Orthodox Conundrum
Orthodox Conundrum

The Most Commonly Asked Questions About Hilchot Pesach, with Rav Chayim Soloveichik (Orthodox Conundrum Classic)

March 31, 2026

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5 min read

In the 1960s and 1970s, American Jews preparing for Pesach started from scratch—rendering chicken fat, baking everything from basic ingredients. Today, kosher-for-Pesach products line supermarket shelves, certified by agencies like the OU and CRC. Yet many families still operate on assumptions inherited from that earlier era, sometimes treating customs as if they were immutable law. Rav Chayim Soloveichik, a veteran educator and rav of Kehillat Shalom in Ramat Beit Shemesh, sat down with host Scott Kahn to walk through the most common questions people ask as they prepare for Pesach—and to explain why the right answer often depends on knowing the person asking.

The gap between what you must do and what you should do

Rav Chayim emphasizes that many Pesach practices began as chumrot (stringencies) adopted to ensure extreme caution, not as baseline obligations. Over time, those stringencies hardened into family traditions that people treat as binding. The problem, he explains, is that circumstances change. "We don't mesh on Pesach" was once a practical rule—you couldn't trust other people's kitchens because kosher-for-Pesach products barely existed. Today, when virtually everything is certified, that rule is no longer halachically required, though some families keep it because it preserves the "tom b'lev" (heartfelt feeling) of Pesach they grew up with.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (03:01) **Introduction and Guiding Principles** - Rav Chayim Soloveichik joins to answer common Pesach preparation questions, emphasizing that this is a guide, not a definitive psak, and that everyone should consult their own Rav.
  • 2 (06:02) **The "We Don't Mesh" Minhag** - Rav Soloveichik explains the origin of the old custom not to eat at other people's homes on Pesach and why it has largely faded.
  • 3 (09:02) **Crumbs: How Serious is the Issue?** - A practical guide to dealing with crumbs in different areas of the home.
  • 4 (10:39) **Milk, Eggs, and the Issue of "Davar Ha'oleh Min Ha'aretz"** - The halachic concern about buying milk and eggs before Pesach due to animal feed.
  • 5 (12:43) **Medicines and the "Reuyah Le'achilat Kelev" Principle** - Determining which medicines require a Pesach hechsher and which do not.
  • 6 (14:57) **Defining "Reuyah Le'achilat Kelev" for Cosmetics and Toiletries** - Practical examples of what is and isn't considered edible for Pesach purposes.
  • 7 (18:40) **Canola Oil and Kitniyot** - A detailed look at the status of canola oil, which is a common point of confusion.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Scott Kahn

Show Notes

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

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Tha

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