Is Sushi Chametz?

QUESTION > Dear Rabbi! I really love sushi and other rice products and every Pesach I have this problem: I am Ashkenazic and can’t eat kitniyos. If it were something that everyone was prohibited from, I would be fine, I also like pizza, and I manage. What bothers me is that Sephardic Jews are allowed to eat kitniyos, so why is it my fault that my rabbis, 1000 years ago, decided to prohibit it? Why could my Sephardic neighbor eat rice and I can’t? Can’t all the rabbis get together and decide if it’s chametz or not? Sarah

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350 CIGARETTES FOR MATZA

During the first wave of immigration from the Soviet Union, I was the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. One day, as I sat in the beis din that does conversions, a 42 year old doctor came in. He had come from the Soviet Union the day before with his wife and two daughters. He came for documents affirming his Jewishness for all the institutions that required it. He even brought witnesses with him to testify that he was Jewish, a son of Jewish parents. His mother was a pediatrician who runs a cardiology department in Moscow and his father, who was no longer living, had been a surgeon.

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THE DYNAMICS OF FREEDOM

This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and conduct the Seder of Pesach. This year [we are] here; next year in the land of Israel. This year [we are] slaves; next year [we will be] free people.

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CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY OF FREEDOM BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN

When the goyim knew that the Jewish holiday was approaching, they would jack up the prices. * We knew we had to open the door for Eliyahu but the door had to be closed so we wouldn’t be sent to Siberia. * Did you know that Mitzrayim has the same numerical equivalent as ס.ס.ס.ר (in Hebrew)? *The seder table brought back many Jews to Judaism. * Fascinating excerpts from an interview with R’ Notke Berkahan a”h that was published in Yediot Acharonot in the Erev Pesach 5733 issue

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LIGHTING UP THE DARK CORRIDORS OF PRISON

Every morning, Rabbi Lior Rosenbaum works behind bars in the Oholei Kedar Detention Center as the rabbi of the facility. He helps, guides, and is mekarev the people who were just arrested. For the holiday of cheirus-freedom, Beis Moshiach went behind bars for a fascinating talk with R’ Rosenbaum about his work.

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MATZAH CAMPAIGNS & CHABAD IN CUBA

When Manischewitz agreed to sell Matzah at a loss * The Rashag convinced the Russian Government to lower the Matzah tax * Is the Joint Distribution Committee too soft on the Russians? * Cuban Government approves Chabad in Cuba? * In honor of the upcoming holiday of Pesach we present a collection of documents from the archives of the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) pertaining to Mivtzah Matzah in 1929, 1932, 1945, 1948, 1984 & 1985 * Pesach Special

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GET EXCITED ABOUT (PESACH) MINHAGIM!

Pesach is definitely the “head of the year” when it comes to observing minhagim-Jewish customs. In general, there are many customs which are observed by myriads of communities in every aspect of Jewish life. Other minhagim are kept by certain sects of Yidden. Still more minhagim are passed down in families from generation to generation

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My Pesach WITH THE REBBE

The unforgettable Pesach night with the Rebbe began one day in Nissan of 5724/1964 when R’ Moshe Leib Rodstein, the secretary of the Rebbe Rayatz and later the Rebbe’s secretary, asked me, “Are you interested in working upstairs?”

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My Pesach WITH ONLY ONE BOTTLE OF WINE

I remember that seder until this very day even though over sixty years have passed since then!

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My Pesach WITH SRULIK ON MY SHOULDERS

When the editor texted me asking for a column about a special seder in my life, the first thought I had was that I could whip up an article like that in a second. How many words? I texted him back. 600/700 he responded. No problem, I’ll send it, I wrote him.

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My Pesach BEHIND PRISON BARS

Thirty-eight years ago, like today, we lived in Afula. For Pesach 5736/1976 we planned to be with our parents which is why, although we cleaned the house, we did not kasher the kitchen. Instead, we packed our suitcases, shopped and were busy with Mivtza Matza.

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MY PERSONAL EXODUS FROM EGYPT

As we celebrate the “Time of Our Freedom,” and remember the exodus from Egypt, there are those whose memories take them back to the not so distant dark days in which they personally experienced a despotic empire from which they went out to freedom. * We spoke with Mrs. Chaya Sheiner to hear about life in communist Russia and about Chassidim who celebrated Pesach as they looked forward to their personal exodus from Egypt.

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