It's Religion Week here at PatRoW ("week" being a loose term…it may turn out to be "Religion Day" when all is said and done). Most Gentiles may want to pass over this post without giving it a second thought, but my fellow people Israel may be interested to know this fun fact – you got it all wrong, Shlomo!
It seems that for thousands of years, Jews have misinterpreted the laws of Passover, meaning that we have deprived ourselves in misguided compliance with religious dietary law. Don't poo poo…its true.
Gentiles may not know that Passover restrictions are rooted in the story of the Jews' exodus from Egypt (remember that Charlton Heston movie they show every Easter?). Because they fled in haste, the Israelites did not allow their bread to rise, choosing instead to consume it in its unleavened state. In memory of this hardship, Jews have historically not eaten any chometz (leavened bread) during the eight days of Passover. And yet:
…rabbis in even some of the most Orthodox associations say chometz does not refer to all leavening.
"There is nothing wrong about a raised product at Passover per se," said Rabbi Moshe Elefant, executive rabbinic coordinator and chief operating officer of the Orthodox Union's kosher division, the oldest and most widely accepted certifier of kosher foods.
Lise Stern, author of "How to Keep Kosher" (Morrow, 2004), said: "Chometz, which means sharp or sour, denotes bread that has a sourness to it caused by fermentation, occurring when liquid is added to any of the five grains mentioned in the Torah. This refers to yeast, not baking powder or baking soda."
Now I'm no biblical scholar (don't look so shocked), nor have I ever faithfully kept Passover, but this is quite a substantial shakeup. Next thing you know, the Pope will OK anal sex (if it was good enough for Teresa…).
Catholics – I'll be praying for you.
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