The Jewish Virtual Library entry on “United Torah Judaism” (Israeli Political Party):
UTJ has said that it is willing to join coalition governments that are dedicated to engaging the Palestinians in peace negotiations and was a member of the coalition government that carried out the disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
(Thanks to Tomer Devorah.)
Every year I see otherwise un-ignorant Ashkenazic Jews tossing out uncooked rice and other Kitniyos before Pesach. Since Kitniyos are, by definition, not one of the 5 grains that can become Chametz, they are permitted to hold onto over Pesach. If you can’t eat it, just set it aside, perhaps “hidden”. So, why do they throw out good food?
What’s next, burning it with the Lulav?!
I blame…
OK, you guessed. Yes, I blame the rabbis!
We have the ridiculous, pathetic, Chillul Hashem “sale”, partly excused as a way to escape “Bal Tashchis”. And we have over-zealous talk of Kitniyos (everything is a Minhag > everything is a Neder > everything is a Safek De’oraysah >, etc. All this based on hyperbole employed by the Chasam Sofer against Reformers…)
So, while the Torah specifically doesn’t care about “Bal Tashchis” for Chametz, demanding instead it be destroyed or otherwise rid of (see Rabbi Brand here p. 187), Kitniyos does still have that issue, even if it may not be eaten. And so, while we have people buying Chametz up until Pesach, perhaps even for storing over Pesach supposedly “sold” because of make-believe Bal Tashchis, plain Kitniyos are being thrown out [to be crushed and inicinerated] in violation of real Bal Tashchis (presumably not by the same people)! Aveirah goreres aveirah.
And we are no longer taught of “Shehiyah” at all since everything from Beliyos to seforim to land in Eretz Yisrael to one’s mother-in-law is “sold” without having to pay a price almost-ever.
The Hechshers should really have 3 categories, not two:
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