Q&A: What Is the Difference Between Hummus Spread and Legume Oil?
What Is the Difference Between Hummus Spread and Legume Oil?
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is there a difference in principle—and why—between legume oil and hummus used as a spread, from the standpoint that both have greatly changed their form?
And of course this has implications for someone who is lenient regarding legume oil on Passover.
Answer
Because of my well-known attitude toward legumes, it’s hard for me to answer this. I’ll just say that in principle there is a difference, because oil is not only a change of form but a product derived from legumes, whereas hummus is the legume itself that has changed form. Certainly, if the concern is leaven mixed into them, then with oil there is no such concern, whereas with hummus spread there is.
Discussion on Answer
I’d be glad if someone who understands would explain why the oil is kosher even if there is no concern about leaven mixed into it, assuming we’re talking about legume oil produced by a non-Jew.
I’d be glad if someone who understands would explain why the oil is kosher even if there is no concern about leaven mixed into it, assuming we’re talking about legume oil produced by a non-Jew.
And one more thing: if wheat/barley oil were commonly available, would it be kosher for Passover, even under strict kosher supervision?
At the supermarket I saw rolls marked kosher for Passover (not under strict ultra-Orthodox supervision, only the Rabbinate). In the ingredients it said flour, yeast, … Under what circumstances would they certify that? (I didn’t buy it because…)
Is it permitted to make rolls (unrelated to my first question) from chickpea flour—as opposed to wheat flour and the five species of grain—with yeast, and have it be kosher for Passover?
Now we understand why there are those who prohibit both :).