What foods are allowed to be eaten when keeping Passover? (and what foods are prohibited?)?

Q: I really want to keep Passover this year, but since my family is not very religious, I am not sure exactly what the dietary restrictions are for Passover. A book I looked in says that you are not supposed to eat "leavened bread". But......does that mean you just cant eat bread products that contain yeast/ baking powder, or all bread products? Like, which of the following foods would be ok to eat on Passover? : cookies egg rolls cereal pita blintzes pancakes crackers dumplings tortillas corn chips And, lastly, I have heard that some people eat ONLY matzah for the whole duration of Passover (no other foods at all)--is this just a more strict interpretation of the dietary law, or is this mandatory if you are keeping Passover?? Thanks! I would really like to keep Passover, but my parents kind of neglected my religious education. =/

A: I don't think that any of the above answers gives you the kind of practical advice you need here, so let me try. The prohibition on "leavened bread" refers primarily to yeast. But because there is natural yeast in the air, it is not enough to stay away from bread products that have yeast added to them. The sages have determined that matzoh and other breadlike products have to be baked in a special way (no more than 18 minutes from when water is added until the thing goes into be baked). What does all this mean in the real world? Basically, it means that you do not eat bread products other than matzoh or things that are labeled "Kosher for Passover." There are quite a few things like that these days, at least in big cities--cookies, brownies, even cold cereal. Beyond the actual eating of bread and bread products, there is no other prohibition. Some Jews also avoid grains that can be made into bread products, like chickpeas, corn, regular peas, and rice. Other Jews (mostly those from North Africa, Spain, and parts of France) do not follow this tradition. In fact, they think rice is a big part of Passover. If you are just re-learning the rules, I do not think that this should be a big issue yet. Avoid them if you want, eat them if you want. Just don't sweat it for now, and eventually you will figure out what is right for you. More practical advice: All non-processed food is okay. All beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, etc. is okay on Passover. All vegetables are okay (unless you are avoiding corn and other bread like veges). All fruit is okay, nuts are okay, and so forth. You most definitely do NOT have to eat only matzoh for the week. This idea came from the 4 Questions asked on Seder night. ("On all other nights we eat matzoh or leavened bread. Why do we eat only matzoh tonight?") But "only" refers to the fact that there is no regular bread--just matzoh. It is not the only food. In fact, some special foods (like the mix of apples, nuts and wine that is called charoset) are specifically served at the Seder. So don't worry about this either. It is wonderful that you are rediscovering your rich heritage. But that discovery should be joyful, not painful. So, don't eat bread products other than those prepared for the holiday, learn about the meaning of Passover, the festival of freedom, and you will be fine. Good luck!!

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