Pre-Pesach Pondering IV

[gnomi]

Is it just me, or are the usual suspects more meikil (lenient) than they've been in years past?

Not that I'm complaining or anything -- "Find the Kosher for Passover Hand Soap" has never been a favorite game of mine -- I'm just noting what seems to be a shift across the boards.

Comments

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what your concern is with the page on kashering countertops, especially from the Conservative viewpoint. If you go to http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/indexfl.html (which is the webpage of the Conservative movement's rabbinical association) and click on the Pesah Guide 2005, you'll find the statement "TABLES, CLOSETS AND COUNTERS: If used with hametz, they should be thoroughly cleaned and covered, and then they may be used."

That's pretty much the same thing that's stated by the Orthodox Union on their webpage at http://oukosher.org/index.php/passover/article/2875: "Additionally, the common custom is to cover tables, counters, refrigerator shelves and other areas where one might not have been able to clean away every trace of chametz."

The only difference I can find is that the webpage Nomi referenced from the CRC at http://crcweb.org/kosher/consumer/passover.html actually goes into detail about the types of counters. In short, their webpage allows for the possibility that someone might have a counter that can be kashered, and gives instructions. The Conservative one says that all counters must be cleaned and then covered, no matter what they're made of.

So they're all pretty much saying the same thing.

[neilfein.livejournal.com]

I'm not concerned, I'm amused. Not critical, if you're taking it that way.

This time of year, I'm primarily fascinated by Jews who don't keep kosher indulging in passover kashrut. (Like my Mom, for example.)

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I'll grant that it is amusing that a lot of legal discussion and sometimes hairsplitting happens before a ruling is made. But there are some of us out there who would rather know why the rabbis have chosen to rule a certain way rather than accept their rulings blindly. For example, the Conservative movement's responsum on when one observes shabbat on the space shuttle (cf. http://www.schechter.edu/pubs/insight16.htm) is more interesting to me because the rabbi explains all the thoughts that went into his final decision.

And again, I have to say I wonder why your amusement was sparked by an Orthodox discussion of kashering countertops, given that the same level of discussion happens within the Conservative and Reform movements as well. You said above, "As a conservative jew, I must say this all gets a little... different." I grew up in the Conservative movement, and the level of discourse before a ruling is given seems almost identical to me.

As for people who keep kosher for Passover only, but not kosher during the year, it is a common phenomenon. A lot of people enjoy keeping their religion's major holidays although they don't consider themselves particularly religious.

[neilfein.livejournal.com]

Given our history with written discussions, I deleted the very long reply I prepared to this.

mabfab, you have some good questions, but I suspect that you're missing the point that this is simply me finding humor in human behavior, including my own. If you want to continue this, please contact me offline.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I think we may very well be experiencing what Samuel Delany called "rupture," when two people finally realize that are having two entirely different conversations.

[neilfein.livejournal.com]

Heh. Could be. But it's a talent, no?

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

It is indeed. :-)

I first read of Delany's "rupture" concept in a Spider Robinson story. I've found it a useful concept, especially in conversations that take place on-line.