins
Plates  Paper plates shouldn’t be used
Monosodium glutamate ▲ with hot foods unless specially
certified for Pesach

 = Acceptable without Passover Certification ▲ = Must bear Passover Certification  = Not acceptable for Passover
 SHOPPING GUIDE – PESACH 2011

Product Status Notes Product Status Notes

Play doh  May contain chametz Stain remover 

Polish (for furniture, Stevia ▲

shoes, silver)
Stick deodorant 
Pop ▲ String beans  Kitniyot
Popcorn  Kitniyot
Styrofoam 
Poppy seeds  Kitniyot
Brown sugar and confectionary
Potato chips ▲ sugar ▲
Sugar
Pure, white cane sugar without
Fresh or frozen raw poultry in additives is acceptable
original packaging is acceptable,
Poultry but ground, cooked or repacked Sugar substitute ▲
requires Pesach certification
Sunflower seeds  Kitniyot
Powdered dish
 Suppositories 
detergent
Prunes ▲ Syrups ▲
Quinoa is not kitniyot but Pure black, green or white tea
leaves or tea bags are acceptable
Quinoa requires certification to be sure
no other grains are mixed in unless they are flavored, instant
Tea or decaffeinated, in which case
Raisins ▲ they require certification
Lipton decaffeinated tea bags 
Kitniyot
Rice milk may contain chametz; Herbal tea ▲
Rice, including wild rice  see www.crcweb.org for Tissues 
updated information
Tofu  Kitniyot
Some have a custom not to use
Saffron ▲ saffron for Pesach because it Tomato-based products ▲
used to be dried with chametz
See www.crcweb.org for
Salads (bagged) Toothpaste
▲ updated information
Fresh  Toothpicks are acceptable
Salmon Toothpicks unless flavored or colored
Canned, frozen or processed ▲
Acceptable without iodine or Chewable antacids require
Salt other additives Tums  Pesach certification, and this
brand isn’t certified for Pesach
Sanitizers (e.g. Purell) 
Tuna fish (canned) ▲
Scouring pads 
Vaseline 
Seltzer ▲
Vegetable oil ▲
Sesame seeds  Kitniyot
Bagged salads ▲
Shampoo  Canned, cooked or frozen ▲
Shaving lotion See cosmetic pages Fresh raw vegetables are
Vegetables acceptable if they aren’t kitniyot
Sherbet ▲ (see listing for individual
vegetables) and don’t contain
Shortening ▲ additives other than sugar
Silver polish  Vegetable wash ▲
Snow peas  Kitniyot Vinegar ▲
Soaps  Vitamins ▲
Soda ▲ Acceptable if it doesn’t contain
Water carbonation, flavors or vitamins
Sorbet ▲
Wax for braces 
Sorbitol ▲
Wax paper 
Sorghum  Kitniyot
Pure sugar without additives is
Soup mix ▲ White sugar acceptable
Sour tomatoes ▲ Whitener (for coffee) ▲
Kitniyot Wild rice  Kitniyot
Soy products  Soy sauce and soy milk may
contain chametz Wine ▲
Mustard is kitniyot  Wood chips 
Other spices are acceptable in
Spices Wrap (plastic) 
whole form but ground spices
require certification Yogurt ▲
Splenda ▲

36  = Acceptable without Passover Certification ▲ = Must bear Passover Certification  = Not acceptable for Passover
Passover Supervised Products
Beverage Companies Fresh Meat, Delicatessen Products
The following are acceptable only when bearing cRc and Supermarkets
and P-11: *Hungarian Kosher Foods
Coca Cola 2-liter bottles 4020 Oakton, Skokie — 847/674-8008
Diet Coke 2-liter bottles *Moshe’s New York Kosher
Pepsi 2-liter bottles 2900 W. Devon Ave. — 773/338-3354
Diet Pepsi 2-liter bottles Note: Carryout meals will be available only
Candy, Nuts & Snacks from *Hungarian Kosher Foods
(All below must be specially labeled Kosher for Note: *South Campus Dining Hall at University
Passover cRc) of Chicago will be open for limited hours during
*Illinois Nut – 847/677-5777 Chol Hamoed, 602 S. Ellis — 773/834-8450
*Long Grove Confectionery – 847/634-0080 Half and Half
*Zelda’s – 847/679-0033 (must bear P-11)
Coffee *Dean’s (17-37)
Folgers, Tasters Choice, and Nescafe Instant Cof- Flavorite (17-37)
fee – unflavored, regular – are acceptable without Golden Guernsey (17-37)
special certification for Passover; this does not *Kemp’s (55-1500)
include decaf *Lucerne (17-37)
ALL other instant coffee must bear Passover certification. Morning Glory (17-37)
Whole Beans and Fresh Ground Beans: Unflavored *Muller Pinehurst (17-284)
plain ground or whole bean coffees do not need *Prairie Farms (17-284)
special certification for Passover; this does not Schnucks (17-284)
include decaf Trader Joe’s (55-1500)
Decaf requires Passover certification. Orange Juice
The following coffees are kosher for Passover only (must bear P-11)
when bearing the kosher symbol and the letter P: Clear Value (55-851) DE
Maxim, Maxwell House, Sanka, and Yuban Roundy’s (55-851) DE
Cream Cheese/ Sour Cream Tropicana Pure Premium Original Orange Juice
(must bear P-11) when bearing OK-P only
*Daisy Brand (48-0957) Sour Cream & Lite Sour Resorts
Cream (must bear Kosher for Passover – P-11 KMR Tours
stamp not necessary for Daisy Brand) Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa, Rancho
*Dean’s Sour Cream (17-135) Mirage, CA, 888-567-0100; www.kmrtours.com
Jewel (17-135) *Weekend Connections
Roundy’s (55-851) Grand Geneva — 773/973-6925
*Oneg Cheese when bearing Kosher for Passover Sauces
*Schtark Cheese when bearing Kosher for Passover Kosher Farms - must be specially labeled Kosher for
Philadelphia Cream Cheese when bearing OK-P-Dairy Passover cRc
Fish, Raw and Smoked Whipping Cream
All processed (i.e. breaded, canned, smoked, pick- (must bear P-11)
led, salads, etc.) fish must bear Passover certifica- *Dean’s (17-37)
tion. Kosher for Passover fish may be purchased at
the following locations:
*Hungarian Kosher Foods — 847/674-8008
*Robert's Fish Market – 773/761-3424 * These companies have cRc endorsement
Pillar Rock canned salmon when bearing OU only throughout the year.

www.crcweb.org 37
cRc 2011 Passover
Supervised Products
A note of caution: Labels bearing
the inscription “Kosher For
Passover” can be produced
by any printer. The presence of such
a label does not guarantee that the
product to which it is affixed is there-
fore truly Kosher for Passover. For a
Milk and Other Dairy
Products
These products cannot be packed for
Passover after April 18 due to the
fact that dairies cannot be monitored
after that date. The “freshness date”
of fluid milk is for 14 days after
packaging in Chicago and suburbs;
cottage cheese and sour cream have
dates up to 30 days. Therefore, it is
recommended that milk and milk
American Fare (17-101)
*Bareman’s (26-784)
*Borden (17-37, 17-38)
Centrella (17-37, 17-38)
Clear Value (55-1500)
*Country Delight (17-284,
19-068)
County Market (17-101, 17-284)
*Cub Foods (17-37, 17-38,
17-101)
Dairy Fresh (19-068)
Dairy Glen (55-184)
*Dean Foods (17-37, 17-38,
55-184)
Deerfield Farms (55-184)
Farm Fresh (55-184)
*Friendly Farms (17-38, 55-184)
Glenview Farms (29-423)
*Golden Guernsey (17-37,
55-184)
P-11
product to be considered Kosher for
Passover, it must bear the endorse-
ment of an authoritative Orthodox
Rabbi or Rabbinic group. This espe-
cially applies to companies produc-
ing meat products for Passover use.
Since we update our information as
products sufficient for the full 8 days
of Passover should be purchased
before the holiday, as stores may
not have P-11 (meaning Passover
2011) on the label or container
during the holiday itself. Only those
dairy products stamped “P-11” or
bearing “Kosher for Passover” have
been produced under our special
supervision for the 2011 Passover
holiday. The cRc does not super-
Great Value (17-37, 17-38)
HyVee (17-101, 19-068)
Jewel (17-37, 17-38)
IGA (17-101, 29-423)
*Kemp’s (55-1500)
La Naturaliza (17-284)
La Vaca Bonita (55-184)
Lucerne (17-37, 55-184)
Market Pantry (17-101, 17-284,
19-068, 29-423, 55-1500)
Member’s Mark (17-37)
Mid-West Country Fare (17-101,
19-068)
*Morning Glory (17-37, 55-184)
*Muller Pinehurst (17-284,
19-068)
Piggly Wiggly (17-37, 17-38)
*Prairie Farms (17-101, 17-284,
19-068, 29-423)
*Robert’s Dairy (17-284, 19-068)
www.crcweb.org
close to Passover as possible, infor-
mation included here is accurate as
of the date of publication. Please feel
free to check www.crcweb.org or
contact the cRc office closer to Pass-
over, since changes may have taken
place after publication of this guide.
vise any chocolate milk, yogurt, or
cottage cheese for Passover. Since
dairies produce products on a wide
variety of labels, we are listing names
of actual plants together with their
plant numbers. Also shown are some
major brand names in the Chicago
area. The following brands may
be used for Passover if bearing
one of the plant numbers shown
plus the P-11:
*Roundy’s (55-1500)
*Save-a-Lot (29-423, 55-1500)
Schnucks (17-101, 17-284,
19-068, 29-423)
Sendiks (55-184)
Shop ‘N Save (17-101, 29-423)
Shopper’s Value (17-37, 17-38)
Shur Fresh (17-101, 19-068,
55-184)
Sullivan’s (17-37)
Trader Joe’s (55-1500)
Trig’s (55-1500)
Wic (17-37)
Wisconsin Farms (55-1500)
* The above companies have cRc
endorsement throughout the year.
39
Medicines
and Cosmetics
Our general guidelines on medicines, cosmetics, and toiletries can be found on
page 3 of this guide and are summarized here as follows:

