“And this Reason has a Justification”: Medieval Scientific Argument for the Custom against Eating Legumes on Passover
This article discusses a botanical-agricultural reason for the prohibition against eating legumes on Passover, one presented by Rabbeinu Manoah (Provence, thirteenth century). According to Rabbeinu Manoah, the basis of the prohibition is an ancient agricultural concept whereby through changes in cli...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2015
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In: |
European journal of jewish studies
Year: 2015, Volume: 9, Issue: 2, Pages: 154-175 |
Further subjects: | B
Passover
kitniyot
Rabbeinu Manoah
legumes
three-field rotation
medieval agriculture
Sefer ha-Menuḥah
vitchas formentales
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Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
Summary: | This article discusses a botanical-agricultural reason for the prohibition against eating legumes on Passover, one presented by Rabbeinu Manoah (Provence, thirteenth century). According to Rabbeinu Manoah, the basis of the prohibition is an ancient agricultural concept whereby through changes in climate and annual rainfall, wheat kernels become legumes. It seems that technical changes in agriculture in the Middle Ages affected the ban. The practice of using a three-field rotation of grains and legumes in European fields increased the mixture of aftergrowths of legumes from the previous years in the grain harvest of the present year. This phenomenon strengthened the ancient concept among contemporary agriculturists that grains had changed into legumes, when, in fact, the legumes were merely aftergrowths. |
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ISSN: | 1872-471X |
Contains: | In: European journal of jewish studies
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/1872471X-12341279 |