A #halacha question to ponder: Is the flower of the oat plant kosher for Passover, if, for example, brewed as a tisane and drunk?

(I have my own answer, but I'm very curious to hear other opinions!)

I had this experience Saturday and I'm only now processing it.

I want to be clear that I don't think anyone in this story is antisemitic, but one doesn't need to be hateful to make someone uncomfortable, and that should hopefully be universally applicable.

I was doing very last minute shopping for Passover supplies, and we went to a supermarket in West Vancouver, the City Market in Park Royal. I went to the International foods section, there was no Jewish/Israeli section. No broths/soups/matzoh ball mix, borcht, bamba, etc.

I went to the Customer Service desk and asked, and the woman suggested I go to "Fresh Foods". I asked why fresh foods, and it turned out she had no idea what kosher food was, so she was guessing. She mentioned they had hallal food (which was good to hear but not what I needed). She called over (head of?) grocery and explained I was looking for "kosher or Greek food", and I explained no Greek, just kosher food.

1/

I have many friends who keep kosher. But everyone seems to have their own rules, limits, and versions.

I have not, to date, kept kosher.

When I mentoined to someone that I was considering it, their response was interesting. Rather than the stereotypical "oh, are you going to separate meat and dairy?", their response was "oh, are you going to start going to a kosher butcher?"

I found that interesting. The importance and significance of how the animal was killed seems, at least in this person's mind, to be more important than some of the more well-known rules.

**What is your version of kosher? What do you feel is the most important part, or the most significant thing I should consider?**

Note this is not specificallt about Passover, that is its own discussion.

Do you consume kitnyot during Passover?

From JIMENA:
These traditions—while beautifully varied—are also deeply interconnected, much like the Jewish people themselves. Our shared stories of resilience, liberation, and celebration unite us across geography, language, and time.

The guide features:
Traditional and contemporary Passover recipes from across the MENA region
Rituals and customs from countries like Morocco, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, and beyond
Links to stories, videos, and cultural content to deepen your holiday experience

PDF Link: https://www.jimena.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Mimouna.pdf

This recipe substitutes potato starch and egg whites for the traditional wheat flour to keep within the Passover kosher rules. They give the cake a light texture, with the wonderfully fresh syrup keeping it moist and giving a unique flavor. You can use almond flour for a gluten-free cake, which can be served all year around.

Recipe: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/this-moroccan-passover-apricot-cake-is-lighter-than-air/

From My Jewish Learning.

are there any #kosher certified edibles out there or do I have to make my own?

Yummm..treated ourselves to some delicious goodies from @gunnsbakery , a historic , local #Kosher bakery that makes the best #challah and #bagels that I’ve tasted!
Growing up in a neighbourhood with lots of Jewish folx, I also grew up with the wonderful food my family would get from Gunn’s, Bernstein’s, and when it was open, Cantor’s.
The rich cultural mosaic of #Winnipeg is one of the nicest , most unique things about it here.

Not the worst thing that could happen to Canadian Jews...

"For #Jews in #Canada, much like their #US counterparts, #Manischewitz #kosher #wine has become a staple of #Passover and other religious celebrations.

But now many are struggling to find the #NewYork state-made drink for the wine-heavy spring holiday as #Canadian government retailers and wholesale monopolies pull U.S.-made products from shelves in protest of President Donald #Trump's #tariffs and annexation threats."

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Manischewitz-wine-caught-in-tariffs-dispute-as-Canadian-Jews-prepare-for-Passover-49507159/

Make #Shabbat #kosher French press #coffee with 1 L water and 120 g coffee. Fill half of your coffee cup with cold coffee and half of your coffee cup with hot water.

This sounds good. https://www.drmcdougall.com/recipes/asparagus-basil-soup/

So, #storming the #Capitol is ok? Mounting an #insurrection is #celebrated? A #felon in the #WhiteHouse is #kosher? But disagreeing with policy is grounds for #deportation? When did we become #USSR?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-seeking-deport-another-graduate-232742075.html

I've ported PART 1 of my "Which #Pokemon are #Kosher" series to my personal blog. Just like my original thoughts on it from 2018 (wow!) I suspect it's going to require three separate parts for the three possible kosher classifications I was thinking about. Take a look: https://luckydevil.nz/koshermon

Kosher certified fast food restaurant opens in Bellaire https://www.diningandcooking.com/1950652/kosher-certified-fast-food-restaurant-opens-in-bellaire/ #Bellaire #dining #FastFood #Kosher #NowOpened

For our friends in SF:

As a culinary historian of Jewish Spain, Dr. Hélène Jawhara Piñer mines the rich and varied history of Sephardic cooking from the records of Inquisition trials, medical treatises and medieval cookbooks written in Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Occitan, Italian and Hebrew.

She joins Amy Kritzer Becker of What Jew Wanna Eat to discuss Piñer’s latest cookbook, Matzah and Flour, a new collection of 125 meticulously crafted recipes showcasing the transformative power that flour from grains like barley and chickpeas had in sustaining Sephardic families throughout history with savory delicacies and sweet delights.

Tix: https://arts.jccsf.org/matzah-flour-piner

All seating is first come, first served.
Questions? Email support@jccsf.org

Over the last week, I've spent some time digging in to "Nosh Kosh," the Jewish Pac-Man clone for the Apple II that's all about kashrut — Jewish dietary law.

Along the way, I've run into bugs, mapped out level designs, and calculated checksums to figure out how many versions there are.

https://breakintochat.com/blog/2025/02/13/digging-in-to-nosh-kosh-the-jewish-pac-man-clone/

"#Kosher #wine has come a long way from its reputation for being overly sweet and simple. Today you’ll find high-quality kosher #wines from #Israel, #France, the #US and beyond, offering complex flavors and diverse styles. Whether you’re new to wine tasting or looking to refine your palate, I am here to offer a new way to drink wine. All it takes is a glass, wine and a pause to think when you sip, swirl and savor the wine."

https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/how-to-taste-wine-like-a-sommelier-kosher-edition/