Medicines Guidelines
The following is a summary of the medicine portion of our general guidelines found on page 3 of this Pass-
over guide.
• All pill medication – with or without chametz – that one swallows is permitted.
• Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz, shlit”a, has ruled that, as a rule, vitamins do not qualify as medications and
are instead treated as food supplements which require hashgachah for Passover. If a doctor prescribes a
specific vitamin which does not have Passover supervision, please review your specific situation with your
doctor and Rabbi.
• Liquid and chewable medications that may contain chametz should only be used under the direction of a
doctor and Rabbi, who will judge the severity of the illness, the likelihood that the medicine contains cha-
metz, and the possibility of substituting a swallowable pill. Important: Do not discontinue use of liquid,
chewable or any other medicine without consulting with your doctor and Rabbi.
• Liquid and chewable medications that contain kitniyot may be consumed by someone who is ill.
• For laws of taking medicine on Shabbos and Yom Tov, please consult your Rabbi.

Medicine, Cosmetics, and Toiletry Details

Items marked “Possible Chametz” contain edible ingredients whose chametz status we were unable to deter-
mine; these items might be permitted for someone who is seriously ill, and consumers should consult with
their Rabbi.

Allergy Pepto Bismol (Max Strength Liquid)

Claritin (Children’s Chewable)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Antacid / Indigestion / Gas
Gas-X (Extra Strength Chewable)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Gas-X (Extra Strength Thin Strips)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Maalox (Liquid) ......................... Possible Chametz
Pepto Bismol (5 Symptom Relief Caplets)
..................................................... Recommended
Pepto Bismol (5 Symptom Relief Chewable)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Pepto Bismol (5 Symptom Relief Instacool
Chewable) .................................. Possible Chametz
Pepto Bismol (5 Symptom Relief Liquid)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Blush ..................................... All are recommended
Body Soap ............................. All are recommended
Cologne
Only recommended if known to be Chametz-free
Cough and Cold
Triaminic (Chest & Nasal Congestion)
.............................................. Not Recommended
Triaminic (Cold & Allergy) ... Not Recommended
Triaminic (Cold & Cough, Daytime or Day/
Night) .................................... Not Recommended
Triaminic (Cough & Sore Throat-Grape Flavor)
..................................................... Recommended
Creams .................................. All are recommended
Deodorant
Gel ...................................... All are recommended
Liquid ........................................ Possible Chametz

40 www.crcweb.org
 Spray .......................................... Possible Chametz
Stick.................................... All are recommended
Digestive Health
Imodium AD (Caplets) ................. Recommended
Imodium AD (EZ Chews Cool Mint Tablets)
..................................................... Recommended
Imodium AD (Multi-symptom Relief Caplets) .....
..................................................... Recommended
Kaopectate (Extra Peppermint, Liquid)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Kaopectate (Vanilla Regular Flavor, Liquid)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Eye Shadow ........................... All are recommended
Eyeliner ................................. All are recommended
Fever Reducer
Triaminic Multi-Symptom Fever Reducer
(Bubble Gum Flavor) .................... Recommended
Fiber Supplements .............................. See Laxatives
Face Powder........................... All are recommended
Foot Powder .......................... All are recommended
Gas .............................See Antacid/Indigestion/Gas
Hairspray
Only recommended if known to be Chametz-free
Indigestion .................See Antacid/Indigestion/Gas
Laxatives / Fiber Supplements
Benefiber (Chewables) ........... Not Recommended
Benefiber (Powder) ................ Not Recommended
Citrucel (Caplets) .......................... Recommended
Citrucel (Regular Powder) ......... Possible Chametz
Citrucel (Sugar Free Powder) ..... Possible Chametz
Duclolax (Suppository) ................. Recommended
Epsom Salt .................................... Recommended
Ex-Lax (Caplets) ........................... Recommended
Fibercon (Caplet) .......................... Recommended
Konsyl (Psyllium Hydrophilic Mucilloid Powder) .
..................................................... Recommended
Metamucil (Capsules Plus Calcium) .....................
..................................................... Recommended
Metamucil (Clear and Natural)
.............................................. Not Recommended
Metamucil (Orange, Smooth Powder)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Metamucil (Original, Coarse Powder)...................
..................................................... Recommended
Mineral Oil (pure) ........................ Recommended
Miralax (Powder) .......................... Recommended
Pedia-Lax (Chewable) ................ Possible Chametz
Pedia-Lax (Liquid Stool Softener-Fruit Punch) .....
.................................................. Possible Chametz
www.crcweb.org
Pedia-Lax (Quick Dissolve Strips)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Pedia-Lax (Suppository) ................ Recommended
Phillips Milk of Magnesia (Caplets)
..................................................... Recommended
Phillips Milk of Magnesia
(Original Liquid - unflavored) ...... Recommended
Polyethylene Glycol (Generic powder)...................
..................................................... Recommended
Prunelax Ciruelax (Tablets)........... Recommended
Senokot (Tablets) .......................... Recommended
Senokot-S (Tablets) ....................... Recommended
Lip Products
Only recommended if known to be Chametz-free
Lotions .................................. All are recommended
Mascara ................................. All are recommended
Miscellaneous
Bayer (Low Dose Baby Aspirin, Chewable)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Nicoderm CQ (Patch) .................. Recommended
Motion Sickness
Dramamine (Chewable) ............. Possible Chametz
Mouth Pain Relief
Abreva (Gel) ................................. Recommended
Kanka (Mouth-Pain, Liquid)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Orajel (Maximum Strength Mouth Sore Gel) .......
..................................................... Recommended
Orajel (Maximum Strength Toothache Gel)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Orajel (Severe Toothache Gel)
.................................................. Possible Chametz
Mouthwash
Only recommended with a reliable Passover
hashgachah
Nail Polish ............................. All are recommended
Ointments ............................. All are recommended
Perfume
Only recommended if known to be Chametz-free
Shampoo ............................... All are recommended
Shaving cream
Cream ................................. All are recommended
Liquid ........................................ Possible Chametz
Lotion ................................. All are recommended
Toothpaste
Only recommended with a reliable Passover
hashgachah
Vitamins
See Medicines Guidelines on previous page
41
Consumer Pesach Questions & Answers
Consumer Pesach Questions & Answers
Updated as of Monday, February 28, 2011
Updated as of Monday, February 28, 2011

MEDICAL

Chewing a Pill
1. My grandmother has a difficult time swallowing pills. May she chew a pill which is
generally swallowed (and for which we have no information whether it contains
chametz)?
Yes.

Coated Pills
2. It says on your website that one can take any pill medication that is swallowed. Does
that include coated pills such as Advil?
Most pills which one swallows are coated with a glaze, wax, or shellac which makes
the pills easier to swallow, and some of these coatings have some form of simple
sugar (e.g. sucrose) mixed in to make it even more pleasant to swallow the pill. None
of these ingredients pose a Pesach concern. Advil tablets are a good example of this,
as the (inactive) ingredient panel shows that they contain carnauba wax,
pharmaceutical glaze (i.e. shellac), and sucrose, and one who swallows an Advil pill
notices that they have a more pleasant/sweet taste than pills coated with a non-
sweetened coating.
Other pills are coated with sweeteners which are Pesach sensitive (e.g. sorbitol) or
which contain a flavor; such items would be listed as one of the inactive ingredients,
and we would not recommend those for Pesach.

