Q&A: Analyzing Legumes in Preparation for Passover
Analyzing Legumes in Preparation for Passover
Question
Hello and blessings, Rabbi,
I wanted to ask a question about the prohibition of legumes on Passover. It is known that the prohibition spread through Ashkenazi custom, but it does not include all types of legumes equally.
Are there sources or halakhic positions that distinguish between types of legumes based on whether they were known and common at the time the prohibition was instituted?
For example, are legumes that did not exist in Europe at that time—such as quinoa or certain kinds of beans—considered outside the prohibition?
Are there lists or approaches that define what is included in the prohibition and what is not, and does the Rabbi himself tend toward a stringent or lenient view on this matter?
Answer
You asked at the wrong address. In my view, regarding this custom/prohibition, see column 2.