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Last question received: 17 Aug 2017

Questions answered to date: 1989

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Showing Questions in 'Kashrus (Kosher Laws)'

Question No.	2087
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	1 Jan 2014
The Question	My son has cystic fibrosis and needs to have pork-derived enzymes to help him digest his food. He cannot swallow capsules so we need to open the capsule and mix the contents into apple puree. This means that he is eating treif derech achila. Is there any way we can lessen the severity (e.g., some sort of shinui)? —Anonymous, Nof Ayalon
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	2082
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	11 Dec 2013
The Question	My son is learning at Mir Yeshiva and wants to know if the OU hecher on chicken and meat is reliable according to your standards thank you —phyllis galandauer, jerusalem
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1996
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	1 Dec 2012
The Question	Rav Leff, shalom Are there any eateries in Haifa that you find acceptable? —Eli, Beit Shemesh
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1968
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	16 Mar 2012
The Question	why don't whiskey's have a kashrus on the bottle? there are only listings of what is kosher and what's not. —Anonymous, israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1959
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	6 Feb 2012
The Question	I made aliyah several years ago. My son-in-law who is very knowledgeable, when asked about hashgachat on meat and chicken, told me that his inquiries from the chief Rabbi of Beit Shemesh was to use Bait Yosef. I decided to use bais Yosef Mehadrin. Several of my grandchildren say that is not acceptable for Ashenasim. I live in Modiin and it difficult to get mehadrin other than Rav Machpud or Beit Yosef. What is your suggestion? I want everyone who eats in my home to feel comfortable. In the US I used ou for everything. —Anonymous, Modiin, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1866
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	20 Jun 2011
The Question	If the prohibition of tzaar baalei chayim prohibits cruelty to animals when not required for a legitimate human need, why are we allowed to eat animals which are cruelly treated by being stuffed over-crowded into tiny cages, prevented from moving around, force-fed, never seeing the light of day, etc.? I found on the Web that Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote: "[in regard to the situation in which] every calf is in its own pen, which is so narrow that it does not have space even to take a few steps, and the calves are not fed the appropriate food for them, and have never tasted their mother's milk, but they are fattened with very fatty liquids...this is certainly forbidden on the basis of tzaar baalei hayim. Even though it is permissible [to cause pain to animals] in order to satisfy human needs, by slaughtering animals for food, or by employing animals to plow, to carry burdens or other such things, it is not permissible otherwise to cause them suffering, even when one stands to profit from such practices (Igg'rot Moshe, Even haEzer 4:92)." Also: "The pre-eminent 18th-century rabbinic authority, R. Ezekiel Landau asserted that the mere killing of an animal for food does not violate the prohibition against tsa'ar ba'alei chayim; this prohibition is only applicable "if he causes (the animal) pain while alive. (R. Ezekiel Landau, Teshuvot Noda bi-Yehudah, Mahadura Kamma Yoreh De'ah, No. 83.)" In view of the horrible conditions under which animals are raised today, it would be difficult to argue that this biblical prohibition is not being severely violated. Why are animals treated in this way still considered kosher? —Yair, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1851
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	1 Mar 2011
The Question	I was wondering if I ate french fries from a fleishig restaurant, which were deep fried in the same oil as chicken fingers, and there are still little pieces of chicken in oil, do I have to wait six hours or not? I am asking because i overheard a discussion in which someone said that based on a SHACH in yoreh deah pey tes there is room to be lenient and there is no need to wait at all before milchigs. yaasher koach. —Anonymous, brooklyn
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1850
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	1 Mar 2011
The Question	I was wondering if it is nescessary to toivel a george foreman grill or can i rely upon the opinions which say that since it doesnt work unless plugged in, it is like mechubar lekarka and does not need to be toiveled? thank you. —Anonymous, ny
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1848
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	31 Jan 2011
The Question	What is the rav's opinion about attending a relative's completely non-kosher bar-mitzvah or wedding meal even if they would provide them with a glatt-kosher meal? If the answer would be "no" please explain the hashkofa as well as how to best articulate this to the relative. Finally would it make a difference if the invitee is a rabbi? —Anonymous, Pennsylvania, USA