Hand Sanitizer
3. Do alcohol-based hand sanitizers require Pesach certification?
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers such as Purell, typically contain at least 62% ethyl
alcohol, which may possibly be chametz. However, Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz
checked a sample of hand sanitizer and said that it is as inedible as other liquid soaps
and may therefore be used on Pesach regardless of the source of alcohol.

42 www.crcweb.org
Intravenous
4. My upcoming due date is Erev Pesach. What do I need to know about being
hospitalized/giving birth on Pesach in terms of kashrus? Is an intravenous (IV)
acceptable or do I need to make arrangements for some other medication in
advance? What about the possibility of egg matzah instead of regular matzah? Is a
woman in labor or a new mother allowed to eat it?
You may allow yourself to be given any intravenous fluid because (a) it is unlikely
that it contains chametz and (b) even if it did, there is halachic rationale to permit any
incapacitated person (even without a condition as serious as yours) to use it.
The Ashkenazic custom is that healthy people do not consume “egg matzah” (i.e.
matzah made with liquids other than water), but anyone who is incapacitated or sick
and would benefit from eating egg matzos is permitted to do so (Rema 462:4).
Therefore, if you feel that after you give birth it would be beneficial or easier for you
to eat egg matzos instead of other Pesach food, you are permitted to do so.

COSMETICS

Alcohol
5. I see that some items I buy in the pharmacy contain alcohol; does that mean they are
or may be chametz?
The answer to this question depends on which type of “alcohol” one is discussing, as
follows:
Benzyl alcohol, methyl alcohol (a.k.a., methanol), isopropyl alcohol, and stearyl
alcohol are not made from chametz.
Ethyl alcohol, a.k.a. ethanol, can be made from chametz, and isoamyl alcohol is often
a byproduct of whisky. These may also appear on an ingredient panel as part of a
compound such as ethyl acetate or isoamyl butyrate.
Denatured alcohol, a.k.a. SD Alcohol, is ethyl alcohol which has been blended with
other materials to render it not potable; there are different opinions as to whether such
alcohol is forbidden on Pesach, and the cRc position is that they should not be used
on Pesach unless they are listed as chametz-free on a reliable list of approved Pesach
products.

Perfume
6. I’ve seen other publications which say that all perfume is acceptable for Pesach, but
the cRc Passover Guide says that one shouldn’t use ones which contain alcohol. Who
is correct?
The disagreement regarding perfume is based primarily on whether denatured ethyl
alcohol is or is not considered inedible. For more on that issue, see the above
question on “alcohol”.

www.crcweb.org 43
 FOOD

Milk Substitutes
7. Is there any type of milk alternative on Pesach for those who are allergic to milk
protein or sensitive to milk sugar (lactose)?
Rice milk and soy milk are common milk substitutes. Both of these beverages are
kitniyos and are therefore surely not permitted for Ashkenazim who are in good health
and can manage without these items. A more serious concern is that these items often
contain chametz either in the enzyme (a barley-based beta amylase) or in the
flavoring. [Both the enzyme and flavoring comprise less than 1/60 of the beverage
but cannot be batel because they respectively serve the role as davar hama’amid or
milsah d’avidah lit’amah.] Check the cRc website (www.crcweb.org) for updated
information as to which of these beverages might be approved for Pesach 2011.
Some people react negatively to lactose-containing milk because their bodies do not
produce sufficient amounts of lactase, the enzyme which digests lactose. These
people can drink milk without any complications if (a) the lactase enzyme is mixed
into the milk or (b) if they take a pill of lactase together with their milk. [Lactaid is a
popular brand for both of these forms of lactase.] The Pesach concern with this
solution is that lactase is commonly created through a process known as Koji
fermentation, which uses wheat bran as a primary ingredient. Therefore, the cRc
policy is that one may use milk containing lactase if the lactase was added by the
company before Pesach, and one may use non-chewable lactase pills on Pesach.
However, one may not add lactase-drops to milk on Pesach, and one may not use
chewable lactase pills (even if the person swallows them).

Rice Cereal
8. We’ve been told not to use commercially produced rice cereal on Pesach. What can
we substitute for that?
Commercial rice cereal is not recommended for Pesach because of the possibilities
that oatmeal flakes might inadvertently be mixed in, and because a chametz enzyme
may be used in the processing. Instead, you can prepare your own rice cereal at home
as long as you use specially designated pots and utensils (since rice is kitniyos) and
don’t wash those items in the Pesach sink. The internet has plenty of recipes for
home-made rice cereal, and a common one is to grind rice in a blender and then cook
it at a ratio of 1 cup water to every ¼ cup of ground rice.

Vegetable Wash
9. Does vegetable wash require special certification for Pesach?
Although there are a few kosher vegetable washes on the market, to the best of our
knowledge none of them are acceptable for Pesach. If consumers wish, they could
substitute a small amount of dish liquid (any are acceptable) which will do the same
job, if not better.

44 www.crcweb.org
Vodka
10. Can unflavored vodka made from potatoes be consumed on Pesach without special
supervision?
No. The process of producing alcohol for vodka (or any other item) involves
enzymes which may be chametz (e.g. malted barley) and involves the use of hot
equipment which may have been previously used for chametz alcohol. Therefore, we
cannot recommend it without special Pesach certification.

KITNIYOS

Anise
11. I was surprised to see that the cRc shopping guide lists a few varieties of anise
(caraway, cumin, coriander, dill, and fennel) as kitniyos. Can you explain to me why
that is the case?
Rema 453:1 rules that anise and coriander are not kitniyos. Some of the later Poskim
(Taz 453:1 & 462:3, and Chok Yaakov 453:9) basically accept this psak but suggest
that these spices be checked carefully to make sure none of the five grains are mixed
into them. Other Poskim (Magen Avraham 453:3) take a stricter approach and hold
that one should avoid these spices since it is so difficult to check whether grains are
mixed into them. Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz accepts the ruling of Mishnah Berurah
453:13 to follow the stricter approach. Accordingly, these spices are listed in our
shopping guide as “kitniyos” (although a purist could argue that even if they are
forbidden, the term “kitniyos” does not apply to them).

Canola and Safflower Oils

12. Why is Canola oil kitniyos, but safflower oil is not?
Many food items potentially qualify as kitniyos, but we accept Chok Yaakov 453:9
and Iggeros Moshe (OC III:63) that only those kitniyos used for food at the time the
minhag began are forbidden, but others are not. We do not have record of safflower
oil being used for food purposes at the time that the minhag started, and therefore we
assume it is permitted. [If you have reason to believe otherwise, we would happily
reconsider this position.] Others (particularly those from Eretz Yisroel) who do not
accept Chok Yaakov may hold that safflower oil is forbidden.
On the other hand, canola oil has quite a history of being used as follows: Rapeseed
oil was (and still is) used in Europe for hundreds of years, and in a well-known
teshuvah of the Maharsham I:183 (as to whether kitniyos oil is forbidden) he assumes
that Raps, the German word for rapeseed, is kitniyos. Thus, we see that rapeseed was
used at that time (which is a historical fact) and that it was treated as kitniyos.
Rapeseed oil was/is banned from food use in the USA due to high levels of erucic
acid found in the oil (but was still used for lubrication). About 20 years ago,
Canadian researchers bred a form of rapeseed that was had low levels of erucic acid,
and that oil was approved for use in the USA. In order to differentiate this new breed
of rapeseed oil, and to give it a name would be more acceptable to the public, they

www.crcweb.org 45
 named the new breed “canola” which also showed off their civic pride for having
created a “CANadian OiL”. Thus, canola oil is really a form of rapeseed oil (and is
actually also known by the acronym LEAR – low erucic acid rapeseed); since
rapeseed is kitniyos, the canola version is also forbidden on Pesach.

KASHERING

Barbeque Grill
13. Can a barbeque grill be kashered for Pesach? What if the grates are new?
The grates of a barbeque grill must be kashered with libun gamur, which is not
recommended for the average consumer. If a person purchases separate grates for
Pesach, the rest of the grill can be kashered with libun kal, which can be
accomplished relatively easily, as follows: If the grill comes with a cover, light the
grill with coals or gas, and allow it to burn on its highest setting (or filled with a
considerable amount of coal) for an hour. If the grill does not have a cover, follow
the same procedure, but make sure that all surfaces of the grill are covered with coals.
As with all items being kashered, it is crucial that the grill be cleaned thoroughly of
all food residue, which is often a particular difficulty in a barbeque grill. In fact, if
the grill has too many holes, cracks, and crevices where food may get trapped, one
should refrain from kashering the grill at all.

