Jewish Scene
Rabbis: 'Kitniyot rebellion' continues
Ynetnews
Published: 31.03.10, 15:01
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78 Talkbacks for this article
1. Wasted Article - Suspect Journalism
David Lev ,   Shilo Israel   (03.31.10)
This article contained two very different subjects, both worthy of publishing. One concerns the question of permissible food, which affects many Jews and deserves attention. The second, relates to emergency health care, regarding a dispute about building an emergency care facility over a grave yard. Both have legal implications under Jewish law, and raise emotional issues. That said, the article attempted to use the emotional under-current of religious Jews unhappy with the banning of certain food over Pesach, as a means of also undermining the emergency facility debate. There were shallow reasons given for both issues, which only left the emotive factor. That's a shame, as both issues have serious arguments on both sides of the fence, which were neglected in this article. The prevailing feeling was that we are being subject to an archaic institution that due to a shallow argument on one issue, is accordingly at fault for other issues as well. Where is the substance? Personally, I can agree that kidnyot could be allowed, and that the emergency care facility should be built, but that's based on far more principled writings than this article would suggest!
2. It's ridiculous!!
Chaya ,   Bat Yam   (03.31.10)
It's a ridiculous ban! Good for you Rabbi Bar-Hayim for being a reasonable person. Even if I weren't married to a Tunisian, I would probably eat rice and beans and other pulses!
3. Total Nonsense
Shlomo Silverstein ,   Maale Adumim, Israel   (03.31.10)
Another classic YNET ant-religious article that tries to present wacko nut jobs as main stream. What did the guy get? Three calls this year instead of the usual one? I have never heard of a real Ashkenazi Orthodox Jew who is considering eating kitniot and I am familiier with many communities here in Eretz Yisrael. We are very proud of our customs and traditions thank you very much.
4. As if not eating beans....
shadoil ,   Jerusalem   (03.31.10)
or rice for one week a year makes someone more or less modern. This guy is trying to make a name for himself so he found a modus aparendi to do so. Give me a break.
5. Traditions
Wise Saba ,   Eretz Yisrael   (03.31.10)
If we abandon our age old traditions we will have nothing left. Not eating kitniyot for one week won't kill you, but you will be following in the traditions of our bubbies & zaidies. This article is a bunch of rebel rousing & nothing else.
6. This pulses argument that goes on
Raptor   (03.31.10)
every year is the biggest load of bull.
7. rabbi david bar hayim is a monumental scholar
moshe ,   tel aviv israel   (03.31.10)
those who want to disagree with the courageous position of rabbi david bar hayim can continue buriyng their heads in the sand. rav bar hayim is a great scholar as can be attested to by his interview by rabbi yair hoffman. rav bar hayim is no wacko. his positions are all well documented. and by the way many ashkenazi scholars over the generations have condemned the kitniyot custom as absurd.
8. My great-grandparents were from Ashkenaz
Ariel ,   Judean Hills   (03.31.10)
And I eat kitniyot. This is a custom of Galut and only someone who wishes to perpetuate the Exile would continue silly customs of the Diaspora. Repent to the customs of your forefathers in Eretz Yisrael. Maybe you have transplanted your bodies, but will you leave your souls covered with the impurities of Galuth?
9. Kitniot are not kosher l'peisach, period
for Ashkenazim   (03.31.10)
I drank once rice liquor made from rice leavening
10. And they say that Ynet is anti-religious...
authentic Jew ,   Jewrusalem Israel   (03.31.10)
Reading some of these talkbacks by seemingly religious people makes it clear who the real haters of G-d and Torah are; its the perverters of Torah who garb themselves in false righteousness and pass off lies as truth. The fact of the matter is the Torah doesn't care what your bubbies and zaydies did in galut. Your "bubbies and zaydies" also worshipped idols in some generations, so should we venerate idolatry? Kitniyot are permissible, period, and certainly in Israel there isn't a problem of EUROPEAN traditions, since this isn't Europe. Those who claim otherwise contradict the Talmud.
11. the article is timely and true
beryl ,   jerusalem   (03.31.10)
in recent years i alone have come across many ashkenazi jews who have begun eating kitnyot as a result of rabbi david bar hayims landmark ruling. rabbi bar hayim deserves much credit for his vision and forthrightness
12. the kitniyot custom is dying
yaakov ,   haifa   (03.31.10)
because of the efforts of rabbi david bar hayim a growing number of jews are abandoning sillly customs which originate in our Exile and returning to a more authentic israel based judaism.
13. way to go machon shilo
alter ,   jerusalem   (04.01.10)
Due to your campaign against the kitniyot custom I am finding myself having a very enjoyable,meaningful Pesach. Kudos to the brilliant Torah sage, Rabbi David Bar Hayim for showing the way to our generation. You are akin to a bright torch in the darkness.
14. the real crux of the matter
tom ,   toronto, canada   (04.01.10)
the real crux of the matter is NOT the qitnyot, but the unity of am yisrael. we no longer live in far-flung communities, where different customs naturally arose. today, ashkenazi, sephardi, and mizrahi jews live together, side by side. and it's about time to agree, together, on what is judaism and what is not. the idea that rabbis cannot agree on what is kosher wine, or meat, is a very bad joke, and must stop. it matters less which custom we choose to follow, than that we stop bickering about it. a single category of "kosher" would go a long way toward ending the divisions among us.
