Kashrus

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…

Dear Rabbi Simon Can you please tell me what happens if by accident one drinks chicken soup from a milky bowl using a milky spoon or from a milky bowl using a meaty spoon? Many thanks, Sammy Dear Sammy Thank you for your question. This is actually rather complicated, as there are multiple variables to be considered, including the material of the bowl,…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a shemita question: I accidentally bought a bunch of Israeli basil which is now in my fridge. What should I do with it? Many thanks Rosemary Dear Rosemary, Thank you for your question. Basil is subject to the law of sefichin, which essentially means one should not eat it, as produce of the field (as opposed…

Note: This week’s Parasha (Mishpatim) contains the first of three mentions in the Torah of the prohibition of mixing milk and meat (Ex. 23:19). Dear Rabbi Simon I came into the kitchen after Shabbos and found my youngest eating hot chicken soup with a milk spoon (a stainless steel spoon with enamel handle) in a meaty bowl. Yikes! Please advise…