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Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

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photoDue to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: Does one say a bracha when tasting food to see if it’s still good?
A:  You would not make a bracha as long as it is a small amount.  Shulchan Aruch 210

Q: Is Ocean Spray canned cranberry sauce recommended?  It has a hecsher I don’t normally use.

A: Canned cranberry sauce is OK even without a hechsher

Q: I was over in the gas station Circle K [in AZ] and didn’t recognize any of the slurpee flavors. How can I find out what’s kosher?  Already tried the cRc Kosher app

A: Experience shows that the flavors displayed at Circle K can’t be assumed to match the actual product being used so you would have to check in the back with the help of an employee until you become familiar with the store.  The Vaad has a list of kosher flavors.

Q: How does one kosher granite countertops?

A: Counters technically do not need kashering at all since they don’t intentionally come into contact with hot food. It is nevertheless customary to kasher them in case hot food does touch the counters.  They can be kashered via irui (pouring boiling water on every surface).


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

Leave a comment

photoDue to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: Are basil leaves that are pureed used for pesto the same as strawberries used in a smoothie? Are they ground to a point where we would consider them useable without checking?

A: Yes

Q: We haven’t used our China in over 8 yrs, it used to be used for dairy.  Would we be allowed to repurpose it for meat at this point or is it doomed to always be dairy?

A: China may only be kashered when there is a compelling reason not to buy new dishes.  In addition, normally the minhag is not to change something from dairy to meat or vice versa.  But in this case some hold that the glazing material is impervious to absorption and they don’t even have to be kashered before using with meat.  Therefore if there is a compelling reason to kasher them, it is OK to do so to change them to meat in this case.  For instructions on how to kasher them, see last week’s question here.

Q: Is there anything codified about pursuit of mitzvos that are far outside the realm of one’s usual existence? Is it encouraged to find mother birds? I know that one is not required to build rooftop fences if you don’t have a flat roof, but is there any merit in procuring a flat roof to build a fence?

A:   There is a subculture of people that seek out obscure mitzvos to fulfill.  I think the mainstream approach is to view fulfillment of obscure mitzvot as perhaps a useful and engaging educational tool based on their novelty but not part of our central mission.  This also perhaps relates to two differing philosophies of Judaism, the technocratic mitzvah centric mindset that sees fulfillment of a maximum number of ritual acts as a pivotal aspect of perfection as opposed to an intellect centric/rationalist approach that sees perfection as a function of depth of spirituality, understanding of Torah and character growth.

Q: How can I tell if a piece of fish actually has scales?

A: Scales easily detach from the skin when you scrape them with the edge of a knife against their grain (from the back of the fish towards the front).  Even when looking at a fish that is already descaled if it hasn’t been skinned its skin will have tell-tale sockets that demonstrate that it once had scales.

Q: Pareve ladle got used in a meat soup. What’s the status of the ladle now?

A: It only becomes a meat utensil if the soup was heated to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or above.  Otherwise it remains pareve.

Q: Actually got that wrong, it was used in a pareve soup in a meat pot.
A: It remains pareve even if the soup is above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

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Due to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: May one apply clear lip gloss on Shabbos?

A: Colored lip gloss is considered like painting and therefore not allowed.  Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was of the opinion that even though clear lip gloss doesn’t change the color nevertheless since it creates a shine and brings out the original color  it is also considered like painting (tzovea), just as one may not apply oil to shoes on Shabbat for the same reason.  There may be opinions that are lenient but to the best of my knowledge they are not well documented.

Q: Can ceramic plates be kashered if they were fully non kosher before?

A: It’s best to get rid of them and buy new ones. If there’s a compelling reason to keep them, they should be immersed in boiling water, then again in fresh boiling water, then a third time in fresh boling water (Iggrot Moshe 2:46). This should ideally be done after they were not used for a year.

Q: I just read online that some beer is not acceptable for vegans since it is filtered with fish gelatin and trace amounts of it inadvertently remain in the product.  Does that create a kosher problem if the gelatin comes from non-kosher fish?  I thought all plain beer is kosher?

A: It is still kosher – first of all, the gelatin may not be from non-kosher fish.  Secondly, it is nullified since the amount that remains in the product is negligible.

Q: On Friday night, is it permitted before Shabbat begins to leave fully cooked food to stay warm in an oven that is turned on and then remove it for dinner after Shabbat has already begun?

A: It is permitted to open the oven to remove the food as long as an oven light doesn’t turn on when the door is opened, even if the heating element is eventually activated by the cold air that is let in.

