Conference taveng::bagels

    She probably should consult your rabbi.  In my way of thinking,
    anything required "by doctor's orders" is something you should continue
    to do, regardless of the holiday, but some people consider that valid
    only if the condition being treated is life-threatening.  (Some people
    won't take their heart medication on Yom Kippur, for example -- I would
    definitely consider that a required medication for life!)
    
    Pesachdig food is way off my usual diet, too (she says as she finishes
    gobbling down a plate of tofu and rice!).  I make it through the
    holiday on whole-wheat matzohs and stewed prunes.  There has been some
    Passover breakfast cereal the last couple of years (apart from the
    cream-of-wheat-like hot cereal - which really isn't too bad), although
    I don't know how high-fiber the stuff is.  If it exists this year I am
    going to try it - there is a definite limit to how much matzoh brei I
    am willing to consume (like, none, if I can help it...), especially since
    Paul is not supposed to eat eggs.  The stuff last year looked like
    Cheerios.  Of course, there is the risk that it tastes like wet matzoh
    (did you ever try Passover noodles? - ycch!) but buried with enough
    fresh fruit it is probably passable.
    
    /Charlotte

Hi,

I've got a problem with observing Passover this year.  I'm going to Japan for
business and will be there throughout the whole holiday.

I realize that I won't be able to completely stick with it, but was hoping
that maybe there is some staple that might be appropriate.

Does anybody know of anything "Japanese" that is Kosher?  How about rice?


Thanks for any help.  I'm leaving this Saturday - with a box of matzah in my
suitcase....


-Amy

Re: .0

> My wife's doctor has her on a
>high-fiber diet to prevent constipation. This diet includes a high-fiber
>breakfast cereal. Are there any kosher-for-Passover high-fiber substitutes?

I'm not sure of the fiber break-down, but Manischewitz has a product called
"Cold Breakfast Cereal" (plain or cocoa), for Passover. 

As far as the problem in question, "Metamusal" (sp?), as well as Ex-Lax
("chocolated" tablets and pills) are kosher-for-Passover laxatives which 
may serve the purpose. If you present her doctor with the dilemma, he is
likely to come up with alternatives. Once you have the names of specific
products which may be used as substitutes, their _kashrut_ may be checked
against one of the lists published or by calling an appropriate organization
( O-U is at (212)563-4000 ). 

Re: .1

> (Some people
>    won't take their heart medication on Yom Kippur, for example 

I know of know source to support this. In fact, there is a famous story
about the great Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, who during a serious epidemic
*ordered* his entire congregation to partake of some refreshments on
Yom Kippur. Of course, each case must be reviewed individually by an
_halachic_ authority. Perhaps what you heard was that an individual
was instructed to take his medication *without water*, which is altogether
possible. (Many people feel it's impossible for them to swallow pills
without a liquid, until they're shown the proper method). This discussion
is really for another time of year.

Jem

Re Metamucil:
    I thought it was Kosher L'Pesach but I didn't want to say anything till
    I'd looked it up.  I'll take Jem's word for it.  Ask your doctor, but
    I'd think Metamucil is closer to his "prescription" than Ex-Lax --
    after all, its active ingredient is in that mucho-fiber cereal, Heartwise.

Re Passover in Japan:
    Judging from your last name, you're not a Sefardi, so rice isn't
    Kosher L'Pesach for you.  There's always fresh fruit and vegetables.
    Take a few more boxes of matza.

I know a person who is traveling across the international date line during
Passover. Since he loses a day by this procedure, he is wondering when Passover
should end for him.

RE: my wife's intestinal problem. The doctor called it "spastic colon". I may
have mistated the problem by calling it constipation. So far the doctor has not
suggested laxitives, from which I infer that laxitives might not help.

RE: Japan. I have been there. Everything is served with rice ... when I got home
I swore I'd not eat another grain of it for a year! Fresh fruit is
*e*x*p*e*n*s*i*v*e* there. The Japanese serve vegetables in small quantities
because, historically, these have been scarce. Fish and eggs should be easy to
find. Good luck.

