Kosher and “Theoretically” Kosher

March 11, 2004 at 9:19:29a.m.

A magazine devoted to matters of kashrut recently offered the following advice:

“Pouring boiling water over every single inch of your stainless steel sink would make it theoretically kosher for passover, but we recommend using a liner in the sink anyway.”

Theoretically kosher for passover? How about totally kosher for passover according to a reasonable (and explicit) reading of halacha?

We don’t get it. Why do they do this? Why do they have to make it so difficult? And most important of all, why can’t they tell the truth?

In another publication we read the following: “There are no trefe ingredients in American beers, but if you drink beer without a hashgacha, you might be drinking trefe.” Come on guys, you can’t have it both ways.

That is their stock in trade: You might, perhaps, maybe, possibly, efshar be eating trefe. Hey you! Yeah, you! Stop the nonsense already. Give us halacha, not mindless posturings.

Another rabbi wrote in his opus that it is forbidden to celebrate birthdays with a cake and candles. O yeah, there is a lot of support for that one in the community.

As Passover approaches, we need to look carefully at all the rabbinic guidebooks out there. And don’t forget to call Operation Pesach with your passover questions. The number is 1 888 MATZAH 1 (use the 9 for the Z). OP begins Monday, March 29.

(RJR)