Dear Rabbi Simon
Can you please answer a question for me: How strict is the ‘no lamb on Pesach’ idea?
Sarah wants to serve her meatballs at Seder which are made from a lamb and beef mince mix. And I would like to serve lamb chops at a Hol ha-Mo’ed barbecue. Are these allowed?
Elchanan
Dear Elchanan
Lamb for Hol ha-Mo’ed is a succulent idea. Hopefully the weather will be a lot warmer then than it is at the moment.
WRT lamb at the Seder, the minhag (recorded in Sh”A OH 476:1 and M”B 1) is to refrain from roasted meat. The reason for this is to avoid the appearance of eating (or replicating) the actual Paschal Lamb, which is not acceptable until the beit ha-mikdash is rebuilt. But roasted and then cooked (in water or sauce), even lamb, is allowed. So if this formula works for Sarah’s plans, I am sure it will be delectable.
Hag kasher ve-same’ah
Rabbi Rashi Simon