[This post is for purpose of discussion only and should not be relied upon for practical halacha]
The Star-K's Kashrus Kurrents had a very useful article on the various halachic questions that arise when traveling (here). I do not understand some of his conclusions and wonder if any of my readers have additional information on this subject.
1 - "Pre-cut fruits or vegetables should be avoided, since they may have been cut with a knife that was used for non-kosher food"
He cites the Rema that permits lemons pieces because many are cut at once and it is batel, but says that this doesn't apply in the a hotel setting. Even if this "metzius" is correct, this should only apply to sharp/citrus fruits. Wouldn't apples or non-sharp vegetables be OK?
2 - Unfiltered water in NYC -
What is the final status of the water? I understand that R' Belsky permitted it. But even among those who are machmir, is this a chumra of מהיות טוב which might be permitted when traveling or an actual prohibition.
3 - it is recommended that one refrain from using the carafe.
I don't get this. It is almost certainly not a ben-yomo. Even if it is, a glass carafe should in any event be permitted (שיעי) and this concern should only apply to a metal vessel.
4 - If the hotel provides fruit juices without clearly specifying the brand name. Is it necessary to clarify this or can one rely on the fact that the majority of available juices are kosher (I believe that even those juices that contain grape juice and therefore do not have a kashrus symbol are at least b'dieved kosher.)
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5 comments:
All of the things identified by the Star-K as "problems" are, in fact, perfectly kosher, and not problems at all.
DF
#1: With a knife the problem is that it may have "b'en" on the knife. (In particular, fatty foods don't leave unless you have ne'itza b'karak) What you write would apply if the problem is just blios.
#3: Ashkenazim don't hold of shi'i. (There is a widespread notion that this is only a chumra on Pesach, but it appears from many poskim that this is incorrect.)
Apples are considered a Davar Charif according to some Poskim. So are many acidic fruit. FP is correct that there is concern for b'ein on all knives.
NYC water is considered by many Poskim( Rabbis Dovid Feinstein Feivel Cohen and rav Elyashiv and Scheinberg see bdikas hamazon kahalacha vol. 3)to be prohibited even bdieved.
Keilim that are not Bnei Yoman are prohibited. The food cooked in the keilim is Mutar.
One always needs to verify a verifiable question see Rashba beginning Chulin.
There are also instances in which the juice can be considered Kavua see Shut Divrei Chaim YD II 57?
Thanks for commenting.
I find it hard to believe that any reputable establishment would use an unclean knife to cut up fruits so I find this a chashash rachok but as I said I am no expert in metzius. I actually did get a p'sak from a knowledgeable Rabbi that one may buy non-acidic cut up fruits from any (clean) store.
Shi'i is a machlokes haposkim (see Badei Hashulchan). Certainly it can be combined with the many other lenient factors in this case.
אפשר לברורי is the term you want and you are probably right
Thanks for al the comments.
"I find it hard to believe that any reputable establishment would use an unclean knife to cut up fruits so I find this a chashash rachok but as I said I am no expert in metzius."
True. What goes on in the kitchen stays in the kitchen ... Many people who've worked in food establishments say things a kind of loosey goosey behind the scenes.
"I actually did get a p'sak from a knowledgeable Rabbi that one may buy non-acidic cut up fruits from any (clean) store."
It's a legitimate psak. There are shitos who hold that even if a knife with tarfus was used it would only assur the first fruit that it cut, so it's a s'fek s'feika. Other shitos disagree. (It's an early machlokes - there's a Pri Chadash on one side or the other, but I forget what his shita was :) ) That's probably why the Star-K used the "should avoid" formulation.
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