Five Items That You Didn't Know Could Be Kosher for Passover

After eight hundred years of unyielding tradition, changes have come to thefoods many Jews can now eat on Passover. In the 13th century, a controversial rule (even at the time) was put in place that prohibited Ashkenazi Jews - those of Eastern European descent - from eating rice, beans and other “kitniyot” (legumes like corn and peanuts). But earlier this month, the Conservative movement of Judaism declared that it's now okay to eat all of that stuff on Passover. It wasn’t like everyone abided to this rule in the first place, though.Sephardic Jews- those of Spanish, Middle Eastern, Portuguese or North African descent - have always pretty much eaten rice and beans on Passover due to the fact it was (and still is) a large part of the diet and banning it would put an unnecessary burden on those already struggling to eat. Either way, the rule change has opened the door to a more eclectic Passover seder (sushi, anyone?)

这在逾越节的巨变culinary tradition got us thinking - Are there are other things that we didn’t know to be, in fact, kosher for Passover?

Here’s a list of five other items that have recently been declared or made specifically to be kosher for Passover:

A tenant in Judaism is that biblical laws, with few exceptions, are superseded inmatters pertaining to one’s health. In this vein, ultra-orthodox rabbis in Israel recently declared thatmedicinal marijuana can be kosher for Passoveras long it’s grown under rabbinical supervision. This isn’t the first time that kosher marijuana has been in the news. In December,Vireo Health in New Yorkdeclared that they had become the world’s first kosher medical cannabis supplier under the supervision of North America’sOrthodox Union.

So, in short, yes, you can get “Chai” on Passover.

Related:The Only Reason to Buy Manischewitz This Passover

In the Torah, what one can feed their dog is explicitly talked about. According toMyJewishLearning.com, Exodus says that dogs (and cats, hamsters and whatever other pets one may have) are allowed to eat non-kosher meat, but cannot have milk and meat together (much like their human counterparts). In terms of Passover, since humans aren’t supposed to derive any pleasure from “chametz,” (food made from wheat, barley, oats or rye) feeding one’s furry friend any chametz is also forbidden. So, under this logic, there’skosher for Passover dog and cat food. Also,cat litter needs to be kosher for Passover.

Organizers added a new tradition at thisannual hipster rite of spring: Passover seders. Sponsored byRabbi Yonah Bookstein of the University of Southern California Hillel,a series of quick ten minute sederstook place on Friday night for those hoping to “kosh their ‘chella.” The seders were mc’d by rapperKosha Dillzwith matzo and Manischewitz wine for all. Although Coachella dates for 2017 have not been announced yet, it is likely that it will once again fall during Passover. So, there will be a chance to seder it up in the desert next year.

Related:Why Is This Passover Food Different From All Other Passover Food?

McDonald’s isthe largest fast food chain in Israeland in order to keep the dollar bills coming in a country where asignificant portion of the population keep Passover, the golden arches have taken to improvising. Instead of wheat-based buns,McDonald’s uses potato starch bunsin most of their Israeli locations during the eight day long holiday. Despite the creative thinking, there’s little chance that the Passover buns will end up replacing the regular buns during the rest of the year. According to one diner,“包子还有一点需要改进。”

While tobacco itself is certainly considered kosher for Passover, the issue around cigarettes on Passover is a health question: Is partaking in something that is harmful to oneself in accordance with Jewish law? In 2013,several Israeli-based cigarette companies were deemed kosherbutIsrael’s chief rabbinateopposed this decree by saying, "Poison is not kosher. For all days of the year, not just Passover." Nonetheless, cigar companies are also getting into thekosher for Passover game by producing cigarsthat are not only under rabbinical supervision but are only treated with water and rolled using a tree sap-based glue, as opposed to a more common glue derived from cereal grain.

Related:6 Kosher Cocktails to Make for Passover

While the Republican presidential candidate’s vodka failed to do enough business in the US, it has had a second life on Israeli shelves as a kosher for Passover vodka. Earlier this month, however, it was uncovered bythe Jerusalem Post that the vodka is, in fact, not kosher for Passover.In order for a vodka to be deemed acceptable for the holiday, it needs to be distilled from something other than grains. This typically means the vodka comes frompotatoes,beetsorsugarcane. It is not clear how this mistake was made, butCBS News’ attempts to reach Trump’s campaignfor comment were not returned.