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1832
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	6 Jan 2011
The Question	Lechavod HaRav. We have a dishwasher for basari only. Occasionally (for example, if we have many guests for a chalavi meal) the subject comes up about the possibility to use it for a separate chalavi cycle. We've heard many different opinions on this from friends (for example, running an empty cycle inbetween) but are not convinced. Could you help us understand the situation? —Anonymous, Modiin, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1771
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	30 Aug 2010
The Question	L'Chvod Harav: The following comprise most of the main ingredients in some electronic cigarettes, although some of them are specific to certain 'flavors', and might be avoidable. Are any of these chemicals not kosher for inhalation? Propylene Glycol, Ethanol, Ethyl Acetate, Linalyl, Alcohol, Menthol, Acetylpyrazine, Vanillin, Malic acid. —Anonymous, White Plains, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1747
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	18 Jun 2010
The Question	1)How far up do tzitzit have to be split in order for you to have to say a brucha and 2)Doyou measure it from the bottom to the top of the side seam under the arm or to the top of the shoulder —Cooltzit, NY/NJ
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1741
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	13 Jun 2010
The Question	Are Kosher Laws considered inspired by God, and written down by man? I am Catholic, and horrified by Christopher Hitchens mocking tone when speaking about kosher laws. I can read the actual laws in my Bible, but would appreciate any thoughts. —Jean Marie, Lords Valley PA
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1739
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	10 Jun 2010
The Question	i have to travel in china where there is no K vegetal oil. can i use their vegetal oil when i know it is pure vegetal oil (no animal oil) ? —muriel zerbib, france
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1724
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	1 Jun 2010
The Question	Greetings, I am researching the accurate methodology for slaughtering of animals in the Jewish faith to render an animal kosher for consumption. Particularly, I am interested in, 1) The various approved methods for slaughtering an animal. 2) The requirements for the tool used for the slaughter (type/sharpness of knife, etc). 2) The placement of the animal (hung upside down/laid on its side, etc.) 3) Words mentioned during the slaughter, if any. Kindly, provide me the details or direct me to a resource/website with such details. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Awais. Gam101@Rocketmail.com —Anonymous
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1695
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	25 Sep 2009
The Question	I have high cholesterol and i need to take certain dietary supplements such as fish oil capsules. there is a company that my doctor recommends called natures bounty that has fish oil capsules. is it ok if i take these capsules if they include gelatin? and does the type of fish used make a difference? —jack, brooklyn new york
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1692
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	24 Sep 2009
The Question	I inherited dishes (China, duralex,plastic) and pots and pans from my mother who was frum but originally didn't eat glatt. Among her dishes was also stuff she got from sibling who didn't keep kosher, tovel etc. 1. Can I use her dishes as is, or do I need to kasher anything? 2. What if some of the stuff (glass I believe) originally was not toveled? Do I tovel everything questionable? What cannot be kashered? Duralex glasses? 3. There's one set of China that says Pesach but not if it's meat or milk, The most logical explanation is that it's meat, and may have been used once or twice. Can I assume it's meat? There's nobody that remembers. —Anonymous, Jerusalem
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1685
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	14 Sep 2009
The Question	I was wondering if it was okay to take Omega 3 fish oil capsules if they don't have kosher certification. I noticed that the kosher one can be as much as 10 times the cost of the ones without certification. —Anonymous, Baltimore, MD
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1659
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	17 May 2009
The Question	Very often you pour some wine (or any liquid) and you want to pour back the unused portion back into the bottle. Is there an issue regarding the k'li that wasn't toiveled? And in general if the k'li was bought for the contents inside it (a wine bottle) can it be used later on once its empty to keeep for ex. water without toiveling the k'li. —Anonymous, Jerusalem
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1651
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	6 May 2009
The Question	I've heard that when boiling eggs, one must boil an odd number eggs at a time. Is this true, and if so, why? Thank you. —Anonymous, Rechovot
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

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