Kashrus

Dear Rabbi Simon, My grandmother has moved out of her home and has glass/crystal glasses and decanters that we can take or give to a charity shop. Kashrus was not observed in her home. Can you please advise if we can use them? Thanks, Crystal Dear Crystal, You may use these glass and crystal items without cavil. As a matter…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I wonder if you can help with this query. My daughter has been given a medication for anxiety around flying. Apparently it contains grape juice – it’s a liquid medication (homeopathic). It’s not marked kosher, so wondering if she would be able to use it? Many thanks, Julie Dear Julie, Liquid homeopathic medication with a grape juice…

Dear Rabbi Simon, My wife bought two plastic jugs. There are a few plastic cups which came with them. She intends to use them for water and fruit juice and treat them as parev. We would like to know if we can wash them in either the milky sink or in the meaty sink. Would they always have to be…

Dear Rabbi Simon, Are breadsticks bread requiring the blessing of HaMotzi or crackers requiring Mezonot? Many thanks, Baruch Hi Baruch, Generally, breadsticks should be regarded as similar to crackers, requiring the berakhah of mezonot. Only if one was to eat enough to constitute a meal would s/he need to treat the breadsticks as bread (including washing one’s hands ritually and…

Dear Rabbi Simon, In my nearly-Pesach cookathon, I by mistake tasted the juice under the chicken for seasoning (a tiny spoon smaller than coffee spoon), forgetting I was going to eat milky. Do I now have to wait the full three hours before I can do so? Or can I wait less if I did not eat the meat and…

Dear Rabbi Simon My cousin gave me some kefir grains that he had been using with regular milk. 1. Any issue re kefir grains kashrut? 2. If we now use them with kosher supervised milk will the kefir we produce be chalav Yisrael ? Or is it (the same as with yogurt) forever chalav stam? Many thanks, Malka Dear Malka…

Dear Rabbi Simon By accident I used a milky frying pan to fry chicken – can it be kashered? Thanks Olivia Hi Olivia Yes, your pan can be koshered. Clean it, leave it for 24 hours, then kasher via hag’alah (purging): Place it on the stove top flame. Fill most of the way with hot water from the kettle. As…

Dear Rabbi Simon I wanted to ask if it is allowed to eat sliced fruit and vegetables from regular supermarket? Thanks Perry Hi Perry Thank you for your practical question. In general, yes you may, as long as the produce under consideration is not prone to infestation. You should also avoid pungent, “sharp” foods such as onions, garlic, hot peppers,…

Dear Rabbi Simon Do glass spice jars require tevillah (ritual immersion in a mikveh)? Thank you. Joel Dear Joel, Yes, they require tevillah (with a berakhah) if you bought the jars and are filling them with your own spice. However, If they are provided by the spice purveyor essentially as a means of packaging their product so you can buy…