CCAR RESPONSA
Contemporary American Reform Responsa
179. Diets and Pesah
QUESTION:
Nowadays many congregants are utilizing weight-loss programs such as “The Cambridge
Diet.” An individual is required only to drink a nutritional liquid a number of times each day as
well as a supplement with vitamins. Under what obligation is this individual in connection with the
Passover seder? (Rabbi M. Feinstein, San Antonio, TX)ANSWER: The diet
in question has been assumed voluntarily by the individual. It has not been dictated by a health
emergency or danger to life, nor has it been prescribed by a physician. As no medical
emergency is involved, such an individual should participate in the seder in the normal
fashion; this will not violate his diet in any major manner. In other words, that person should sip
from four cups of wine, consume a small portion of each symbolic food of the seder, and
eat matzah. As you know, it is only commanded to eat the matzah shemurah at
the seder (Pes. 38b, 120a; Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 482 ff). Subsequently, no
further matzah need be eaten and tradition demands only that we abstain from anything
which is leavened (hametz).January 1984
If needed, please consult Abbreviations used in CCAR Responsa.