Halacha for Thursday 20 Nissan 5782 April 21 2022

The Laws of the Seventh Day of Pesach Coinciding With Shabbat-Cooking Kitniyot

This year (5782), the seventh day of Pesach will fall out this coming Friday. The next day will be Shabbat.

Eruv Tavshillin
One should therefore take care to prepare an Eruv Tavshillin on Erev Yom Tov (Thursday), as we have explained in the previous Halacha.

Cooking Kitniyot on the Seventh Day of Pesach
Ashkenazim customarily abstain from eating Kitniyot (legumes) on Pesach as we explained before the holiday; some Moroccan communities adopted a similar stringency. Some only abstain from eating rice but not other legumes. This year when the seventh day of Pesach falls out on Erev Shabbat, the question becomes, as follows:

Question: Is it permissible to cook rice on the seventh day of Pesach in order to serve it the next day on Shabbat? (This question applies only in Israel when the last day of Pesach is on Friday and the following day is a regular Shabbat. Outside of Israel though, this coming Shabbat will still be the eighth day of Pesach.)

Answer: Although there are those who customarily abstain from eating Kitniyot on Pesach, they do not consider it as prohibited as actual Chametz. It is for this reason that even Ashkenazim are permitted to retain Kitniyot in their possession on Pesach. The same applies to baby formulas containing Kitniyot ingredients in that everyone allows using them on Pesach with designated utensils.

Thus, halachically speaking, it is permissible for an Ashkenazi to cook Kitniyot on the Yom Tov of the seventh day of Pesach (obviously, only when having prepared an Eruv Tavshillin). The reason for this is because Sephardic Jews who customarily consume Kitniyot on Pesach are quite common in most Jewish metropolises and thus, it is possible that a Sephardic Jew may arrive at the home of an Ashkenazi and they would then be able to serve him the Kitniyot dishes. Thus, since there is a possibility of using this dish on Yom Tov itself, there is no reason to prohibit Ashkenazim from cooking Kitniyot on Yom Tov, although they customarily prohibit their consumption.

Although Rabbeinu Yosef Haim zt”l rules stringently on this matter because of cooking on Yom Tov and the Responsa Halachot Ketanot rules stringently for another reason, nevertheless, there is room for leniency in Israel. Indeed, Hagaon Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l rules leniently in his Responsa Minchat Shlomo (Volume 2, Chapter 17), as do many great Poskim. It is preferable that if this is done, the Kitniyot should be cooked in designated vessels and using special utensils, for Ashkenazim customarily do not use their Pesach dishes for cooking Kitniyot. However, this will be permissible when using other dishes.

Summary: An Ashkenazi who customarily abstains from eating Kitniyot on Pesach may cook Kitniyot on the seventh day of Pesach in designated vessels for consumption on the Shabbat following Pesach (in Israel only).

8 Halachot Most Popular

Shofar Blowing

There is a positive Torah commandment to hear the Shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah, as the Torah states, “A day of blasts shall it be for you.” It is forbidden to speak between the various sets of Shofar blasts and this is certainly the case during the time the Shofar is actually being sou......

Read Halacha

The Most Awesome Day of the Year

An Excerpt from a Discourse Delivered by Maran zt”l in the Chazon Ovadia Synagogue in Rechavia, Jerusalem on the Night of Yom Kippur It is quoted in the name of a great sage who made a play on words using the words of the Mishnah, “Did you tithe? Did you make an Eruv? Light the candle......

Read Halacha

So that We May Refrain from the Injustice of Our Hands

During the Ne’ilah prayer, the prayer that culminates all the Days of Awe recited towards the conclusion of Yom Kippur, we state: “And You, Hashem our G-d, have given us this Yom Kippur etc. for pardon, forgiveness, and atonement so that we may refrain from the injustice of our hands and......

Read Halacha

Repenting for Speaking Lashon Hara and Rendering a Mistaken Halachic Ruling

Question: If I have spoken Lashon Hara (evil slander) about my friend, must I confront him and tell him what I have done in order to request his forgiveness? Also, what is the law regarding a rabbi who has ruled stringently on a matter when, in fact, there is actually room for leniency, must he ask ......

Read Halacha


Some Details Regarding the Prayers of the Days of Awe

“Hashem Wants Our Heart” One should try to focus as much as possible on one’s prayers throughout the year, especially during the Days of Awe, and not pray hastily, G-d-forbid. Rather, one should calmly, with utmost concentration, and in a supplicating manner. We must remember t......

Read Halacha

Rosh Hashanah Which Coincides With Shabbat

This coming year (5787), Rosh Hashanah will fall out this coming Shabbat and Sunday, G-d-willing. Let us discuss several unique laws relevant to this year. “Bameh Madlikin” When Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat, Kabbalat Shabbat is recited before Arvit; however, the “Bameh ......

Read Halacha

Transferring Another’s Judgment Into the Hands of Heaven

Question: Is it correct that one may not transfer another’s judgment into the hands of Heaven, i.e. requesting that Hashem punish an individual who caused me harm if I am correct? Answer: When our matriarch Sarah saw that she was barren, she gave her maidservant, Hagar, to her husband Avrah......

Read Halacha

Parashiyot Nitzavim-Vayelech

(HaRav HaGaon Rav Yaakov Sasson Sh’lit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Sh’lit”a, UK) Utilising our Talents and Abilities and not Comparing Ourselves to Other People’s Strengths It states in the Parshah, “Today, you are all standing before ......

Read Halacha