27 Aug KASHRUS QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT

Can one buy frozen fruits that are not checked like
strawberries, blackberries etc and blend it for a fruit
shake? How about vegetables unchecked for a shake?
Any fruit or berry that needs to be checked should not be bought without
a reliable hashgacha. If it’s bought with a reliable hashgacha, then part of
what the hashgacha does is check it, as well. I speak for the OU, but I’m sure that that’s the
case for all reliable hashgachas. What the hashgacha is taking responsibility for is not just for
the strawberry, but they’re taking responsibility for its washing to make sure that there’s no
infestation issue on the fruit or on the vegetable and you could therefore buy it. If it doesn’t
have a reliable hashgacha, then you can’t be sure what kind of a washing system is in place
and because you can’t be sure what kind of a washing system is in place, you need to be
concerned that they’re not properly cleaned and therefore may not be eaten. That’s in terms
of strawberries, berries etc. So, if it has a reliable hashgacha you’re okay, if they don’t have a
reliable hashgacha, I would avoid it.

In terms of vegetables, canned
vegetables or frozen vegetables, there
are those that used to believe that
there couldn’t be anything wrong
with peas and carrots. The reality is
that we have seen over the years that
the equipment that’s used for these
vegetables could also be equipment
that’s used for meat and other
vegetables or foods that are really
not kosher. We therefore strongly
recommend that only something with
a reliable hashgacha be used.

If one runs a dishwashing cycle going
into Shabbos, is one allowed to open the
dishwasher on Shabbos & use what’s inside
of it, for their Shabbos meal?
The answer depends on what you’re doing. If nothing
electronic happens when you open up the dishwasher on
Shabbos, the halacha is that you’re allowed to open it up.
Everybody has to know and look at their own dishwasher.
In some dishwashers, when you open it up, lights go off. If
a light will go off or change colors when you open up the
dishwasher, then you are not allowed to do it on Shabbos
and Yom Tov. If nothing like that will happen, then you’re
allowed to open it on Shabbos and Yom tov.

Is the minimum amount of dough
needed for hafrashas challah
equal for wheat, barley, spelt, oats
and rye?
The short answer is yes. Whenever you make
dough, you should take challah. The only
difference is that if you’re making dough from
five pounds of flour or more, then you make
a bracha when you take the dough. If it’s less,
then you don’t make the bracha. Once you
have five pounds of flour that you’re using, it
doesn’t make a difference what kind of flour you’re using; you should always take challah and
make a bracha. If it’s less than five pounds, take challah but don’t make a bracha.