Food is one of the bases of Jewish culture. Questions with this tag relate to laws of food or anything pertaining to food.
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1answer
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Food in bathroom
Is one allowed to take food into the bathroom? I heard that the prohibiton is only on the type of bathroom used years ago.
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5answers
414 views
4
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1answer
296 views
What would be an example of permitted vs prohibited cross-grafting with fruit trees?
I haven't studied Tractate Kilayim.
I know you can't plant grapes with wheat.
What about, say:
Jazz apple = Royal Gala apple X Braeburn apple ?
Nectarine = Peach X Plum ?
Nectaplum = Nectarine X ...
14
votes
7answers
436 views
Eating Meat: What Changed?
Adam wasn't allowed to eat meat. After the mabul (Flood) we were suddenly permitted to eat (Bereshit 9:3). What changed (ie what was the reason we weren't allowed to before, why are we allowed to now ...
9
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4answers
366 views
Why do we eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
Why do we have a Minhag to eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
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4answers
774 views
Is it permissible to open soda cans on shabbos?
What is the halacha regarding opening soda cans on shabbos?
I have heard that according to the ones who hold that you can open it, if I would ask that person to open it for me, I would need him to ...
6
votes
2answers
861 views
At a non-kosher restaurant, is sliced raw fish kosher?
At a non-kosher restaurant, is thinly-sliced raw fish kosher?
Let's assume one sees the preparer clean the knife and cut from the whole fish.
Also, let's assume this raw fish is sashimi — ...
4
votes
4answers
268 views
Matzah meal before פסח
On the subject of not eating Matzah before פסח, may one eat products containing Matzah meal in that time?
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4answers
376 views
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6answers
2k views
Washing hands for eating pizza
How many slices are required to make you responsible to wash on Pizza?
12
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2answers
322 views
Is it permitted to take extra food from a buffet?
If you're at a hotel and there is a buffet meal, and you can take as much as you want, is there any problem taking a few extra rolls or any of the food back to your room for later?
I assume if I'm not ...
11
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5answers
7k views
What Issues Exist with the Tablet K Hecksher?
The Tablet-K hechsher is quite common on products in US supermarkets - especially cheeses. There seems to be a strong sentiment that it is not an acceptable hechsher, but I've heard no halachik ...
5
votes
3answers
425 views
Is there a kashrus issue with paper towels?
Is there any concern about using paper towels with hot food? I know there are some who advise against using the first few and last few sheets during Pesach, due to the presence of starch-based glue ...
13
votes
2answers
446 views
Why doesn't the OU put DE on food packages anymore?
The OU used to put DE next to the OU symbol when a product was Dairy Equipment. Such a product can not be eaten with meat but can be eaten right afterwards (you don't need to wait the amount of time ...
8
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2answers
134 views
Matzah eruvin on erev Pesach
An eruv allows Jews to carry within a semi-public space on Shabbat. The space must be bounded by walls and must meet several detailed requirements. The eruv must consist of food for a meal for the ...
8
votes
4answers
603 views
Who determines the kosher status of “new” foods?
Who determines the kosher status for "new" processed foods (e.g. Jell-O)? A few orthodox rabbis' approval? General consensus by the Jewish religious community? Certain kosher standards organizations? ...
6
votes
3answers
201 views
What is the beracha on gnocchi?
According to Wikipedia, this is Gnocchi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnocchi
How do I know which beracha to make considering it is made from potatoes and is not a normal pasta? Should I just stick ...
5
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2answers
146 views
Preparing the Beitzah for the Seder Plate
What is the appropriate way to prepare the Beitzah for the Seder Plate?
5
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3answers
330 views
Kosher symbols on non-food items
I just bought a box of 100 sandwich bags and on the box there is an (U) symbol. This is neither unique nor uncommon. Why do marks of hechsher appear on non-food products? Is there anyone in the world ...
5
votes
3answers
275 views
Seeking old Jewish recipes
What are some really old recipes that Jews are known to have used (actual recipes that say how to make the dish, not just names or descriptions of what was eaten like צלי קדר)? I'm seeking ...
3
votes
2answers
205 views
Food cooked by woman during Niddah?
If according to my Bible translation - please correct me if it is wrong - anything a woman in niddah or a state of tumah, or 'impurity', touches or sits on becomes 'impure', can food cooked by her be ...
3
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3answers
102 views
14
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2answers
159 views
Can you walk and chew gum at the same time?
Rambam (Hil. Edus 11:4) writes (translation from here):
...base people are disqualified as witnesses by Rabbinic decree. This refers to people who walk through the marketplace eating in the ...
9
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3answers
241 views
What is the source of netilat yadayim before eating bread?
Where do we learn that we need to wash hands before eating bread? Why? And why bread and not other food?
14
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6answers
483 views
Fish eaten with milk?
Is there any halachik problem with eating fish and milk together? (A classic example is a bagel with lox and cream cheese)
12
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2answers
608 views
Why assume coffee is kosher
Why can it be assumed that coffee from coffee shops is kosher? Why couldn't the equipment become unkosher through exposure to non kosher ingredients or when being cleaned?
For example the Canadian ...
11
votes
1answer
383 views
Can a Christian “Grace” invalidate food?
Suppose there's a communal meal in a secular workplace, at which some of the food is reliably kosher. Now suppose that right before anyone takes any food, one of the participants, to general assent, ...