 


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

Leave a comment

Due to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: [Name of husband] was sautéing onions in a dairy pan that hadn’t been used for a few days and then realized it was too small so transferred it to a parve (larger) pan and continued cooking. Is the parve pan and mixing spoon now dairy?

A: It should ideally not be done, but they can still be considered pareve (if you would fry a steak with them right now (after cleaning it), it would be kosher since even if the diary flavor transfers from Pan I to the onions, it cannot travel subsequently to Pan II.  This is the opinion of Shach 122:2 and Even Haozer YD 95:3).  In addition, when a sharp food is cooked it looses its special halachic status (and therefore even the onion itself may still be considered pareve.  Pitchei Teshuva (Y.D. 96:4) Therefore kashering is not necessary.

Q: I used a clean, not used in days, plastic meat spatula in an vege. stir-fry (including onions) and the pan is parve and teflon. It was very hot. Does my pan need to now be designated fleishig?

A: The pan is pareve (see above).

Q: If all of the ingredients and equipment are kosher, does the popper need to be turned on by a Jew for popcorn to be considered kosher?

A: It doesn’t matter who turns on the machine since corn products are not considered something that is fit for a royal table – which is one of the requirements for something to be prohibited due to bishul akum (this is the policy of several Kashrut organizations).

Q: My wife totally forgot to light Yom tov candles.  Does she have to do anything to make it up?

A: Although if someone forgot to light Shabbos candles they are penalized to have to light an extra candle each subsequent week, this doesn’t apply to Yom tov (Shevet Halevi).

Advanced

Q: The Shulchan Aruch writes that when Mussaf is delayed until the earliest time to rectie Mincha arrives one must daven Mincha first since its a more common mitzvah.  Our synagouge davened Mussaf very late on Simchat Torah but we didn’t recite Mincha first.  Did we do the right thing?

A: Yes.  Mishnah Berurah specifies that Mincha only comes first when its an individual praying alone.  If it is a congregation davening together, the regular order is maintained to prevent future confusion.

Q: The luach says that the last time to say kiddush levanah is Wednesday 12:13 AM in Jerusalem standard time.  At that time, it is Tuesday afternoon in my location.  Does that mean that the last time that it may be said is Monday night in my location (since it can’t be said during the day), or do I have until 12:13 AM Wednseday morning in my time zone?

A: The proper time to recite kiddush levanah is in accordance with the Jerusalem deadline, no matter what time it is where one is located. In this case it would have to be before the end of Monday night.  In a case of necessity one may follow the later time (before Wednesday 12:13 AM in your locality; personal correspondence of R. Yosef E. Henkin in Sefer Yagel Ya’akov pg. 141).


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

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photoDue to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: Do un-popped popcorn kernels need a hechsher?  It it says on the package that It may contain traces of milk, almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts, wheat, and soy.

A: No.  Allergen disclaimers are often printed as a stringency and even when the potential trace cross-contamination is well below the threshold of halachic significance.

Q: Do whole frozen green beans need a good hechsher or as long as it has any hechsher?

A: In general, frozen fruit or frozen vegetables don’t need any hechsher unless they are from Israel or unless they are prone to infestation – with the exception of frozen strawberries which even some of the stricter insect policies accept, and a minority opinion allows any pre-washed frozen spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, or kale.  (See here for halachic background.)

Q: Is all scotch kosher?

A: There are four levels of scotch vis-a-vis kosher status.  Some scotch is certified and therefore accepted by all; most is not.  Some do not advertise a special finish (Sherry, Port, Madeira, Oloroso, Sauterne, Shiraz, Dual cask finish, or Double-Matured) and are nearly universally accepted as kosher even though they are not supervised.  Other scotches do list one of the aforementioned special finishes, and this category is subject to unresolved debate – many do not consider them kosher due to the release of non-kosher wine flavor from the barrel walls into the scotch, whereas many others do consider them kosher either because in actuality an insignificant amount of flavor is released or because the amount that is released is halachically nullified.  The final category consists of scotchs that are produced by Jewish-owned companies that do not sell their chametz for Passover.  To the best of my knowledge this category is considered by all to be non-kosher.

Q: Are Snyder’s pretzels with an OU-D actually dairy?

A: According to the OU, Snyder’s pretzels are actually DE (diary equipment) except for the butter flavored variety, and can therefore be eaten even immediately after one has consumed meat.