Dave

    Metamucil is definitely not a laxative, it is a high-fiber food
    supplement that many doctors recommend for irritable bowel (the
    currently popular name for "spastic colon").  I find it helpful.  I
    didn't know it was kosher for Passover, which would be a very good
    thing indeed.
    
    Ed (unlicensed as doctor or rabbi)

    For Amy --
    
    There is a Jewish Center in Tokyo that you should call, not only to get
    together with other Jewish folk, but for food and perhaps even a Seder!
    
    I will mail you the phone number of a friend of mine who lives in
    Tokyo, so you can call him up before you leave and find out how to have
    Pesach in Japan.
    
    Ed

    As Charlotte mentioned in .1, Manischewitz makes a Kosher for Pesach
    breakfast cereal called "Crispy-O's". (Look like a Cherio clone).
    
    It states in BIG LETTERS that it has "NO CHOLESTEROL". 
    Ingredients are:
    		Passover cake meal, potato starch, sugar & Dutch processed cocoa
    
    My kids are looking forward to Pesach in order tp open it, so right now
    I have no idea if it is really edible.
    
    A happy and Kosher Peasch,
    								.... Monty
    

    I have a book that discusses what to do if you cross the international
    date line during Pesach (or during Sefira).  I'll try to remember to
    look it up.

The Metamucil solution sounds good. Thanks for the info.

I wish I knew about the Jewish center when I was in Tokyo. I imagine there are
few, if any, Jews of Japanese descent (substance for another topic?). It would
have made an interesting visit.

Dave

According to my slightly old (1985) tour guide, "Jewish Community of Japan"
is located in Hiroo, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, and the phone number is 400-2559.  
No guarantees though... another idea might be the Israeli Embassy (do Israel
and Japan have relations?) or the American Embassy (must have some Jews).

M

  According to the 1989 Jewish Travel Guide:

	Jewish Community Center
	8-8 Hiroo
	3-Chome
	Shibuya-ku, 150
	tel: 400-2559 or 400-6866

	Israel Embassy
	3 Niban-cho
	Chiyodaku
	tel: 264-0911

  When I was in Hong Kong a few months ago I met someone on Shabbat
  who had come over from Japan because there wasn't a minyan.  

I know that chometz is forbidden after (about) 10:30 the morning before 1st
Seder. What about kitniyot (legumes and grains other than the 5 specific
varieties).

I have had someone tell me recently that "spelt" is the same as millet.
I suspect this is not correct. Does anyone know for sure?

Dave

    Well I spent lots of time in Japan the last few months. Shabbat there
    was always a minyan for Friday night, shabbta morning and shabbat
    Mincha.
    
    The rabbi there is Moshe Silberschien who I know well from NY. The JCC
    had ordered Pesach goods (I know, I brought a bunch of stuff with me
    when I was there right before Pesach). The phone number is 400-2559
    in Tokyo. I know they had 2 communal Sederim this year, with some
    private sederim available as well.
    
    Actually shabbat in Tokyo was rather nice.
    
    yossi
    

    I have just read the many interesting messages on this subject.
    I'll share mine.  When I first had digestive problems during the
    time when all tests were being run, and the final outcome was lactose
    intollerence, Passover came right in the middle.  The doctor talked
    to me and since I was young to my parents as well.  
    
    My parents talked to the rabbi.  And the rabbi insisted that Passover
    be neglected in favor of health.  It was pretty slim pickens in
    those days but I made it through fairly easily.  
    
    Mazohs for me gives new meaning to "stick a cork in it".  Now that
    may sound vulgar but Dave's wife can be pretty darn uncomfortable.
    I'm sure the Lord would rather she feel well rather than be strictly
    Pasedech.
    
    The doctor took a look at some of the ingredients in Passover foods.
    Some of them can affect your system drastically because of shocking
    the system.  Lots of people look forward to Passover cause all the
    goodies don't bother them....Me, I look at it this way.  If at all
    possible I'll find ways around it.  Even Weight Watchers has
    alternatives. The Lord knows I need the Weight Watchers program a
    whole lot more than a Sedar Feast.   
    
