Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh

1) A dairy frying pan may never be used for frying meat and vice versa, even if the pan has been thoroughly cleaned and even if 24 hours have passed since its last use. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 93 and Taz and Shach there)

2) L'Chatchila it is also best to avoid using a meat or dairy frying pan for parve foods which will be  eaten at a meal of the opposite food class, especially if the item being fried is a sharp food. (See Taz Yoreh Deah Siman 95:4 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 95:1 and 96:1. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas Vayikra  13)

2) A potato masher which is used to mash hot potatoes (which due to their denseness are considered a "Davar Gush" and have a Halachic status of a Kli Rishon) together with butter, should not be used to mash potatoes that will be  used at a meat meal, especially if the two are within 24 hours of each other.

The knife and the cutting surface also require Koshering. (Chochmas Adam Klal 56:2. There are more lenient opinions with regard to this and in cases of necessity a Rav should be consulted.)

2) A grater which is used for dairy (e.g. to grate cheese) may not be used to grate a meat food (e.g. liver).  Likewise, a meat grater may not be used to grate dairy food.

Moreover, a meat or dairy grater may not be used to grate parve foods that will be used at a meal of the opposite food class. (See Darchei Teshuva Yoreh Deah Siman 96:14 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 96:14)

Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh

1) It is prudent that every kosher kitchen have a grater that is kept strictly parve and only used for fruits and vegetables etc., and is kept away from any meat or dairy foods.

This is especially important for grating sharp fruits/vegetables.

2) This parve grater should also be washed and stored away from meat and dairy utensils, and should especially not be in the same sink where other dishes are washed with hot water.

Dear Halacha For Today Reader,

Purim is around the corner. 

The more Tzedakah you give to poor people on Purim, the more praiseworthy you are!

As I do twice yearly (Before Purim and before Rosh Hashana) I raise funds for various Talmidei Chachamim who need financial assistance. There is no greater Mitzvah than supporting Talmidei Chachamim in need. These funds will be distributed on Purim day B'Ezras Hashem.

I am posting a letter of support from HaRav Dovid Schustal Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha of Lakewood in regard to one of the people for whom I am raising these funds, who has unfortunately become ill and finds himself in an extremely difficult financual situation.

Please take part in this great Mitzvah and in the merit of doing so may Hashem shine His abundant blessings down upon you and your families.

Donations can be made via the link below. Please specify that it's for the Matanos L'Evyonim campaign. For other options, email me at halachafortoday@yahoo.com

2) If a sharp food was cut on a meat or dairy countertop or cutting board, even if cut with a parve knife, the food assumes the status of the surface on which is was cut.

Thus if the sharp food was cut on a dairy surface, it may not be eaten for six hours after eating meat.

Likewise, if the sharp food was cut on a meat surface, it may not be eaten together with dairy foods.

However, no six hours of waiting is required after eating this sharp food before eating dairy, as in regards to this particular Halacha it isn't considered real meat (i.e. it has no meaty fats and cannot get stuck in between the teeth etc.) (See Chochmas Adam Klal 56:2)

Dear Halacha For Today Reader,

Purim is around the corner. 

The more Tzedakah you give to poor people on Purim, the more praiseworthy you are!

It is better to give additional Matanos L'Evyonim than to give extra Mishloach Manos or to increase the Seudas Purim, because ..."There is no greater or loftier Simcha than to gladden the hearts of the poor, widows, orphans and converts. One who gladdens the hearts of these downtrodden people is likened to the Shechina (!)"  (Words of the Rambam Hilchos Megilah Perek 2 Halacha 17, quoted in Mishna Berura Siman 694:3)

As I do twice yearly (Before Purim and before Rosh Hashana) I raise funds for various Talmidei Chachamim who need financial assistance. There is no greater Mitzvah than supporting Talmidei Chachamim in need. These funds will be distributed on Purim day B'Ezras Hashem.

I am posting a letter of support from HaRav Dovid Schustal Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha of Lakewood in regard to one of the people for whom I am raising these funds, who has unfortunately become ill and finds himself in an extremely difficult financual situation.

Please take part in this great Mitzvah and in the merit of doing so may Hashem shine His abundant blessings down upon you and your families.

Donations can be made via the link below. Please specify that it's for the Matanos L'Evyonim campaign. For other options, email me at halachafortoday@yahoo.com

When   sharp foods (e.g. garlic, onions, lemons, salty fish etc.) are cut on a parve countertop or cutting board, care should be taken to only use a parve knife, as using a non parve knife can negatively affect the food being cut and/or the surface that it's being cut on.

2) A countertop or cutting board that is designated for meat or dairy may not be used to cut fruits and vegetables or other parve foods that may be used at a meal with the opposite food class.