Counter Covers
14. I am trying to bring a green element into the holiday as we are supposed to be helping
the planet. Do you have any recommendations for covering non-granite or stainless
steel countertops instead of using plastic shelf or lining paper which is then discarded
into a landfill after the holiday?
Some people have Formica-type covers professionally made to cover their counters
for Pesach. Standard Formica is made of a very thin layer of laminate/plastic glued
to a thick piece of wood, and the special Pesach covers are made from the same
laminate glued to a thin piece of wood (to make it easier to maneuver and save from
year to year).

Dishwasher
15. The cRc Pesach Guide says that one cannot kasher any dishwashers for Pesach, but
I’ve seen other publications which allow the kashering of stainless steel models.
Why are you taking such a strict stance?
The first step in kashering any item is to remove all residual chametz. With this in
mind, Rema 451:18 rules that any utensil which has small cracks and crevices where
food might get trapped should not be kashered for Pesach because of the difficulty in
getting the utensil perfectly clean. Our Guide presents the position of our Posek, Rav
Gedalia Dov Schwartz who holds that the racks, silverware holder, and drain/filter
areas of a dishwasher are classic examples of Rema’s ruling; since there is a concern
that food might be left in these areas, a dishwasher cannot be kashered for Pesach.

46 www.crcweb.org
 Others hold that Rema’s ruling is limited to strainers and other items that (a) have
smaller and many more holes and (b) come in direct contact with Pesach food.

Electric Blech
16. Every Shabbos, I use an electric blech to keep my food warm. Can I use the same
one on Pesach?
An electric blech, a.k.a. hot plate or plata, used year-round, likely came in contact
with chametz during the year and cannot realistically be kashered (as libun gamur is
required). The only way to use it for Pesach would be to clean it thoroughly, and
cover the top of it with a thick layer of aluminum foil before putting any pots or food
on.

Kedairah Blech
17. Is it possible to kasher a kedairah blech for Pesach?
Yes, it can be kashered with hag’alah. The kedairah blech, a.k.a. the “un-blech”, has
two parts, a pan and a cover. The first step is to clean the pan and the cover
thoroughly, and not use them for 24 hours. The pan should then be kashered by
filling it with water and bringing that water to a rolling boil. The top of the cover (i.e.
the side which comes in contact with the pots) must be submerged into boiling water.
One possible way to do this would be by placing the cover upside down in the pan as
it is filled with water, which is brought to a rolling boil (as described above).

Pot Used for Kashering

18. Is it necessary to kasher meat utensils in a meat pot and dairy utensils in a dairy pot?
No. The only requirements for the kashering pot are that it be clean and not have
been used for 24 hours. Once those requirements have been met, you may kasher any
dishes in it regardless of whether they or the pot were previously used for kosher,
non-kosher, dairy, meat, chametz, or Pesach. Some have a minhag to have a
designated “kashering pot” which is used for nothing else aside from kashering;
families with this custom should continue to follow it.

Sink Insert
19. My sink is porcelain, so it cannot be kashered, and therefore for Pesach I will wash
dishes etc. in an “insert” that I put into my sink. Does the insert have to cover all
interior surfaces of the sink?
No, but you should be careful to never put Pesach food, Pesach dishes, or any hot
liquids into the space between the insert and the sink.

Urn
20. I have an electric urn which I use all year for heating hot water. Do I have to kasher it
before I use it for Pesach?
Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz said that if it is the type of urn which is not brought to the
table, is never used for anything but heating hot water, and is not washed with

www.crcweb.org 47
 chametz items, it may be used for Pesach without kashering. If it is small enough to
be brought to the table, is used to heat other beverages, you ever warm challah or
other food on top of it for Shabbos, or you clean it with vinegar (to remove calcium
buildup) or with the chametz dishes, then it should not be used for Pesach without
kashering.

Warming Drawer
21. My wife uses our warming drawer every night to keep food warm until I come home
from the office, and we’d really like to kasher it for Pesach. How should I kasher it
if it cannot get hotter than about 200°F?
The simplest way to heat the warming drawer to the required temperature is to light
one can of the type of canned fuel used to heat chafing dishes (e.g. Sterno cans) in the
warming drawer. Make sure to leave the door of the warming drawer slightly ajar, so
that there will be enough air to allow for combustion. 1 of the 7-8 ounce-sized cans
should be adequate to heat an average sized warming drawer to libun kal
temperatures for about 2 hours. As with all kashering, before you begin, the warming
drawer must be thoroughly cleaned and not used for 24 hours.

MISCELLANEOUS

Certified Bread on Pesach

22. Why do I see fresh-baked bread with a cRc in the supermarket on Pesach?
Chametz owned by a Jew on Pesach is not kosher and would not be certified as
kosher by the cRc or any other reputable hechsher. There are three possible
explanations for what you’re seeing in the supermarket:
 The bakery which manufactures the bread is owned by non-Jews.
 The bakery is owned by Jews year-round, but is sold in its entirety to non-Jews
for Pesach. To avoid such sales from being absolute shams, most hashgachos
will only allow this if special conditions are included in the sale (e.g. the non-Jew
is actually paid the profits the bakery earns over Pesach).
 The bread was sold to the supermarket before Pesach, and they froze or otherwise
stored the bread for sale on Pesach.
A 4th possibility is that the bakery is usually kosher-certified, but is owned by a Jew
who manufactured the bread on Pesach, and the company agreed to leave the cRc
symbol off of the packaging for the duration of Pesach. In such cases, the
hechsher does not actually appear on the label, and a rabbi verifies that the company
complies with its agreement. After Pesach consumers should be careful to purchase
only those packages which bear the kosher symbol.

48 www.crcweb.org
Passover Foods
for Your Pets

T he following is a list of pet foods approved for Passover 2011. Make sure to check all labels. There should be no
chametz listed, including wheat, wheat starch, wheat gluten, barley, oats, oat fiber, pasta, rye, brewer’s yeast, malt,
or xanthan gum (other gums are not problematic). Kitniyot ingredients, such as corn and rice, are acceptable in pet
foods for Passover, because while Ashkenazim do not customarily eat kitniyot, they are permitted to own and benefit from
them. A product listing both meat and dairy ingredients may not be used any time during the year. Feed available at zoos is
often chametz and should not be purchased or fed to the animals on Pesach. After Pesach, pet food with chametz may be
purchased only from stores which are non-Jewish owned (e.g. Petsmart, Petco) or Jewish owned but have sold their chametz.
NOTE: Mixes sold in stores often contain chametz. It is advisable to mix regular and Pesach food together one to two weeks
before Pesach before switching completely to Pesach food. The ratio of regular and Pesach food should be changed slowly
to get the animal used to the new diet. Check with your veterinarian before changing diet.
One may feed his pet any of the following items:

CATS: Evanger’s: Beef Tips with Gravy; Freeze-Dried Beef Liver; Freeze-Dried Beef Tripe; Freeze-Dried
Wild Salmon; Whole Mackerel with Gravy; Wild Salmon;
Prescription Diet: a/d, c/d (dry only), d/d (except duck), g/d (dry only), k/d (dry only), m/d, r/d,
s/d, t/d, w/d (dry only), z/d;
Science Diet: (dry) Adult Hairball Control, Adult Hairball Control Light, Adult Indoor, Adult
Light, Adult Optimal Care Ocean Fish & Rice Recipe, Adult Optimal Care Original, Adult Oral
Care, Adult Sensitive Skin, Mature Adult Active Longevity Original, Mature Adult Hairball
Control, Mature Adult Indoor, Kitten Healthy Development Ocean Fish & Rice, Kitten Healthy
Development Original, Kitten Indoor.
DOGS: Evanger’s: 100% Beef (6 oz, 13 oz); 100% Buffalo; 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; 100% Organic
Chicken; 100% Organic Turkey with Potatoes and Carrots; 100% Pheasant; 100% Venison; Beef
with Chicken; Beef with Chunks; Beef with Liver; Beef, Chicken, & Liver; Beef Chunks Dinner
in Gravy; Chicken and Rice Dinner; Chicken Chunks Dinner in Gravy; Cooked Chicken Dinner;
Cooked Chicken Dinner with Chunks; Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner; Freeze-Dried Beef Liver;
Freeze-Dried Beef Tripe; Freeze-Dried Wild Salmon; A Hunk of Beef; Lamb and Rice Dinner;
Lamb Chunks Dinner in Gravy; Senior Dinner; Turkey Chunks Dinner in Gravy; Whole Chicken
Thighs; Wild Salmon;
Prescription Diet: a/d, c/d, d/d, g/d, h/d, i/d, j/d (dry only), k/d (dry only), l/d, n/d, r/d, s/d, t/d,
u/d, w/d (dry only), z/d Low Allergen;
Science Diet: (dry) Adult Large Breed, Adult Light Large Breed, Adult Light Small Bites, Adult
Light, Adult Oral Care, Adult Sensitive Skin, High Energy, Mature Adult Active Longevity, Mature
Adult Large Breed, Mature Adult Small Bites, Puppy Healthy Development Original, Puppy Large
Breed, Puppy Small Bites, Simple Essentials™ Treats Light Adult Large Biscuit with Real Chicken,
Simple Essentials™ Treats Light Adult Medium Biscuit with Real Chicken, Simple Essentials™
Treats Oral Care Adult Large Nugget, Simple Essentials™ Treats Oral Care Adult Medium Nugget.
FISH: Fish food, including pyramid feeders, and vacation blocks often have chametz. Goldfish and tropi-
cal fish can be given tubular worms, frozen brine shrimp, and freeze-dried worms (if they do not
contain fillers).
BIRDS (PARROTS, PARAKEETS, COCKATIELS, MACAWS):
• Millet, sorghum, wild bird food (check for chametz ingredients) as main diet.