Q: When hard-boiling eggs, are you always supposed to have an odd number of eggs in the pot?

A: You are referring to the minhag to cook a minimum of three eggs together (I am not familiar with the source of the odd number minhag that you mentioned.  Perhaps you are referring to the Talmud’s esoteric warnings about zuggot – not to do certain activities in pairs).  The three egg practice is based on the fact that if an egg has a blood spot which indicates that embryonic development had begun, it is not kosher due to both the embryo (it’s considered a bird that died without being ritually slaughtered) and the blood since all blood is non-kosher.  If that egg would be cooked in a pot, the pot would no longer be kosher.  If a majority of eggs in the pot were kosher (e.g. the other two) then the pot remains kosher and only the egg with the blood spot is not.  Today, however, when hens are raised away from roosters, blood is merely indicative of a ruptured blood vessel but not an embryo.  Therefore even the egg itself is still kosher, except for the blood spot, and therefore if it was cooked in a pot by itself the pot would remain kosher since the blood-spot is certainly nullified by the egg and the contents of the pot.  Although the three-egg minimum practice is therefore obsolete in contemporary times, many still maintain the custom.


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

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photoDue to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: What is the purpose of chatzaras hashatz (the repetition of the amidah)?

A: According to Rabban Gamliel (quoted by the Gemara RH 34B) Chazaras Hashatz was originally set up so that people who were unable to read the prayers themselves (due to illiteracy) would be able to listen to the chazzan in order to fulfill their individual obligations of reciting shemoneh esrei. The Rambam explains in a teshuva that even if everyone in a congregation happens to know how to daven on their own we still have the repetition. That is because it was established as a standard shul procedure that would be done routinely in case someone needed it, just as many Ashkenazi shuls recite Kiddush every Friday night even though there are no guests that will be eating in the synagogue itself.

Q: Why were there Karbanot given on Shabbos?

A: Only karbanot that the Torah specifically requires be brought every single day or on Shabbos were actually offered on Shabbos but no other karbanot were. Apparently, they are more important than the Shabbos prohibitions.

Q:  There is now an etrog (possibly from Israel) and a very moldy lulav sitting in my living room. Am I allowed to throw out the lulav? And what can/should I do with the etrog?

A: Lulav: Dispose of respectfully in trash. Do the same with the esrog after it “rots” i.e. becomes inedible.

 Q: If i’m not sure if the esrog is from Israel, am i allowed to use it for something (dry it for besamim or use the peel for liqueur) or better to let it spoil and then toss?

A: Either way

Q:  Is the taboo regarding a mixture of meat and fish specific to eating it or cooking it? I.e. if one cooked meatballs that contained Worcestershire sauce (with anchovies in the ingredients) in a pyrex pan, what should be done with the pan?

A: The restriction of combining meat and fish is only with regard to eating them together, but it is permitted to cook them together and it does not affect the kosher status of the kitchen equipment. This can be confusing.  [It’s also worthwhile to point out that if the Worcestershire sauce is certified by the OU and it doesn’t say “fish” near the kosher symbol but just lists it in the ingredients it means that there is less than a 1 to 60 ratio of fish to other ingredients and according to most opinions that can be added to a meat dish with no concern.  And even if it does say “fish” next to the symbol it is possible that combined with the other ingredients there is still a permissible ratio and the food may be eaten (consult your LOR :)).]

Q: Does extra fancy whole grain rice need a hechsher?

A: All varieties of rice are assumed to be kosher even without supervision.

Q: What’s the kashrus situation with buying drinks in Starbucks and Dutch Bros.?

A: There are two types of stores regarding this question.  The first type is a coffee shop that does not cook any non-kosher food, e.g. a Starbucks kiosk in a grocery store.  In this type of shop the only concern is whether or not the ingredients that go into each drink are kosher which is relatively easy to clarify by asking or sometimes by checking online (kosherstarbucks.com).  The second type is a shop that also cooks non-kosher food – like a regular Starbucks brick and mortar shop and the above concern applies to these stores as well.  In these stores the kitchen equipment used for the non-kosher food can often be washed in hot water together with the equipment used to prepare the hot drinks.   Some authorities maintain that since there is a possibility of cross-contamination that could render all of the equipment non-kosher, it is advisable not to consume any hot drinks from these stores even when all of the ingredients are kosher.  Common custom in many communities (particularly those with no comparable kosher coffee shop options) is to follow other authorities that maintain that the concern for cross-contamination is sufficiently remote to render it irrelevant and to permit even hot drinks (as long as the ingredients are kosher).

