Hello dear readers,
Pesach is a holiday with many nicknames:
- Pesach, obviously (for Hashem passing over the Jews’ houses on the night of the tenth plague);
- Zman Cherutenu (celebrating our freedom following the exodus from Egypt);
- Chag Ha Aviv (marking the start of the spring and agricultural year).
But don’t forget about the central food of the holiday – Chag HaMatzot, named for matzah of course!
On Chag HaMatzot we eat matzah for seven days. In focusing on the matzah, we don’t eat un-matzah-like foods during the holiday, so no leavened food (chametz) during the week! We are not allowed to eat any chametz during this week, so you can probably say goodbye to your favorite processed food, farewell to easy menus, and hello to a week of culinary adventures and substitutions. (That is, unless you’ve made reservations for a kosher Passover hotel, where they do all the cooking for you, and you don’t have to worry about it at all!)
We’re also supposed to sell any chametz we have before the holiday starts, and in researching this, I was surprised to read about flour. Most people sell their flour with their chametz, but that never made sense to me because how else can you make matzah?
Before the times of pre-boxed matzah, people must’ve made their own matzah fresh during the holiday, right? I’ve since learned, though, that some processes in the making of regular flour could be halachically problematic, which is why people sell flour today. However, pure flour should be allowed. As always, consult a rabbi for the proper halachic rulings on these matters.
Anyhow, before Pesach gets here, I wanted to salute the five grains whose products can become chametz. They are wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye.
Correspondingly, matzah can be made only with these five grains. Other grains, such as millet and buckwheat, are considered kitniyot along with legumes and other foods, and they cannot be used to make matzah. So these are the big five for chametz, which are used to make so many foodstuffs today.
In this post, I wanted to mention the five grains individually, and list one specific item I miss over Pesach:
- BARLEY: Mushroom and barley soup. My family is a big lover of soups, and this is a big favorite. On Pesach, I’ll make a similar soup with mushrooms and carrots and a similar taste profile, but it just doesn’t have the same heartiness and thickness.
- OAT: Oatmeal. At least twice a week, I have oatmeal for breakfast, one bowl with fresh banana slices, raisin, and cinnamon. I do love breakfast, and oatmeal is a hard one to give up for a week. (Also not helping is that I also have cereal for breakfast, and most cereals are chametz too)
- RYE: Rye whiskey in a Manhattan co*cktail. A lot of alcohols and co*cktails are taken off the table for Pesach, and here is one that I miss over the holiday.
- SPELT: Challah. My daughter Ronit bakes challahs with spelt, and they are DELICIOUS!
- WHEAT: Fresh and gooey chocolate-chip cookies, right out of the oven. I don’t even need to explain this one. There’s nothing like it.
More soon,
Ariella
Leisure Time Tours offers several kosher Passover vacation packages around the world. Contact us at 718-528-0700 to learn more about what’s included in our tour.
FAQs
They are wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye.
What are the 5 grains for Passover? ›
The following five grains and anything made from them are considered chametz: wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats. Kitniyot are legumes and also certain grains and seeds.
What are the 5 cereals for Passover? ›
If one of the five grains – wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt – sits in water for more than 18 minutes it becomes chametz, and one may not eat, derive benefit from or own it on Pesach.
What are the five forbidden foods on Passover? ›
The tradition goes back to the 13th century, when custom dictated a prohibition against wheat, barley, oats, rice, rye and spelt, Rabbi Amy Levin said on NPR in 2016.
What are the 5 grains in the Torah? ›
The five types of grain
In Rabbinic Judaism, this requirement is restricted to the five species of grain – wheat, barley, spelt, rye and a fifth shibolet shual (which has been identified with oat, a species of barley called segala in Latin, and a kind of millet called sophonion in Greek).
What are the 5 grain items? ›
Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, grits, and tortillas are examples of grain products. Foods such as popcorn, rice, and oatmeal are also included in the Grains Group.
What are the big 5 grains? ›
They are wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye.
Other grains, such as millet and buckwheat, are considered kitniyot along with legumes and other foods, and they cannot be used to make matzah. So these are the big five for chametz, which are used to make so many foodstuffs today.
What grains Cannot be eaten on Passover? ›
During Passover, Ashkenazi Jews traditionally stay away from not only leavened foods like bread, namely barley, oats, rye, spelt, and wheat, but also legumes, rice, seeds, and corn. The ban has been in place since the 13th century, but it's always been controversial.
Is oatmeal forbidden on Passover? ›
Along with wheat, barley, rye and spelt, oats are one of the “five grains,” which can become chametz when brought into contact with water. On Passover, it is forbidden to eat or even own chametz. Oatmeal (and most other oat products) is therefore not kosher for Passover.
Is peanut butter ok for Passover? ›
Additionally, it should only contain ingredients that are specifically designated as kosher for Passover, like 100% peanuts that have been processed solely through pasteurization. By following these guidelines, you will be able to eat peanut butter during the Passover holiday.
Grains to avoid are wheat (such as wheat berries, spelt, kamut, farro and bulgur), rye, barley and triticale. Oats are technically gluten-free, but they carry a higher possibility of cross-contamination during manufacturing.
Can you eat potatoes in Passover? ›
Vegetables: Fresh vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, green beans, broccoli, and lettuce, are all kosher for Passover. It's important to thoroughly wash them to remove any traces of chametz (leavened grains).
Can you eat chicken during Passover? ›
What Do You Eat for Passover Seder Dinner? In addition to the foods included on the Seder plate, Passover typically involves a delicious meal for all to enjoy. The menu may differ depending on family tradition, but some popular choices include brisket, roasted chicken, gefilte fish and potato kugel.
What are the 5 grains in the Bible? ›
In Judaism, the five species of grain (Hebrew: חמשת מיני דגן, romanized: hameshet minei dagan) refer to five varieties of grain which have special status for a number of rituals. These species are commonly considered to be wheat, barley, oats, rye and spelt.
What are the five grains for Passover? ›
First, let's review the Passover rules. Five kinds of grains are prohibited: wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt. Why? Because these grains begin to ferment and rise when they come into contact with water for 18 minutes.
What are the 5 main grains? ›
There are many different types of grains, but some of the most common types of grains are wheat, barley, oats, quinoa, rye, and rice.
What are the five forbidden grains? ›
Traditionally, the category of forbidden foods on Passover — known as hametz — was defined as the fermented products of five grains: wheat, spelt, barley, oats and rye.
What are the five grains in the Bible? ›
In Judaism, the five species of grain (Hebrew: חמשת מיני דגן, romanized: hameshet minei dagan) refer to five varieties of grain which have special status for a number of rituals. These species are commonly considered to be wheat, barley, oats, rye and spelt.
What are the 6 Passover foods? ›
At a Passover seder, the following traditional items are on the table: Seder plate: The seder plate (there's usually one per table) holds at least six of the ritual items that are talked about during the seder: the shankbone, karpas, chazeret, charoset, maror, and egg.
