Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Torah True History of Quinoa on Passover

A guest post by Azigra

· Quinoa is domesticated for human consumption in South America [1]

· It is used primarily by native South American societies [2]

· Quinoa remained largely unknown in Europe and No. America until recently [3]

· The custom to refrain from consuming Kitniyos begins in the 15th Century [4]

· Quinoa becomes a popular food in the 1970s as people look for healthy foods [5]

· Jews question the halachic status of Quinoa on Pesach as kitniyos [6]

· R. Moshe Feinstein permits the consumption of Quinoa on Pesach [7]

· The Eida HaCharedis prohibits the consumption of Quinoa on Pesach [8]

· Jews remain divided on Quinoa’s halachic status

· Rabbis place bans on quinoa in Jewish weekly’s stating that quinoa production has changed since the Igros Moshe was published

· Hotels advertise their kitchen as glatt kosher and quinoa free

· Jews choose hotels based on the shechita and quinoa use of the caterer

· Non-Haimish Jews who stay home for Pesach burn their Quinoa

· Shidduchim are broken based on gebrochts and quinoa

· Most Jews do not consume Quinoa on Pesach, it is only the more modern elements that still pretend it’s permissible

· It is assur gamur to consume Quinoa on Pesach

· Jews who eat Quinoa on Pesach are chayiv Kares and are basically seeking to destroy Judaism as it has been know since the times of the Tanaim, Amoraim, and Achronim, who all knew that quinoa was assur and didn’t eat it on Pesach

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa#Overview
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa#History_and_culture
[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/americas/20bolivia.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
[4] http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/passover/article/4830/
[5] http://www.vurv.cz/altercrop/quinoa.html
[6] See halachic discussion in various responsa
[7] http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=919&st=&pgnum=366
[8] http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5765/ACH65fquinoa.htm