Advanced

Q: Why do some people use frozen broccoli without checking it for bugs?

A: It’s based on the idea that a something that is (A) certainly permitted on a biblical level and (B) only possibly prohibited on a rabbinic level, is permitted (unlike a possible biblical prohibition which is forbidden).  Broccoli poses a unique insect problem since it may not be possible to extricate all of the bugs that are entangled in the florets.  If broccoli is thoroughly washed (as all frozen broccoli is) the only insects left, if there are any, are impossible or nearly impossible to remove.  In this situation even the strictest opinions consider the vegetable and the insects sufficiently intermingled that nullification of the insects occurs on a biblical level (“A” above).  Rabbinically (Taz YD 100:1), nullification is prevented because of the rule of berya that says that any complete organic unit or organism (like a bug or limb of an animal) is not subject to the rule of nullification.  Since we don’t know for certain if there is an insect in the vegetable, some authorities argue that this is an only potentially forbidden rabbinic prohibition (“B” above) and therefore permitted.


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

Leave a comment

photoDue to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: Does a broken chicken leg that I find in a package affect the kosher status?

A: Only if it was broken before shechita, in which case there would be a visible concentration of blood around the break.

Q: Is there any problem with using a hot water urn with an external water level meter tube on Shabbat?

A: It may be used without reservation (R. S.Z. Auerbach citied in 39 Melachos).

Q: Wasabi powder, does it need a hechsher?  The kosher one is significantly more expensive.

A: Although there are those that require a hechsher for this product, if it just consists of ground wasabi horseradish one may assume that there are no kashrut concerns.

Q: Someone told me that the trader joe’s kosher meat is not sealed properly for kosher standards.  Is that true?

A: The Trader Joe’s kosher meat comes in a tray that is shrink wrapped with clear plastic and then a sticker with the OU kosher symbol is placed on top of the package.  According to the OU this packaging is in compliance with their policies and in sync with the national standard.

Q: What is the proper way to pronounce the name of Hashem in Hallel and other places in davening אֶלוֹהַּ:

A: There are three seperate points regarding proper pronunciation of this word.  1. the end is not pronounced “ha” but rather “ah.”  2. The stress is on the penultimate syllable so not elo’AH but eLO’ah 3. The hey has a dot in it, therefore the “h” sound is emphasized.


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

Parasha Nuggets: Ha’azinu

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Of all Biblical poetry, the verses of Parashat Ha’azinu that contain some of Moshe’s last words to the Bnei Yisrael are among the most beautiful and meaning laden. Often this Parasha is not focused on as often as others due to its proximity to Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Let us cherry-pick some nuggets of wisdom and insight that have relevance to our experiences and our era.

“May my teaching drop like rain” (32:2) – Rashi explains the simile of rain to be an indication of the life-giving properties of the Torah that he is teaching them. Just as physical activity is advantageous to our physical health, spiritual activity is advantageous to our spiritual and emotional health. Human beings are hard-wired with unique capacities. We can learn the lessons of history, we can make virtuous choices, and we can think about what gives our life purpose and meaning – all abilities that contribute to our spirituality. If we become preoccupied with and distracted by the mundane and the ephemeral to the extent that we neglect to exercise these special capacities, our peace of mind and happiness are adversely affected. Without that happiness and peace of mind we cannot live life to the fullest. The Torah is the spiritual foundation stone of the Jewish people. Perhaps it is this ability of the Torah to fulfil the spiritual needs essential for an emotionally and spiritually full life that led Moshe to refer to the Torah as life giving rain.

“You ignored the Rock that gave birth to you” (32:18). The type of ignorance that is referred to in this passage is a type of patently absurd ingratitude. “The Duties of the Mind,” the medieval work of Jewish theology and ethics, writes that the best motivation one may have to observe the Torah is gratitude. The gratitude that we should feel towards the Almighty who created us and constantly sustains us should motivate us to wish to never deviate from His vision for humanity. It’s the very least we could do. We don’t want to live according to that vision out of a primitive, self-interested fear of Divine wrath or punishment if we don’t. We want to live in consonance with the Divine mandate because we are afraid of committing the cardinal sin and unsophisticated folly of ingratitude. We don’t want to use the gift of life in a way that is an insensitive and crass slap in the face of the generous Giver.