50 www.crcweb.org
 • Peanuts, sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds can be given.
• Larger birds, such as parrots, can eat pure alfalfa pellets (make sure it is pure alfalfa since it is common
to add grains) or dry dog food (see above for list).
• Smaller birds can also eat pure alfalfa pellets – crush before feeding.
• Can supplement with sliced grapes, cottage cheese, rice cakes (birds like these), small pieces of lean
meat, matza, berries, eggs, canned baby fruits. All large food should be shredded before serving. These
items should be given sparingly.
• For minerals, can have oyster shells (calcium) or mineral block such as Kaytee Tropical Fruit Mineral
Block Treat.
• The greater the variety, the better.
HAMSTERS, GUINEA PIGS, GERBILS & RABBITS:
• Best to feed pure alfalfa pellets. Make sure it is pure alfalfa since it is common to add grains. Dried
alfalfa may also be given.
• Can supplement with mixture of cut-up fruits and vegetables - carrots, grapes, apples, melon, kale,
parsley, oranges, celery, dry corn, sunflower seeds, or cabbage. Can also give some matza. If not
accustomed to these items, give sparingly.
• Guinea pigs will especially benefit from kale, parsley, and oranges.
• Hamsters will especially benefit from apples.
• Guinea pigs need vitamin C added to diet.
LIZARDS:
Be aware that mealworms, which as living creatures are not chametz, are commonly sold in a bed
of wheat flakes or oatmeal, which is chametz and, therefore, may not be owned or used on Pass-
over. Live crickets are permissible. Whole insects (live or dead) with no additives or other ingredi-
ents are permissible.

Kitniyot
C hametz includes leavened
foods, drinks and ingredients
that are made from or contain
wheat, rye, barley, oats or spelt.
Therefore, all grain products such as
breads, cereals and other breakfast
foods, grain alcohol, grain vinegar
and grain malts, are forbidden dur-
ing Passover. Certain other foods
known as kitniyot, such as beans,
corn, peas, peanuts, rice, alfalfa
sprouts, bean sprouts, green beans,
mustard, canola oil, chickpeas, and
the derivatives of these foods, are
not eaten by Ashkenazic Jews due
to their similarity to the five chametz
grains.
Do you want to find out more about kitniyot and answers to several other frequently asked questions?
You can find out more regarding many popular items and issues in the
Passover “Frequently Asked Questions” section of our website at www.crcweb.org.
For more information on foods
which may be kitniyot see the pull-
out, color-coded Shopping Guide.
≈ There are many differences in
the halachot followed by the Ashke-
nazic (Jews of European descent)
and Sephardic (Jews of Mediter-
ranean, West Asian or Spanish
descent) communities, and the laws
of chametz are no exception. Some
Sephardim have adopted the Ashke-
nazic custom of refraining from rice
and kitniyot during Passover. Oth-
ers do eat rice; however it must be
checked three times prior to Passover
to make absolutely certain there are
no kernels of chametz. In order to
determine your family’s customs, as
well as to determine what Rabbinic
certification is required on products
containing kitniyot, it is important
to contact your Orthodox Rabbi,
especially one who is well-versed
in the laws followed by Jews of
Sephardic descent during Passover.
One should not rely on listed
ingredients on the label alone to
determine whether a product merely
contains kitniyot and may be used
on Passover as many times these
products may contain actual unde-
clared chametz.

www.crcweb.org 51
 ZEMANIM FOR P E S A C H 5771/2011
FOR UNITED ST ATES COMMUNITIES OF
MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO R ABBINIC AL COUNCIL

Erev Pesach Candle Lighting Times

Stop eating Burn
Monday Tuesday Friday Sunday Monday
City chametz chametz
April 18 April 19 April 22 April 24 April 25
by… by…
Chicago IL 10:12 11:31 7:15 8:26 7:19 7:21 8:32
Sonoma CA 10:32 11:50 7:28 8:29 7:32 7:34 8:35
Valley Village CA 10:17 11:35 7:07 8:05 7:10 7:12 8:10
Denver CO 10:21 11:40 7:20 8:21 7:24 7:26 8:28
Miami FL 10:47 12:03 7:25 8:19 7:27 7:28 8:23
Atlanta GA 11:01 12:19 7:50 8:48 7:53 7:55 8:53
Des Moines IA 10:35 11:54 7:38 8:41 7:42 7:44 8:48
Champaign IL 10:14 11:33 7:14 8:16 7:18 7:20 8:22
Chicago IL 10:11 11:30 7:15 8:26 7:19 7:21 8:32
Des Plaines IL 10:12 11:31 7:15 8:26 7:20 7:22 8:32
Evanston IL 10:11 11:30 7:15 8:26 7:19 7:21 8:32
Glenview IL 10:11 11:31 7:15 8:26 7:20 7:22 8:32
Highland Park IL 10:11 11:31 7:15 8:26 7:20 7:22 8:32
Lincolnwood IL 10:11 11:30 7:15 8:26 7:19 7:21 8:32
Northbrook IL 10:11 11:31 7:15 8:26 7:20 7:22 8:32
Skokie IL 10:11 11:31 7:15 8:26 7:19 7:21 8:32
Wilmette IL 10:11 11:30 7:15 8:26 7:19 7:21 8:32
Indianapolis IN 11:06 12:25 8:05 9:07 8:09 8:12 9:14
South Bend IN 11:05 12:25 8:08 9:11 8:13 8:15 9:18
Overland Park KS 10:40 11:59 7:38 8:39 7:42 7:44 8:45
Brookline MA 10:05 11:24 7:09 8:12 7:13 7:16 8:20
Newton Centre MA 10:05 11:24 7:09 8:12 7:13 7:16 8:20
Sharon MA 10:05 11:24 7:09 8:12 7:13 7:15 8:19
Baltimore MD 10:28 11:47 7:27 8:28 7:31 7:33 8:34
Ann Arbor MI 10:55 12:14 7:59 9:02 8:04 8:06 9:10
Saint Paul MN 10:31 11:51 7:41 8:47 7:46 7:49 8:55
St. Louis Park MN 10:32 11:52 7:42 8:47 7:47 7:49 8:56
University City MO 10:23 11:42 7:20 8:21 7:24 7:26 8:27
Omaha NE 10:45 12:04 7:47 8:50 7:51 7:54 8:57
Elizabeth NJ 10:18 11:37 7:19 8:21 7:23 7:25 8:28
Fairlawn NJ 10:17 11:36 7:19 8:21 7:23 7:25 8:28
Cedarhurst NY 10:16 11:35 7:17 8:19 7:21 7:23 8:26
Far Rockaway NY 10:16 11:35 7:17 8:19 7:21 7:23 8:26
Merrick NY 10:15 11:34 7:16 8:18 7:20 7:22 8:25
New Rochelle NY 10:16 11:35 7:17 8:19 7:21 7:24 8:27
Beachwood OH 10:46 12:06 7:49 8:52 7:53 7:56 8:59
Columbus OH 10:53 12:12 7:52 8:54 7:57 7:59 9:01
Toledo OH 10:55 12:14 7:58 9:01 8:02 8:04 9:08
Harrisburg PA 10:29 11:47 7:29 8:31 7:33 7:35 8:38
Merion Station PA 10:22 11:41 7:22 8:23 7:26 7:28 8:30
Charleston SC 10:44 12:01 7:31 8:29 7:34 7:36 8:34
Memphis TN 11:23 12:40 8:14 9:12 8:17 8:19 9:18
Dallas TX 10:51 12:09 7:39 8:36 7:42 7:43 8:41
Houston TX 10:47 12:04 7:30 8:26 7:33 7:34 8:30
Seattle WA 10:26 11:47 7:42 8:50 7:48 7:51 9:00
Glendale WI 10:11 11:31 7:17 8:21 7:22 7:24 8:29
Mequon WI 10:11 11:31 7:17 8:22 7:22 7:24 8:29
Milwaukee WI 10:11 11:31 7:17 8:21 7:22 7:24 8:29