    Here's my vote that she is okay and happy with her choices.
    
    Adriane
    
    No one likes a witch at any time.  Most of all I'm sure that Dave's
    wife would like herself the least if she abandoned her program (diet
    is a four letter word no one likes) just to observe the holidays.
    It's no holiday if you're not well and happy.

My wife has made through the holiday with one day to go and no problems so far.
Some prunes and some whole-wheat matzah have saved the day so we never had to
go to the Metamucil.

Dave

    Good, Dave, I was meaning to wander by your cube and check how it was
    going!  Dried apricots are even better tasting than dried prunes
    (and I have a great recipe for lamb chops cut with pockets and stuffed
    with prunes and vegetables, and a little bit of matzoh meal - very
    tasty!).
    
    Just remember that you only HAVE to eat matzoh during the seder; the
    rest of the time you have only to NOT eat hometz.  You don't even HAVE
    to eat all that much of it during the seder (unless you are sitting
    next to my brother-in-law, who thinks a piece "the size of olive" is a
    WHOLE SHEET of handmade shmerah matzoh! - you should see how much maror
    he eats, too - luckily I like horseradish!).  A lot of shmerah matzoh
    (machine-made, I mean) is more whole-grain than regular matzoh, if
    whole-wheat matzoh is hard to find (Rakussen's makes a good one,
    though).
    
    By the way, the Pesachdic breakfast cereal is pretty bad.  It's edible,
    but that's about it.  And definitely it's not high in fiber.  It is
    mostly potato starch, from the taste of it.  The chocolate variety is
    the same stuff only brown.  It's about on par with Passover noodles -
    which I didn't even see for sale this year, so maybe everyone else
    decided they are pretty bad, too...
    
    I just finished eating some LEFTOVER PIZZA!  YEAH!  And my boss LOVES
    matzohs, and is happily munching on some of our leftover ones.  And as
    soon as the dishtowels are all out of the laundry, I can pack up all
    the holiday dishes and put them back in the attic until NEXT year.
    
    /Charlotte

re .8

Monty,

I know it's a little late for a Pesach food discussion, but did your kids
actually eat the Manischewitz answer to Cheerios?  Yucchhh!  My kid, who
LOVES Cheerios wouldn't touch the stuff.  Fortunately, he didn't object to
matzo and cottage cheese so we didn't have too many problems.  My problem is
that I'm the one whose stuck finishing off the Crispy-O's!

Until next year (when I'll be one year wiser),
Steve

RE: -1

Steve,

>> I know it's a little late for a Pesach food discussion, but did your kids
>> actually eat the Manischewitz answer to Cheerios?  Yucchhh! 

Well sort of. The eldest three each took a spoonful of the Crisy-O's and 
unanimously decided it was HORRIBLE. It seems to have an overpowering taste
of being burnt.  None of my family touched it after that. Fortunately my 
nephew eat ANYTHING, so instead of throwing both packs into the trash, we
sent it round to them.   THEY ATE IT !!!!

On the other hand, I found the Manischewitz Kosher Le-Pesach cake mixes, superb.

							.... Monty

    The one box we opened made it to the trash.
    
    The unopened boxes when to the charity bin for the local food pantry
    at shul.  I'm not sure that's charity, but we did put some more edible
    stuff in there too.
    
    				Paul
    

The whole experience with crispy-o's makes me wonder why manufacturers like
Manishewitz go to the bother of producing a "fake" cereal or "pseudo-non
kosher for Passover" food at all.  To me part of the joy of Pesach is a week off
from all those foods.

--David 

re .21:

Well, judging from the replies here (and similar comments from friends),
a lot of people bought it, so Manischewitz made some money.  It will be
interesting to see if they put it out next year -- maybe it will be
labeled "New and Improved."

    There was a similar discussion about "Crisp-Os" last year and
    everybody said the same thing and jumped to the same conclusion.  Next
    year, we will have it again.  (Who can remember from one year to the
    next everything that we do or don't like!!)