During the summer many people travel. One often confronts some of the following שאלות:
KASHRUS IN A HOTEL OR RENTAL HOUSE
- Metal, glass etc. utensils that normally require Tevila can be used without Tevila if owned by a non-Jew. Typically glasses in hotels and rental houses can be used without Tevila unless the house is known to be owned by a Jew. Reb Moshe says that even in the Tri State area the רוב consists of non Jews.
- Cold, non-kosher, silverware owned by a non-Jew can be used for cold food that is not sharp, i.e. a cold non-kosher spoon for kosher cold cereal, when plastic or kosher utensils are not available.
- For Shabbos we need to check if the property is enclosed in order to carry. At hotels this often is not the case for outside grounds. Inside the room and building one can carry.
- Buying cut up fruit in a supermarket or airport is fine as long it does not contain anything that needs to be checked for insect infestation and is without added flavoring.
- Unflavored tea or coffee are fine in Kiosks, convenience stores, gas stations, etc. Closed containers such as salt and sugar in a closed pourer that does not allow for anything to fall in, are fine in a rental house (if the owner allows their use) but not open containers. When kosher coffee stores are not available one can drink coffee from a venue that preferably does not serve food. This of course is unflavored only unless as with Starbucks one can see the flavoring and it’s certification. Otherwise, their כלים are possibly washed with non kosher utensils. Starbucks is best from a drive thru or kiosk, but acceptable from the large stores if there is no good alternative. The same is true with coffee from restaurants. Starbucks flavors come from a bottle with clear indication of kashrus that one can verify on the spot. The KD on the back of the Frappuccino bottles is the reliable Hechscher of Rabbi Charlap. It is חלב סטם.
- It is difficult to kasher a BBQ and better to use a disposable or portable one. If one does need to be kashered, it must be cleaned well with something like Easy Off and turned on for an hour to high. The grates that we put the food on directly need further kashering by placing burning coals on them until they go out (ליבון חמור). Great care must be used not to cause a fire or bend the metal rack. Often it is more practical to buy and Tovel a new rack.
- A self-clean oven can be turned on and used after the cycle ends. A non-self-clean oven should be inspected to make sure it is clean, wait 24 hours from last use, turn on for an hour to high and use. The stove tops can be used as follows: if electric, turn on till red (usually about 3 minutes) and it is kashered. Gas should be turned on for 15 minutes with metal over it to reflect the heat down. A disposable aluminum pot works well for this.
- Countertops are fine to use, but very hot pots should be put on a towel etc. and not directly on the countertop.
- Cold cereal in a hotel continental breakfast often is kosher, but one needs to determine what is represented as a kosher brand.
- A waffle maker, popcorn popper, and other cooking utensils need to be considered non-kosher even if at the moment they are using kosher oil and other ingredients. Without Hashgacha one cannot tell if the כלים are kosher. Statements from the staff are not acceptable unless they are שומר שבת.
אַ גוטן זומער
WE WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL RELAXING AND חופש של נופש SUMMER. REJUVINATING
It is important to bear in mind that all Poskim agree that the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah is every day, including vacation days and is the source of our greatest protection. As Chazal say:
(יא דברים י"רש וכן :ג"י ברכות ירושלמי) אעזבך יומים תעזבני יום אם
And the first Mishna in פאה tells us:
"כלם כנגד תורה תלמוד"
Of all the unique Mitzvos that we can perform during the summer, we have a special opportunity to perfect our commitment to daily learning and ק"ש ותפילה בזמנה.