15. Eating non-Kitniot Kitniot
Al ,   Miami, FL USA   (04.01.10)
Because of the Israeli/Sephardic Jews in my area, some of the area stores have the yummy Pesadik Kitniyot foods. We have been consuming foods that contain "new" Kitniyot, while not eating the older Ashkenazi bans (new world foods like Peanuts, Quinoa, etc., are a part of our home). When we were blessed enough to spend Pesach in Eretz Yisrael, we ate rice and all "real" Kitniyot, as we were not in the Galut for that holiday at least.
16. "Rabbi" Bar Haim
Shira ,   NY B"H YERUSHALAYIM   (04.01.10)
which yeshiva did you learn in and who was the Rav that gave you smicha?????????? Not even the Gadol HaDor would dare have the chutzpa to repeal a ruling made by more holy rebbeim over 300 years ago in artzei ashkenaz. You are nothing but a fraud who is making people SIN. PERIOD.
17. kudos for kitniot
kitniot lover ,   keneda   (04.01.10)
What a relief . . .If Ashkenazim were really so traditional-minded, then they would not be eating potatoes either. After all, potatoes, a New World import, did not feature prominently in the German territories until the 18th century. I wonder what we ate before then; I do know what I'll be eating this Pesach, though--kitniot!
18. so according to some stupid logic
dor ,   israel   (04.01.10)
if one of our grandparents was swallowing every month a small stone, we should all swallow a small stone in order to keep the tradition alive? people do you hear what you are saying?
19. i eat kitniyot on pesach
eugene ,   lod   (04.01.10)
and i am of ashkenazi descent
20. next up - polish coats and hats
Daweed ,   Saana Yemin   (04.01.10)
and those socks and slippers. For that matter why the western business suits in government. Wearing a coat and tie in yisrael is idiotic.
21. Kitniot
Norman Gellman ,   Rehovot, Israel   (04.01.10)
Not eating kitniot was consudered fooiish by the rabbis when it was first introduced in France. Its about time for abondoning this coustom
22. Judaic historians agree: Teimani tradition is authentic
Paqid Yirmeyahu ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (04.01.10)
Teimanim are right according to Har Sinai. All who contradict are wrong. Historical fact!. Deal with it! True binary dilemma choice: follow foreign --Hellenist--culture, like the Christians, or Torah Nosakh Teimani. Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-reverer (& Orthodox Jew) Advocate for Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority Welcoming All Torah-reverers (Jews & non-Jews)
23. It's about time
Marne ,   Jerusalem   (04.01.10)
Rabbi David Golinkin wrote a resonsa years ago on this very subject with the same conclusion. http://home.earthlink.net/~bbenbaruch/qitniyot-kitniyot.htm Before people start condemning, try reading and learning first. And regardless of whether you eat kitniyot or not, kitniyot is NOT hametz. Most people I know who do not eat kitniyot admit that it's a minhag shtut but are waiting for their rabbi to allow it.
24. One Week Without Rice Won't Kill Anyone
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (04.01.10)
I encourage all Jews to adopt the ancient and authentic Jewish custom of not eating Kitniyos on Pesach. May all those who meticulously avoid eating Kitniyos on Pesach be blessed by the Almighty.
25. Rabbi David Bar Hayim A Real Orthodox Rabbi
dov ,   modiin   (04.01.10)
Rabbi David Bar Hayim studied in Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav for ten years and received ordination from there as well as from Rabbi Yosef Kapach who was a great scholar who sat on the Beth Din HaGadol. Both sources of ordination were Orthodox and Rabbi Bar Hayim is an authentic Orthodox rabbi who is a tremendous scholar in his own right who happens to have the courage to publicize his views.
26. all my ashkenazi friends eat kitniyot
eithan ,   gedera   (04.01.10)
It seems that Rabbi David Bar Hayim has many followers. Kol HaKavod!
27. Kitniot
David ,   Quito Ecuador   (04.01.10)
I have thought of becoming sefardic for pesach, that way I wouldnt feel guilty if I ate Kitniot... Now I find out that my guilt has been misplaced. JAJA I heard also from a very "prestigious" rabbi that the distillation process of whiskey destroys all traces of Chometz... If a rabbi says it who cares where he got Smicha it is easier and very convenient, some also say driving in Shabbos is OK the modern thing to do. THIS PEOPLE WILL DISTROY YDDISHKEIT THEY ARE A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bu ta dangerous joke.
28. "Rabbi" Bar Haim -- Shira you ought to be ashamed
Rashi ,   Raanana, Israel   (04.01.10)
Rabbi Bar Haim is a very learned and well-respected Rav. He only pointed out an age old mistake that has been repeated for centuries by our communities in Europe, which, mind you, most of them are no longer in existence. Did our holy Rabbanim in the shtettles have the right to question the authorities of the Sanhedrin, the Kings of Israel and even up to the holy Rashi (who was Ashkenazi), all of whom ate kitniyot and rice on Pesach? Don't you realise that it is possible that even our holy Rabbanim from the middle ages can too make mistakes? The only fraud is this silly minhag which has no place amongst our people which not only limits our joy of the chag (which is an issur d'oraitah) but even divides us amongst our own people. If you do indeed live in Yerushalayim, then you would think like a Yerushalmit and not like one in the Shtettles of old.
29. machon shilo is right on target
netanel ,   ramat gan   (04.01.10)
ever since i saw material by the kitniyot liberation front i decided that rabbi david bar hayim speaks the truth.
30. #16 shira
authentic jew ,   jewrusalem, israel   (04.01.10)
Rabbi Bar Haim learned in Mercaz HaRav and received smeicha from, among others, the great yemenite sage rabbi Yosef Kapach. Maybe you should learn a little before you deride others and make a fool of yourself.
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