Dear Halacha For Today Reader,

Purim is around the corner. 

The more Tzedakah you give to poor people on Purim, the more praiseworthy you are!

It is better to give additional Matanos L'Evyonim than to give extra Mishloach Manos or to increase the Seudas Purim, because ..."There is no greater or loftier Simcha than to gladden the hearts of the poor, widows, orphans and converts. One who gladdens the hearts of these downtrodden people is likened to the Shechina (!)"  (Words of the Rambam Hilchos Megilah Perek 2 Halacha 17, quoted in Mishna Berura Siman 694:3)

As I do twice yearly (Before Purim and before Rosh Hashana) I raise funds for various Talmidei Chachamim who need financial assistance. There is no greater Mitzvah than supporting Talmidei Chachamim in need. These funds will be distributed on Purim day B'Ezras Hashem.

I am posting a letter of support from HaRav Dovid Schustal Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha of Lakewood in regard to one of the people for whom I am raising these funds, who has unfortunately become ill and finds himself in an extremely difficult financual situation.

Please take part in this great Mitzvah and in the merit of doing so may Hashem shine His abundant blessings down upon you and your families.

Donations can be made via the link below. Please specify that it's for the Matanos L'Evyonim campaign. For other options, email me at halachafortoday@yahoo.com

  

If you are just joining us today, please see ARCHIVES so you can review the  previous Halachos on this and other topics. 

1) A peeler (which is practically a knife) used to peel vegetables and fruit, which does not come in contact with any meat or dairy foods and is designated as Parve, may be used to peel fruits/vegetables for use at both meat and dairy meals.

This peeler should not be used to peel items that were previously cut with a meat or dairy knife. (This includes all fruits/vegetables, not just sharp items) (See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 96:1 and 2, Mishna Berura Siman 451:102. See also Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 95:6)

Likewise, it should not be used to peel vegetables/fruits that were cooked in a pot with meat or dairy foods. (This is especially true with sharp fruits/vegetables such as lemons etc. See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 95)

2) If one does have separate peelers for meat and dairy, they must be clearly marked as such, or better yet be easily differentiated by size, color etc., and kept separately as not to get confused.

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If you are just joining us today, please see ARCHIVES so you can review the  previous Halachos on this and other topics. 

1) Whenever purchasing new dishes, glasses, silverware pots or any other utensils that will come in contact with food, it must be determined if the manufacturer and/or the seller of these utensils are non Jews, as if the utensils were manufactured or owned by a non Jew they require Tevilah (immersion in a Kosher Mikvah) before being fit for use in a Kosher kitchen.

It is best to Tovel these utensils as soon as possible after purchasing them, as putting it off until a later date when they are ready to be used can often lead to mistakes and the use of these utensils without Tevilah. (Such as a sudden need for the extra dishes, or when needed on Shabbos when Tevilah isn't possible)

2) When purchasing used utensils, it must be determined who used them and in which manner, as besides for Tevilah they may also require Koshering.

We shall B'Ezras Hashem discusses more details of Hilchos Tevilas Keilim in the future.

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If you are just joining us today, please see ARCHIVES so you can review the  previous Halachos on this and other topics. 

  

If you are just joining us today, please see ARCHIVES so you can review the  previous Halachos on this and other topics. 

1) It is especially important to have a separate and distinct Parve knife for use in cutting bread. (In many homes this is referred to as a Challah knife)

It is extremely important that this knife not be used for anything else, no matter what, especially not for hot, hard non parve food. (See Aruch HaShulchan Yoreh Deah Siman 89:16)

As well, this knife should be washed alone, not with other dishes especially if hot water is being used. This knife should also not be washed in a meat or dairy dishwasher.

2) The bread knife should be stored in a different location than other knives in the home.

Many people have a Challah Board with a special knife attached to it for use at t he Shabbos table. This is a very good idea, as it is easily recognizable and won't be used for other foods, and the knife is also stored in the board away from other knives.

Care should be taken that after the Challah is cut up, the knife should be removed from the Shabbos table.

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If you are just joining us today, please see ARCHIVES so you can review the  previous Halachos on this and other topics. 

1) From time to time , it is proper to thoroughly  clean out the bread box or other area where open breads and pastries are stored, as doing so will prevent anybody  from inadvertently ingesting any forbidden bugs which can often find homes in  exposed breads, yet are almost impossible to be noticed by the naked eye.

This is especially true if the bread box or shelf is located in a low area close to the ground.

2) When cleaning out a bread box, keep in mind that bread crumbs which collectively would add up to a Kzayis may not be discarded as is, and must be wrapped respectfully (e.g. in a plastic bag) before being thrown out. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 171:1 and Mishna Berura S"K 9)

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