I wish some of the commentators would refer us to the reason WHY kitnyos became part of a minhag not to eat them. Primarily, because, in earlier days, they were stored together with wheat,barley and other grains,hence, it was difficult to separate them .Or, because the flour made from these kitnyos would be confused with real flour. Although today, these reasons may not be applicable, nonetheless, the minhag remains -I don’t eat kitnyos myself. However, “hovu delo losif olov”- let us not add innovative gezeiras ourselves. Potatoes-mercifully- were imported after the actual minhag started and escaped the gezeira. Peanut oil was used extensively and was not considered kitnyos. Peanuts , corn and quinoa should not be part of this gezeira but, as in so many other fields,we have become enamored of chumros. BTW-rice is a totally different category because it is mentioned in the gemoro and some thought it is real chometz,although we don’t pasken that way.
Menu