“They would slaughter to demons which are [in reality] not gods, [and also slaughter to] gods whom they knew not, newcomer [gods], recently arrived, whom your ancestors did not dread” (32:17). This passage prophetically criticizes Jews that will have strayed from the Torah to pagan worship. It emphasizes the contrast between the two options. Whereas the Torah and the Creator that it introduces to mankind are well-known to the Bnei Yisrael and part of a long national tradition, the pagan alternative was something that they had no experience or acquaintance with whatsoever. It is remarkable and unfortunate that today for too many of our youth the opposite is true. Only a few generations ago the basics of Judaism were imbibed by merely growing up as part of the shtetel. In today’s society it appears to be natural to know more about other philosophies of life instead. In this playing field, Judaism itself could be described as the “newcomer, recently arrived.” It is interesting to note that the Dali Lama, who is an address for many spiritual seekers, has reportedly told many Jews to study their own tradition before investigating others. As a community we must find a way to restore the historical balance by educating and engaging our youth.


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

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photoDue to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q:Can jews read the bible (new and old)?

A: Old testament basically is the same as our tanach. New testament is a book that is intended to replace the tanach so we do not accept it and under normal circumstances do not read it.

Q: If I bake with OU-D soy milk, which is only really Dairy Equipment, in my pareve pan will it make the pan dairy?

A: It will remain pareve.  Some even allow this in a meat pan.

Q: Why can Jews go into mosque but not a church?

A: According to Judaism, Muslim belief is mistaken but doesn’t add another power to Hashem but Christianity does since it believes that God has three parts so we consider it that akin to idolatry – avoda zara.  And you can’t enter a building where avoda zara is worshiped.

Q: I bought special pills that are supposed to make it easier to fast.  Is it OK to take them before Yom kippur?

A: According to one approach that says that the mitzvah to eat on Erev YK is to make the fast more of an affliction, it would seem to be forbidden.  However according to the other explanations of the mitzvah to eat on EYK, especially that of Rashi who writes that we eat on the 9th to prepare ourselves for YK, it would be at least permitted or possibly even considered part of the mitzvah of eating.  The latter approach is accepted by several contemporary halachic authorities.

Q: I am renting an apartment, can I kasher the dishwasher?  It’s made of metal and plastic.

A: Yes, run it through a couple of cycles on high with soap to make sure it’s clean (some stress the necessity to clean out anything stuck inside the drainage area) and wasn’t used for 24 hours and then run it on the hottest and longest setting.

Advanced

Q: Are flour tortillas subject to Pas Yisroel?
A: There are different opinions, but I recommend you follow whatever bracha you are accustomed to make on the tortillas. If you make hamotzie on them, then you should consider them bread and they would subject to Pas Yisroel. If you make mezonos, then they would not.


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog

Divrei Torah

A Little Clarity – Halachic Questions via Text Message

Leave a comment

photoDue to the space limitations of a text message, please note that it is particularly important to read carefully, pay close attention to the context of the question, and use the answers as a springboard for further study.

If you would like my phone number to submit questions, please leave a comment and I will send it to you.

Q: If you forget to light candles one week, then why do you have to light an extra candle every week from then on?

A: The idea is that since adding another candle incurs an additional expense and extra effort it will impress upon us the importance of not neglecting to properly honor Shabbos – and prevent it from happening again in the future, in addition to possibly even deterring forgetting to light in the first place (MB).

Q: For Sefardim, does lamb and veal require the “Beit Yosef” standard that cattle beef does?.
A: Even Ashkenazim require the “Beit Yosef” standard for those species. So any reputably kosher certified lamb or veal would be acceptable for Sefardim as well as Ashkenazim, even if it did not specify that it is Beit Yosef.

Q: If I bake challah in a dairy oven, wouldn’t the challah be diary as well?

A: If there is any liquid dairy food that emits steam cooking with it, then the bread would be dairy as well (and it is forbidden to bake dairy bread in case it would be inadvertently eaten with meat).  If there is not a diary food that emits steam cooking with it, then, as long as the pareve food itself is not a liquid and does not emit steam it would remain pareve (Iggrot Moshe YD I:40).  Bread, since it is not a liquid, is a food that does not emit steam therefore the challah would be pareve.

Q: Does honey require a hechsher?

A: There is no consensus among kashrut organizations regarding this issue.  If there is no price difference, it makes sense to buy the certified product (whereas regarding other products, that might not be necessary).  If there is a price difference than one may be lenient.


Source: Rabbi Isaacs Blog