As Jewish people across the globe prepare for Pesach, we're pleased to re-release this classic episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, originally published in March, 2023.

More than any other Jewish holiday, Pesach is associated with questions. That's obviously true for the Seder, but it's also true when it comes to the intense preparations that precede the chag. Jewish law regarding cleaning for Pesach is very extensive, and the misconceptions are often very prevalent.

For that reason, we're proud to present a conversation with Rav Chayim Soloveichik shlit'a, where Scott asked some of the most common questions people ask as they prepare for Pesach. We thank Rav Chayim for generously giving his time and expertise, and hope that this episode can serve as a valuable resource and guide as people throughout the Jewish world get ready for Zman Cheiruteinu.

Among the issues Rav Chayim addressed are:

8:54 - Crumbs and vacuuming

10:39 - Purchasing milk and eggs before Pesach

12:43 - Medicines on Pesach

14:29 - Defining "Nifsal M'achilat Kelev" (something inedible to a dog)

18:24 - New lipstick or ChapStick on Pesach

18:38 - Canola oil

20:28 - At what point do kitniyot become forbidden on Erev Pesach for Ashkenazi Jews, and can they be cooked in a kosher for Pesach pot

23:10 - Egg matzah

23:42 - Checking books for crumbs

24:50 - Selling chometz

27:46 - Preparing the house if you're going away for the entire holiday

29:33 - Roommates who jointly own chometz

30:10 - A car wash before Pesach

30:48 - Foods that don't require special Pesach certification

31:35 - Dismantling pots and pans before kashering them

31:57 - Kashering a pot with a stain

32:21 - Kashering a gas stove

33:55 - Kashering a non-self-cleaning oven

35:16 - The 24 hour rule regarding an urn used to kasher counters and sinks

35:50 - Lining the refrigerator

36:43 - Kashering a metal sink

36:58 - Kashering dishwashers

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/ - and paid subscribers receive episodes of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast ad-free and with early access and additional bonus content!

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Write to aliza@jewishcoffeehouse.com to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

This week's episode is a little different. Instead of our usual format, I'm sharing a conversation where I'm the guest on Alana Gelnick's excellent Stream of Dreamearly podcast, in an episode entitled Ways to Make the Seder Matter: Being Your Authentic Self. As we prepare for Pesach, this discussion explores a simple but powerful idea: the Seder is not about getting everything right, but about creating a feeling, building connection, and giving our children experiences they will carry long after they forget the details.

If this resonates, I encourage you to listen to the other episodes in this miniseries as well, including conversations with Rabbi Steve and Sharon Richter on choosing a Seder theme and Rabbi Yair Menchel on creating a meaningful Seder experience.

I will also be rereleasing additional classic Orthodox Conundrum Pesach episodes in the coming days.

Enjoy, and chag kasher v'sameach!

Listen to Ways to Make the Seder Matter: Choosing a Theme, with Rabbi Steve and Sharon Richter on Spotify or Apple.

Listen to Ways to Make the Seder Matter: Creating an Experience, with Rabbi Yair Menchel on Spotify or Apple.

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/ - and paid subscribers receive episodes of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast ad-free and with early access and additional bonus content!

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Write to aliza@jewishcoffeehouse.com to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com

Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/ - and paid subscribers get this and other episodes of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast ad-free and with early access and additional bonus content!

In the wake of war, many Israelis have begun asking a difficult question:

Have American Jews become more distant from Israel, or does it only feel that way?

In this wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation, Rabbi David Fine and Dr. Laura Shaw Frank join me to explore what is really happening beneath the surface. Together, we examine shifting patterns of engagement, the emotional and psychological divide between Israeli and American Jewish experiences, and the uncomfortable reality that what strengthens one community can sometimes strain the other.

From declining fundraising and "compassion fatigue," to rising antisemitism in the United States and divergent beliefs about the advisability of the current war, and the very different ways each community experiences this moment, this episode challenges easy assumptions. It also raises a deeper question: are we witnessing disengagement, or simply living in two very different Jewish realities?

This is not a conversation about blame. It is an invitation to greater understanding, greater sensitivity, and a stronger sense of shared destiny.

Find the Women's Gallery Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

To listen to the latest episode of Intimate Judaism, Don't Look, Don't Tell, click here.

Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).

Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.

Write to aliza@jewishcoffeehouse.com to learn all about creating your own podcast.

Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com