Good halacha for today. We are learning from Shulchan Menachem, discussing the importance of being careful with food. We know that especially when it comes to Yom Tov Pesach, everyone has their own chumros and their own shitos. Particularly in Chabad, there are very strong and careful practices in many areas.
One example is Matza Shruya, known today as Gebrokts. There is great care taken not to have anything Gebrokts. People go through significant effort to keep the matzos covered at all times, and before using a cup or plate, they make sure that there are no crumbs present.
Even regarding Mayim Achronim, where normally one would pass their fingers over their lips after washing, this is not done during Pesach. However, this excludes Acharon Shel Pesach, where there is specifically a minhag to be mehader and to use Shruya during all meals.
In one place, the Rebbe writes that even young children should be trained to be careful with Shruya. However, from another place, it seems that this is not as absolute as another well-known Chabad hiddur, which is to eat only hand-baked Shmura Matza. One should not eat machine matza throughout the entire Yom Tov.
Regarding this, the Rebbe writes that matza is called “Meichla Deheimenusa,” the food of faith, as brought in the Zohar. Because of this, it is specifically connected to handmade Shmura Matza, and therefore even young children should partake only in handmade Shmura Matza, as per the established custom.
Another practice mentioned is regarding sugar on Pesach. The Rebbe brings that his father-in-law did not use sugar at all. While this is not commonly practiced by everyone, some are careful to cook sugar before Pesach so that any possible concerns would be nullified beforehand. However, here it is noted that the Previous Rebbe avoided sugar entirely.
There is also discussion regarding Kitniyos. In Ashkenaz communities, we are careful not to eat legumes. The Rebbe once addressed a situation in a telegram to refugees who had fled Russia and were in France. He wrote that they could use Nattola oil, which is made from cottonseed.
Cottonseed oil is debated: some hold it is not included in Kitniyos since it is not eaten directly but only used for extracting oil. Others disagree. Additionally, there are opinions that oils, being a derivative product, may have a different status. Despite the general stringency, in that specific situation the Rebbe permitted its use, likely due to the difficult circumstances.
Today, when many reliable kosher options are available, such as olive oil, the common practice is to follow established community standards. Each person should follow their custom, and the main thing is that the matza should bring both “Meichla Deheimenusa” and “Meichla De’asvasa”—faith and healing—to all of us.
Summary
Pesach customs in Chabad reflect varying levels of stringency, from avoiding Gebrokts to insisting on handmade Shmura Matza. While some practices depend on circumstance, the central theme remains that matza brings both faith and healing, and each person should follow their established minhag.