9
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3answers
223 views
When/how was the controversy regarding stainless-steel blades for shechitah resolved?
My understanding is that the use of stainless-steel blades for shechita (kosher slaughter) knives was introduced by the early Hassidic movement and initially opposed by the non-Hassidic leaders.
...
8
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3answers
192 views
What Bracha did they make on the Mahn?
Did the Jews make a Bracha on eating the Mahn? Which Bracha did they make?
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2answers
627 views
Bracha on Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread
Food for Life manufactures a bread under the Hashgacha of the Kaf-K called Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread
This bread is flourless and has the following ingredients. Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat, ...
6
votes
1answer
107 views
Where does the custom to spill of from a drink come from?
I had a lubavitcher classmate in high school who used to spill off from his cup whenever he would drink anything. He claimed it was a minhag.
What is the reason/source for this practice?
5
votes
4answers
159 views
What are Brochos differences of Sefardim and Ashkenazim?
For example, according to sefardim the bracha on matzo is mezonos (during the year), while it's hamotzi for Ashkenazim.
What are other differences between Ashkenazim and Sefardim with regards to ...
5
votes
6answers
286 views
fish before meat - why?
To the best of my knowledge eating fish after meat has the same Halacha as eating meat after fish. You are supposed to eat a cracker and take a drink to seperate between them. Why is it most common ...
3
votes
3answers
532 views
falling asleep on the left side to aid digestion
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 71:5 reads, in part (translation my own):
And it's good that he'll lie at the start of his sleep on the left side and at the end on the right side, as this is good for the ...
2
votes
1answer
157 views
Why would a product be “only for cooking and pureeing”?
A recent OU kashrut alert that I found on Kashrut.com says:
Kirkland Nature's Three Berries: Rader Farms, Inc.: This product bears a Half-Moon K symbol and should be used only for cooking and ...
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vote
2answers
130 views
“Wrong” Berachoth exempting foods
'Al HaMihyah exempts 'Al Ha'Gefen, at least if it was said after eating grain products and grape juice/wine. Is this unique to this case, or is there a broader principle?
Can a less specific ...
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3answers
1k views
Can you drink a beer (such as Miller or Budweiser) at a bar?
Can you buy and drink a beer (such as Miller or Budweiser) at a bar owned by non-Jews?
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2answers
2k views
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6answers
325 views
Avoiding accidentally eating cheese
Whether one waits 6 hours, 3 hours, 1 hour, or somewhere in between, it is a common occurrence to find people mistakenly eating milk/cheese/yogurt too soon after meat. It seems like a problem that ...
11
votes
1answer
169 views
In a bulk food store, must I ask to see the original label every time I return and buy my favorite food?
I know that where I live, some foods don't need kosher certification. But most do.
Say I go to a reliable bulk food store, ask to see the original bucket that a certain food came in, see a reliable ...
10
votes
3answers
180 views
Halachic status of kamut
Khorasan wheat, often known by one popular brand name thereof, KAMUT®, is an ancient grain that is related to modern-day wheat, but has a number of differences. Does it have the halachic status of ...
10
votes
1answer
630 views
Using a plata on Shabbat
I have a plata--an electric warming tray that does not have knobs or adjustments. I can leave it plugged in throughout Shabbat. I want to use it correctly when I have guests and to up my observance.
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10
votes
2answers
311 views
In what way is kosher chicken different from brined chicken?
Over on Seasoned Advice, there have been a number of questions related to the nature of kosher meat and the amount of salt absorbed by the meat. Most recently, In what way is kosher chicken different ...
9
votes
1answer
235 views
Does Drinking Seltzer == Drinking Water?
Inspired by this revision of this answer:
There are various minhag implications with regards to drinking water. Seltzer is essentially carbonated water. So how do those minhagim apply to seltzer?
...
8
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1answer
84 views
Beracha on Intravenous
There Gemara Berachot 35 says "anyone who enjoys from this world without a Beracha is stealing."
Does one make a Beracha on intravenous feeding?
8
votes
1answer
125 views
What would the beracha be on tree-leaves?
What blessing would one make on leaves from [woody] trees that are routinely eaten? Is it ha'eitz, because they came from a tree? Is it ha-adama, because they're not "fruit" but are vegetative? Is it ...
8
votes
1answer
194 views
May one chew gum in the bathroom?
As per this post - Food in bathroom - one may not eat in the bathroom. May one chew gum in the bathroom? Is it considered eating? Connected to this post - Can you walk and chew gum at the same time?
8
votes
3answers
179 views
Eating before davening Shacharis
Are there any accepted authorities of Halacha that permit a man to eat (i.e., "real" eating such as consuming cake or cereal) before davening Shacharis under "normal circumstances" (i.e., a healthy ...
8
votes
4answers
840 views
Is the lemon slice added to a soda in many bars a problem kosher-wise?
Many bars (and hotel lobbies) will add a lemon wedge to the top of a glass of soda; often it's used to differentiate between Diet Coke (gets the lemon) and regular Coke (no lemon).
Does this pose a ...
7
votes
1answer
155 views
Timtum Halev not b'derech achila
Does the notion of Timtum Halev -- dulling of the heart (spirutal damage) which Rabbeniu Bachaye explains in Vayikra 11:43 -- apply when the non kosher food was put in one's body without doing it ...
