[Avodah] Kitniyos and Potatoes

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 12:18:54AM +1000, SBA wrote:
: In fact, I have heard the opposite - that 'noch a mazel' that when they
: banned Kitniyos potatoes had not yet been introduced to the Old World.
: For if they had, they too would have met the fate of Kitniyos.

The Chayei Adam included potatoes as qitniyos.

About this, the Divrei Chaim (R' Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, 1793-1876)
is quoted as saying that the CA is trying to deprive us of chayei adam!
(Much like the original claim about why potatoes weren't included.)

The CA mentions that in 1771 they were permitted because of a famine
that year that narrowed ones range of alternatives.

RMF (IM OC 3:63) gives the rule that the minhag couldn't include things
that weren't known of yet. But then, that rule doesn't explain the common
avoidance of corn and peanuts (among Ashk). He therefore suggests that
the need for /some/ starch in one's menu was a second factor.

Personally, I think the notion of considering corn syrup to be mei
qitniyos is simply adding insult to injury. It's so far removed from
the original minhag, which itself is pretty hard to explain... (I think
the "true cane sugar Coke" people are behind it. <grin>)

:-)||ii!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 4th day
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