Passover Q&A
I'm not Jewish (well, my great-grandfather was, but that is another story) but I've studied religion/am fascinated with different cultural and religious traditions around food.
I thought I'd start a general Passover Q&A thread, given some people might have some questions about Passover, although mine is rather a silly one (don't know if anyone can answer it).
In most supermarkets (Wegmans') there is a large area with Kosher for Passover foods. I know that Passover foods are supposed to be kept in areas free from contamination from chometz (Passover-verboten grains and other foods). But in a supermarket, what if someone wanders through the area, cutting through the store with a loaf of bread, or a small child drops a box of cereal amongst the matzoh. Does that technically render the food non-kosher for Passover?
Sorry if that seems like a dumb question, but I've always wondered...
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4 Comments:
The answer to that would depend on who you ask, I suppose. I am sure there are some people who would view that as a problem, because even if you wiped off a box or container before buying it, there could be a molecule of chametz on it. Others (such as myself) wouldn't think twice about that. My thinking is, though I might keep kosher for passover, not everyone at work or everyone on the street does. So, I can just get some bread dust on me and transfer it to my food when I eat it.
NYCEater at 6:49PM on 04/10/09
I think most of us Jews are sane. We do the best we can, especially in the house (separate china for kosher/non-kosher food, etc.)...but the reality of the situation is keeping kosher is a symbol of the struggle our ancestors went through. I'm sure there are some extremists out there who would cry about it, but trust me, a crumb of bread won't satisfy my voracious leavened-bread appetite. I'll continue to be reminded by my symbolic struggle.
lawofmurphy at 5:45PM on 04/13/09
A lot of KL'P foodstuffs is packed in extra packaging to protect against these sorts of things, and KL'P food kept unopened from the previous year is (generally) still KL'P this year. As with all things jewish, minhag may vary so AYL(O)R (ask your local (orthodox) rabbi).
EtherMaiden at 9:42PM on 04/13/09
I think the kosher for Passover foods are in a separate spot in most supermarkets so it's easier to find them all at one time, not so they won't be "contaminated." The "contamination" issue is sort of a non-starter.
secondtimearound at 11:32AM on 04/14/09