The cRc would like to thank Rabbi Meir Zirkind (meyoz@yahoo.com) for his assistance in preparing this table

52 www.crcweb.org
Passover Dates
To Remember
(Times listed are for Chicago)
Sunday evening, April 17 ......................................................... Search for Chametz — Bedikat Chametz
Monday, April 18 ...................................................................... Fast of the First Born — Ta’anit Bechorim
Monday, April 18, 10:12 a.m. ..................................................Prohibition of eating chametz begins
Monday, April 18, 11:31 a.m. ..................................................Latest time to burn chametz
Monday and Tuesday evening, April 18 & 19 ........................... First and Second Sedarim
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19 & 20 ................................... First Two Days of Yom Tov
Thursday through Sunday, April 21-24...................................... Chol Hamoed (Intermediate Days)
Sunday evening, April 24 .......................................................... Yom Tov begins
Monday and Tuesday, April 25 & 26 ......................................... Last Two Days of Yom Tov
Tuesday morning, April 26 ....................................................... Yizkor (Memorial Service)

Candle Lighting
Times
(Chicago Area, Daylight Savings Time)
Monday, April 18 ........................................................................................................................... 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19............................................................................................................................. 8:26 p.m.
Friday, April 22 ............................................................................................................................... 7:19 p.m.
Sunday, April 24.............................................................................................................................. 7:21 p.m.
Monday, April 25 ............................................................................................................................ 8:32 p.m.

Guide For
Wedding Dates
D uring the Sefirah period, i.e.,
from Passover until Shavuot
(June 8-9, 2011), with cer-
tain exceptions, weddings should
not be conducted. For information,
consult an Orthodox Rabbi.
By way of advance informa-
tion, another period in which no
weddings are to be conducted will
be Tuesday, June 19, 2011 through
Tuesday, August 9, 2011, the “Three
Weeks” period of mourning for our


two Temples in Jerusalem. The Three
Weeks begin with the Fast of the 17th
of Tammuz and culminate with the
Fast of the Ninth of Av (Tisha B’Av).

www.crcweb.org
Calendar
5771 5772
Rosh Hashana Sept. 9-10, 2010 Rosh Hashana Sept. 29-30, 2011

Tzom Gedalya* Sept. 12, 2010 Tzom Gedalya* Oct. 2, 2011

Yom Kippur* Sept. 18, 2010 Yom Kippur* Oct. 8, 2011

Sukkot Sept. 23 – 28, 2010 Sukkot Oct. 13 – 18, 2011

Hoshana Raba Sept. 29, 2010 Hoshana Raba Oct. 19, 2011

Shmini Atzeret Sept. 30, 2010 Shmini Atzeret Oct. 20, 2011

Simchat Torah Oct. 1, 2010 Simchat Torah Oct. 21, 2011

Chanuka Dec. 2 – 9, 2010 Chanuka Dec. 21 – 28, 2011

Asara B’Tevet* Dec. 17, 2010 Asara B’Tevet* Jan. 5, 2012

Tu B’Shevat Jan. 20, 2011 Tu B’Shevat Feb. 8, 2012

Ta’anit Esther* Mar. 17, 2011 Ta’anit Esther* Mar. 7, 2012

Purim Mar. 20, 2011 Purim Mar. 8, 2012

Pesach Apr. 19 – Apr. 26, 2011 Pesach Apr. 7 – Apr. 14, 2012

Yom Hashoah May 1, 2011 Yom Hashoah Apr. 19, 2012

Yom Ha-Atzmaut May 9, 2011 Yom Ha-Atzmaut Apr. 26, 2012

Lag B’Omer May 22, 2011 Lag B’Omer May 10, 2012

Yom Yerushalayim June 1, 2011 Yom Yerushalayim May 20, 2012

Shavuot June 8 & 9, 2011 Shavuot May 27-28, 2012

Shiva Asar B’Tamuz* July 19, 2011 Shiva Asar B’Tamuz* July 8, 2012

Tisha B’Av* Aug. 9, 2011 Tisha B’Av* July. 29, 2012

* Fast Day
54 www.crcweb.org
Sefirat Ha-Omer Calendar 2011
S efira is the counting of seven
complete weeks from the sec-
ond evening of Pesach until
Shavuot. The count, which takes
place after nightfall for the follow-
ing day, is preceded by the blessing

RMWEH TRYPS LE WNWCW WYTWCMB WN$DQ R$A OLWEH VLM WNQLA ‘H HTA VWRB
only if done in the evening and no
days have been missed in the count.

    Tuesday evening, April 19

    Wednesday evening, April 20
    Thursday evening, April 21
    Friday evening, April 22
    Saturday evening, April 23
    Sunday evening, April 24
       Monday evening, April 25
         Tuesday evening, April 26
         Wednesday evening, April 27
         Thursday evening, April 28
          Friday evening, April 29
          Saturday evening, April 30
          Sunday evening, May 1
        Monday evening, May 2
          Tuesday evening, May 3
          Wednesday evening, May 4
          Thursday evening, May 5
          Friday evening, May 6
          Saturday evening, May 7
         Sunday evening, May 8
        Monday evening, May 9
          Tuesday evening, May 10
          Wednesday evening, May 11
          Thursday evening, May 12
          Friday evening, May 13
          Saturday evening, May 14
          Sunday evening, May 15
        Monday evening, May 16
          Tuesday evening, May 17
         Wednesday evening, May 18
          Thursday evening, May 19
          Friday evening, May 20
          Saturday evening, May 21
          Sunday evening, May 22
        Monday evening, May 23
          Tuesday evening, May 24
          Wednesday evening, May 25
          Thursday evening, May 26
          Friday evening, May 27
         Saturday evening, May 28
          Sunday evening, May 29
        Monday evening, May 30
          Tuesday evening, May 31
          Wednesday evening, June 1
          Thursday evening, June 2
          Friday evening, June 3
          Saturday evening, June 4
          Sunday evening, June 5
        Monday evening, June 6
www.crcweb.org 55
About the Chicago
Rabbinical Council
T he Chicago Rabbinical Coun-
cil (cRc) is an organization of
over 125 Orthodox Rabbis,
making the cRc the largest regional
Orthodox Rabbinical organization
in North America. Members of the
cRc occupy positions of prominence
in congregations, Jewish educa-
tion and related fields of rabbinic
leadership and communal service.
We are actively engaged in creat-
ing and sustaining a thriving and
vibrant Orthodox Community in
the greater Chicago area, throughout
the Midwest, and in other cities. The
Chicago Rabbinical Council serves
as an agent for many important
projects on behalf of the American
Jewish Community.
In addition to our Kashruth
supervisory services, we maintain a
Rabbinic Court (Beth Din) for Jew-
ish Religious Divorces, conversions,
arbitrations, and mediation. Our
Council also deals with community
relations, funeral standards, legisla-
tive issues, youth and education, as
well as other community activities.
We represent the Orthodox rab-
binate in a wide range of venues
serving the larger Jewish and general
communities.
Education And Youth
Committee
Through its Youth Fund, the cRc
supports the programming and
activities of the Mesorah region of
56 www.crcweb.org
the National Conference of Syna-
gogue Youth and Bnei Akiva of
Chicago. The cRc also sponsors a
Young Adult Education Committee
for the benefit of young singles and
young married couples, nationally
acclaimed weekends for singles, lec-
ture programs, and opportunities for
social action. The cRc also services
Jewish youth on the various college
campuses of our city and state.
Jewish Ecclesiastical
Court–Beth Din Zedek
The Ecclesiastical Court hears and
resolves cases involving Jewish law,
and financial disputes.
It responds to all queries related
to the practice and theory of our
way of life. It issues Gittin (Jew-
ish Divorces), certificates of Gerut
(conversions), and Teudot Ravakut
(certificates attesting to the status of
the Jewish person) which are inter-
nationally recognized, and accepted
by the Israeli Rabbinate.
Kashruth
As a service to the Jewish Commu-
nity, the Chicago Rabbinical Coun-
cil certifies and supervises products
for their Kashruth and Passover
permissibility, and endorses various
caterers, hotels, bakeries, and food
service establishments throughout
the year. Kashruth information is
constantly changing. Therefore the
cRc produces various publications to
keep the public in formed. To regu-
larly receive the cRc Products Direc-
tory, the Passover Guide, Spotlight
on Chicago and regular mailings for
the Kosher Consumer, please send
in your annual subscription fee of
$18.00 to the following address:
Chicago Rabbinical Council
2701 W. Howard
Chicago, Illinois 60645
For Kosher Consumer updates
by email (free service) send your
email address to alerts@crcweb.org.
Other Publications
The cRc has published a series of
pamphlets. They are not intended
to serve as a “layman’s Jewish law
book” but rather as introductions to
further study. For the interpretation
and practical applications of the
details mentioned therein, readers
are advised to consult an Orthodox
Rabbi.
Pamphlets dealing with the fol-
lowing topics are available: The Jew-
ish Calendar and Holidays; Mourn-
ing; Jewish Divorce; Kashruth;
Conversions and Adoptions; The
Synagogue; Jewish Wedding; Bar
Mitzvah Observance; Righteousness
and Good Works; Functions of the
Cohen; The Rite of Circumcision;
The Brith Milah Ceremony; Jewish
Education; A Guide to Keeping
Kosher; Chanukah; and Zionism.
The Following are the Many Ways
that the cRc Serves the Community
Beth Din Zedek Commissions Committees
Jewish Ecclesiastical Court
Gittin Kashruth Youth And Education
Religious Divorce
Dinei Torah Public Affairs Pastoral Concerns
Litigation, Arbitration & Mediation
Geruth Funeral Standards Young Adults
Conversions & Adoptions
Maasei Beth Din Publications
Halachic Documentations

