Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Please Be Aware : Gasoline IS Chometz...

Tonight between Mincha and Maariv the Rabbi had some Peasach Q and A. He discussed the difference between halacha and Kaballah in regard to peasach preparation. He mentioned in a particular chasidic sefer that anything that a person does that is stringent in regards to chametz is a good thing. All year we dance around the yetzer horah (evil inclination), he explained. We may even try to convert it. On Peasach however we go head to head with the yetzer horah which is symbolized by the chametz, we eradicate it so as to keep our neshomas (souls) free of the bad influences. Halacha however has a different approach and that is the idea that one who takes upon himself a chumrah that has no basis, it will be his undoing. Therefore when one takes upon himself a chumra he may want to take into account some common sense. He mentioned briefly a situation in with chametz-free gasoline New Jersey which he was unaware was a hoax. He mentioned how people have the custom not to use paper or even plastic plates. He also mentioned that although Rabbi Moshe Fienstein did not use these chumrahs if your guest has them you should be accommodating. What's your favorite chumrah for peasach?

4 comments:

ablock said...

Gasoline contains 10% corn ethanol which is kitniyos (according to most) which first of all is not ossur b'hanoah according to anybody. There isn't a lifnim m'shuras hadin because there isn't even a chiyuv on anybody. There might be a problem of ba'al tosif. Additionally, there is the fact that kitniyos, unlike chametz, is batel b'shishim...this is good since it's only 10%. Also it's not fit for a dogs consumption. There's also the problem of m'abed momon yisroel. The RCA recently put out something about price gouging on pesach for chumras. All in all, at a time when gas prices are reaching there high's from last summer, I think it's a better investment to invest in the other real chumros on pesach.
Imagine going back in time to shulchan aruch and asking him if you can use gasoline on pesach...

AS said...

Um... did you read this post the whole thing is a hoax there is NO kosher l'peasach gasoline anywhere.

ablock said...

In truth I actually posted that before reading the whole post....but at least now people can read all the reasons why it's not a problem and won't get any funny ideas

AS said...

ok cool