Karpas: Difference between revisions

# It is preferable to have celery as Karpas. However, there are differing minhagim and some of them include potato, radish, or parsley. Nonetheless, one should be careful to check for bugs, and if one is unable to check, one can fulfill the obligation with any vegetable on which the bracha is HaAdama.<ref> The Gemara Pesachim 114a doesn't identify what vegetable should be taken as the vegetable dipped before the meal. Sefer haManhig (Siman 60) writes the Minhag is to do it with Karpas because of the drasha on the letters of Samach Parech. Arizal (quoted by Od Yosed Chai Tzav 6, Kaf HaChaim 473:14, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Pesach]] vol 2 pg 34)) writes that the minhag of using Karpas is established and shouldn't be changed. Rashi ([[Sukkah]] 39b) says that Karpas could be translated as cress (similar to parsley) but he heard (from his rabbis) that Karpas is translated as Apie. Sh"t Chatom Sofer 132 in the name of his teacher Rabbi Natan Adler says that the Apie vegetable is celery. Machasit haShekel (473:4) in name of medical books, and Sh"t Bet Shearim 213 concur that Karpas is celery. Halichot Shlomo writes that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach when he was younger ate celery and in his later years had cucumber as Karpas. </ref>

# There's a dispute whether one should or should not lean during Karpas. Practically, it is preferable not to lean, but one if would like to, it is permitted.<ref> Shibolei HaLeket (92b) writes that one shouldn't lean (probably for the reason that Karpas represents slavery and leaning represents freedom). However, Avudraham writes that one should lean during Karpas [perhaps the reasoning is that it's a mitzvah of the night and has some resemblance of freedom; see R. Moshe Shternbuch, Moadim U'Zmanim 7:183 who says that the Rambam would agree with the Avudraham]. The majority of Achronim including Mateh Moshe 625, Birkei Yosef 473:14, Shulchan Gavoha 473:29, Gra in Kiseh Eliyahu 473:4, and Chazon Ovadyah ([[Pesach]] vol 2 pg 40) rule like the Shibolei HaLeket and so one doesn't need to lean. Nonetheless, since by [[Maror]] if one wants one can lean (Bet Yosef 475, Magen Avraham, and Mishna Brurah 475:14), one is certainly allowed to lean during Karpas. [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=1408 See further elaboration at dailyhalacha.com.]</ref>