Kashruth Staff
Rabbi Sholem Fishbane Kashruth Administrator
Rabbi Dovid Cohen Rabbinic Coordinator
Rabbi Yaakov M. Eisenbach Rabbinic Coordinator
Rabbi Yosef Landa Rabbinic Coordinator
Rabbi Moshe Moscowitz Rabbinic Coordinator
Rabbi Dovid Oppenheimer Rabbinic Coordinator
Mr. Abe Sharp Kashruth Business Manager
Rabbi Dovid Aronin Kashruth Support/Mashgiach
Mrs. Linda Lefkowitz Kashruth Support
Mrs. Shalva Meyers Kashruth Support
Mrs. Melissa Saacks Kashruth Support

Kashruth Commission
Rabbi Dr. Ben Dov Leibenstein, Chairman Rabbi Joel E. Gutstein
Rabbi Alan M. Abramson Rabbi Baruch Hertz
Rabbi Michael Azose Rabbi Dr. Jerold Isenberg
Rabbi Dovid Cohen Rabbi Moshe Kushner
Rabbi Yaakov Eisenbach Rabbi Dr. Leonard A. Matanky
Rabbi Zvi Engel Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz
Rabbi Sholem Fishbane Rabbi Moshe Noble
Rabbi Dr. Jack D. Frank Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz
Rabbi Chaim Goldzweig Rabbi Benjamin Shandalov
Rabbi Micah Greenland

www.crcweb.org 57
Chicago Rabbinical Council
Officers
President
Rabbi Leonard Matanky
Chairman, Executive
Committee
Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz
Vice Presidents
Rabbi Dr. Jerold Isenberg
Rabbi Micah Greenland
Treasurer
Rabbi Michael Myers
Executive Director
Rabbi Moshe Kushner
Kashruth Administrator
Rabbi Sholem Fishbane
cRc Staff
Rabbi Alan M. Abramson
Rabbi Ephraim Friedman
Rabbi Daniel J. Raccah
Mrs. Sora Laya Friedman
Mrs. Basya Israel
Ms. Biranit Kohn
Mr. Morris Loterstein
Mrs. Jan Mishkin
Mr. Aaron Rothenberg
58 www.crcweb.org
Av Beth Din
Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz A”UYL$
Honorary President
Rabbi Dr. Oscar Z. Fasman*
Secretary
Rabbi Yosef Posner
Av Beth Din Emeritus
Rabbi Israel M. Karno L”CZ *
Founding Av Beth Din
Rabbi C. David Regensberg L”CZ *
Menahel, Beth Din Zedek
Dayan
Dayan
Assistant IT Coordinator
Bookkeeper
Administrative Assistant
Accountant
Office and IT Manager
Programmer
Past Presidents
Rabbi Louis J. Lehrfield*
Rabbi Leonard C. Mishkin*
Rabbi Benzion C. Kaganoff*
Rabbi Aaron M. Rine*
Rabbi Harold P. Smith
Rabbi Moses Mescheloff*
Rabbi Herman L. Davis*
Rabbi Moshe Litoff
Rabbi Albert H. Ellison*
Rabbi Paul S. Greenman
Rabbi William B. Gold*
Rabbi Alvin J. Kleinerman*
Rabbi Lawrence Montrose
Rabbi Moshe Noble
Rabbi Shlomo Rapoport*
Rabbi Jack D. Frank
Rabbi Isaac Mayesfsky*
Rabbi Joseph Deitcher*
Rabbi Michael Azose
Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman*
Rabbi Alan Abramson
Rabbi Leonard Matanky
Rabbi Harvey Well
Rabbi Zev M. Shandalov
Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz
*Of Blessed Memory
Members of the
Chicago Rabbinical Council
Rabbi Alan Abramson Rabbi Moshe Y. Feller Rabbi Paul S. Greenman
Chicago, Illinois Saint Paul, Minnesota Houston, Texas

Rabbi David A. Adatto Rabbi David Fine Rabbi Jonathan S. Gross

Valley Village, California Modiin, ISRAEL Omaha, Nebraska

Rabbi Daniel Alter Rabbi Joel M. Finkelstein Rabbi Avrohom I. Grossbaum

Denver, Colorado Memphis, Tennessee Indianapolis, Indiana

Rabbi Michael Azose Rabbi Sholem Fishbane Rabbi Joel E. Gutstein

Jerusalem, ISRAEL Chicago, Illinois Lincolnwood, Illinois

Rabbi Michael H. Balinsky Rabbi Yisrael Fishweicher Rabbi Baruch Hertz

Northbrook, Illinois Fair Lawn, New Jersey Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Yishaya Benjaminson Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein Rabbi Avram H. Herzog

Glenview, Illinois Wilmette, Illinois Englewood, New Jersey

Rabbi Marshall Berg Rabbi Jack D. Frank Rabbi Jerome M. Herzog

Des Moines, Iowa Lincolnwood, Illinois Jerusalem, ISRAEL

Rabbi Norman Berlat Rabbi Daniel Friedman Rabbi Arie Isaacs

North York, Ontario CANADA Edmonton, Alberta CANADA Elizabeth, New Jersey

Rabbi Reuven Brand Rabbi Ari Galandauer Rabbi Jerold Isenberg

Chicago, Illinois Ottawa, Ontario CANADA Skokie, Illinois

Rabbi Michael J. Broyde Rabbi Edward H. Garsek Rabbi Shmuel A. Jablon

Atlanta, Georgia Toledo, Ohio Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Rabbi Dovid Cohen Rabbi Shaanan Gelman Rabbi Wesley Kalmar

Chicago, Illinois Skokie, Illinois Glendale, Wisconsin

Rabbi Mordechai Cohen Rabbi Norman T. Goldberg Rabbi William M. Kanter

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Baruch Comrov Rabbi Chaim Y. Goldberger Rabbi Harold Karp

Brown Deer, Wisconsin Minneapolis, Minnesota Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Shlomo Shmuel Crandall Rabbi Chaim T. Goldzweig Rabbi Jay Karzen
Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Jerusalem, ISRAEL

Rabbi Jack Engel Rabbi James Gordon Rabbi Hayyim J. Kassorla

Florida Lincolnwood, Illinois Altanta, Georgia

Rabbi Zvi Engel Rabbi Mark Gottlieb Rabbi Elliott Katz

Skokie, Illinois Brookline, Massachusetts Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Rabbi Baruch R. Epstein Rabbi Micah Greenland Rabbi Erwin Katz

Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois

www.crcweb.org 59
 Rabbi Menachem Mendel Katzman Rabbi Menachem Linzer Rabbi Irwin R. Pollock
Omaha, Nebraska Skokie, Illinois Bayit v’Gan, Jerusalem ISRAEL

Rabbi Avraham Kivelevitz Rabbi Moshe Litoff Rabbi Yochanan Posner

Elizabeth, New Jersey Petach Tikva, ISRAEL Skokie, Illinois

Rabbi Dov Hillel Klein Rabbi Asher Z. Lopatin Rabbi Yosef Posner
Evanston, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Skokie, Illinois

Rabbi Moshe Kletenik Rabbi Akiva Males Rabbi Elisha Prero

Seattle, Washington Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Daniel Kroll Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky Rabbi Joseph Radinsky

Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Houston, Texas

Rabbi Stanley E. Kroll Rabbi Michael Merdinger Rabbi Bernard Reichman

Chicago, Illinois Overland Park, Kansas Mequon, Wisconsin

Rabbi Moshe Kushner Rabbi David Montrose Rabbi Daniel Rockoff

Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Overland Park, Kansas

Rabbi Howard Kutner Rabbi Lawrence Montrose Rabbi Shlomo J. Rosen

Beachwood, Ohio Skokie, Illinois Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Louis Lazovsky Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz Rabbi Alan B. Rosenbaum

Skokie, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Bet Shemesh, ISRAEL

Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz Rabbi Meir S. Moscowitz Rabbi Don Rosenbaum

Chicago, Illinois Northbrook, Illinois Sharon, Massachusetts

Rabbi David Lehrfield Rabbi Moshe Moscowitz Rabbi David M. Rosenberg

Miami, Florida Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Joel Lehrfield Rabbi Michael A. Myers Rabbi Ely J. Rosenzveig

Lincolnwood, Illinois Chicago, Illinois New Rochelle, New York

Rabbi Ben Dov Leibenstein Rabbi Shimshon Nadel Rabbi Yosef Schanowitz
Chicago, Illinois Jerusalem, ISRAEL Highland Park, Illinois

Rabbi Aaron Leibtag Rabbi Sasson Natan Rabbi Binyomin Scheiman

Lincolnwood, Illinois Houston, Texas Des Plaines, Illinois

Rabbi Shlomo Levin Rabbi Moshe Noble Rabbi Tsvi G. Schur

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chicago, Illinois Baltimore, Maryland

Rabbi Nachman Levine Rabbi Jeffrey S. Orkin HaRav Gedalia Dov Schwartz
Glendale, Wisconsin Baltimore, Maryland Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Moshe Lieberman Rabbi Joseph S. Ozarowski Rabbi Morey Schwartz

Newton, Massachusetts Skokie, Illinois Hashmonaim, ISRAEL

Rabbi Melvin H. Lifsics Rabbi David Perkel Rabbi Raphael S. Schwartzman

Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Yaakov K. Lindow Rabbi Ari Perl Rabbi Gershon Segal

South Bend, Indiana Dallas, Texas Newton Centre, Massachusetts

60 www.crcweb.org
 Rabbi Hyim Shafner Rabbi Reuven Stafford Rabbi Nathan I. Weiss
University City, Missouri Ann Arbor, Michigan Jerusalem, ISRAEL

Rabbi Benjamin Shandalov Rabbi Yehudah Susman Rabbi Stewart Weiss

Chicago, Illinois Efrat, ISRAEL Ranana, ISRAEL

Rabbi Zev M. Shandalov Rabbi Ari Sytner Rabbi Don Well

Maale Adumim, ISRAEL Charleston, South Carolina Cedarhurst, New York

Rabbi Moshe Shulman Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel Rabbi Harvey A. Well

St. Louis, Missouri Urbana, Illinois Elazar, ISRAEL

Rabbi Ze’ev Smason Rabbi Louis M. Tuchman Rabbi Howard S. Wolk

St. Louis, Missouri Jerusalem, ISRAEL West Hartford, Connecticut

Rabbi Harold P. Smith Rabbi Mark Urkowitz Rabbi Hertzel Hillel Yitzhak
Chicago, Illinois Houston, Texas Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Malcolm M. Sparer Rabbi Marc Volk Rabbi Howard A. Zack

San Francisco, California Merrick, New York Columbus, Ohio

Rabbi Nahum Spirn Rabbi Burton Wax Rabbi Kenneth P. Zisook

Brooklyn, New York Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Reuven Spolter Rabbi Mark S. Weiner

Yad Binyamin, ISRAEL Chicago, Illinois

2011 Passover Guide Committee

Rabbi Moshe Kushner Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz
Rabbi Michael Azose Av Beth Din
Rabbi Sholem Fishbane

Rabbi Dovid Aronin Passover Coordinator

Howard Karesh Copy Editor
Rivkah Greenland, Maryles Graphic Design Studio Cover Design
Cyndee Meystel, CompuServices Layout and Typography
Biranit Kohn Editor

www.crcweb.org 61
Glossary of Hebrew Terms
Afikomen ....................... the “dessert” of matza eaten after the main meal of the Seder
Al Achilat Maror ............ the closing of the blessing on the bitter herbs
Al Achilat Matza ............. the closing of the blessing on the matza
Arba Kosot ..................... the four cups of wine we are required to drink at the Seder
Ashkenazim .................... Jews of central and eastern European descent
Av .................................. a month on the Jewish calendar marked by tragedy
Av Beth Din ................... head of a Jewish Rabbinic court
Bedikat chametz ............. the search for leavened products before Passover
Beth Din ........................ Jewish Rabbinic court
Bitul chametz ................. nullifying leavened products and claiming them ownerless
Biur chametz .................. burning leavened products before Passover
Bracha ............................ blessing
Brit Mila ........................ ritual circumcision ceremony
Chametz ......................... leavened products, prohibited on Passover
Charoset ......................... a mixture of fruit, nuts and wine eaten at the Seder
Chol Ha-Moed ............... the “intermediate days” of Passover
Erev (Passover) ............... eve of Passover, i.e. the day of the first Seder
Eruv Tavshilin ................ “mixing of cooked foods,’ the blessing said on the eve of the holiday to
allow preparation of food on the holiday for the Sabbath
Haggadah ....................... the textual guide to the Passover Seder
Halacha .......................... Jewish law
Hashem .......................... common name for G-d
Havdalah ........................ the prayer said to separate a holy day from a weekday
Karpas ............................ vegetable dipped into salt water or vinegar during the Seder
Kashering ....................... the process of making something kosher
Kashruth ........................ the concept that foods eaten by the Jewish people must be prepared according
to Torah law
Kiddush ......................... the sanctification of a holiday, usually said over wine
Kitniyot .......................... foods such as legumes, beans, seeds and mustard, prohibited by Ashkenazic
communities on Passover
Koraich .......................... the “Hillel Sandwich” of maror and matza eaten at the Seder
Korban Passover ............. the Pascal Lamb
K’zayit ............................ a measurement equal to the volume of an olive
Mah Nishtana ................ “Why is this night different?” the opening to a series of four questions
asked at the beginning of every Seder
Maharal .......................... acronym for Rabbi Judah Loew of 16th century Prague
Maror ............................. bitter herbs
62 www.crcweb.org
Glossary of Hebrew Terms (cont’d)
Matza/matzot ................. a “poor man’s flat bread” of flour and water, baked in less than 18 minutes
from the time the flour and water are mixed
Matza Ashira .................. matza made with fruit juice
Matza Shmurah .............. matza made from wheat that had been observed from harvest through
baking to ensure that no water came into contact with it
Mechirat chametz ............ the selling of leavened products
Mikvah ........................... a ritual bath
Mishna ........................... precursor to the Talmud, represents the teachings of Jewish scholars who
lived in the first through third centuries of the Common Era
Mitzva/mitzvoth ............. commandment(s)
Nissan ............................ Jewish month in which Passover falls
Pesachim ........................ literally Passovers, this is the name of the tractate that concentrates on the
holiday of Passover
Revi’it Ha-lug ................. a fourth of a lug; a liquid measurement equal to approximately 3.3 fluid
ounces
Rov Kos........................... majority of a cup, usually applied to wine for kiddush or havdalah
Seder .............................. the Passover evening service, conducted outside of Israel on the first two
nights of Passover
Sefirah ............................ the counting of 49 days between the second night of Passover and the
holiday of Shavuot
Sephardim ....................... Jews of Mediterranean, Near Eastern, or Spanish descent
Shabbat .......................... the Sabbath, celebrated from sundown Friday until about 45 minutes after
sundown on Saturday
Shavuot ........................... the holiday on which we celebrate the receipt of the Torah on Mount Sinai
Shliach ........................... an agent or messenger
Shulchan Aruch .............. the Code of Jewish Law, authored by Rabbi Joseph Karo in the 15 th century
Siyum ............................. celebration of completion of a tractate of Mishna or Talmud
Taanit B’chorim ............. Fast of the First Born Sons
Tammuz ......................... Jewish month in which the “Three Weeks” begin
Tisha B’Av ...................... Ninth day of Av, the day on which both of our Temples in Jerusalem were
destroyed
Torah ............................. the Word of Hashem as given to Moshe, the Five Books of Moses
T’vilat kelim ................... immersing vessels in a kosher mikva (ritual bath)
V’hegadita l’vincha ......... the commandment to “tell your children” about the Exodus from Egypt
Yizkor ............................. memorial prayer for departed family members, said on the last day of
Passover and other holidays during the year
Yom Tov ......................... holiday
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