Q&A: Regarding Kitniyot
Regarding Kitniyot
Question
Hello to the glory of his eminence.
I read the Rabbi’s column about kitniyot, and I was almost convinced, except that I became concerned that the next step would be to permit relaxing the stringency of the seven clean days, and that was hard for me.
Answer
Why doesn’t anyone say hello here before they start talking?!
The stringency of the seven clean days is definitely worth re-examining. But it has no necessary connection to the question of kitniyot. Regarding kitniyot, there has been a change from their time to ours, and its basis is a concern—not an enactment, and in my opinion not even a custom. By contrast, the seven clean days are a custom grounded in Talmudic law (and it appears there as established Jewish law), and the reality has also not changed substantially from their time to ours.
His Eminence asked me to convey his regards to you, and there is a presumption that an agent carries out his mission.
Discussion on Answer
Apparently you’re new here; of course it was a joke 🙂
I’ve now sent a clarification by email, and I’ll repeat it here:
Hello Arik.
Heaven forbid, Father son of Father… You attributed intentions to me that I don’t have. I was simply joking about the amusing title you gave me (the glory of my eminence). I wasn’t offended at all; I was amused. That’s also why I conveyed greetings to you in his name, since I don’t see any connection between that title and myself. That’s also why I opened by asking why no one says hello—because you said hello to “the glory of my eminence,” whom I don’t know, and not to me.
As for the substance of the matter, where did you see any sharpness in my words?! Your question was perfectly fine and entirely appropriate, and I also answered it completely substantively.
In conclusion, everything is excellent, and there’s neither insult nor sharpness here—just joking around that apparently wasn’t understood. There’s nothing to forgive. On the contrary, I hope you forgive me for my joking. I just can’t restrain myself in cases like these.
I’m not sure whether I offended the Rabbi, Heaven forbid. I did greet you first; maybe that wasn’t enough.
I respect the Rabbi and certainly didn’t mean to offend. Maybe I didn’t phrase the question well—I thought it was a message to the emissary personally.
Anyway, sorry if I offended. I’m not sure I understood the sharpness in the answer.
When I wrote “the glory of his eminence,” I meant it sincerely, especially after I had also read one of the Rabbi’s books.