27 Jan KASHRUS QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT

If a kitchen has only one sink, what halachic
considerations apply regarding milk and meat?
There are several important considerations. Residue from milchig and
fleishig utensils can mix in the sink, potentially creating basar b’chalav.
Even if the mixture is not eaten, one
is prohibited from creating it. If hot
water contacts dairy and meat residue
simultaneously, this may constitute a
violation. Milk and meat utensils should
never be washed together, as this could
render the sink non-kosher. Ideally, soap
or detergent should always be used,
as it makes residue inedible, which is
halachically significant. The water should
also not be very hot—specifically, not
exceeding approximately 120°F (49°C). To
summarize:
Never place meat and dairy items in the sink at the same time.
Never wash them together.
Use separate sink racks for meat and dairy if racks are used.
Avoid very hot water.
If a restaurant has proper hashgacha but plays loud or
inappropriate music, is the OU responsible only for the food or
also for the environment?
This is a complicated and highly subjective issue. First, there is the question of how far

the responsibility of a hashgacha
extends. Second, what is considered
“inappropriate” varies greatly from
person to person.
I receive this question frequently. People
have different standards, and while those
standards are commendable, we cannot
guarantee an environment that meets
everyone’s expectations. Someone with
particularly high standards may decide
that eating out is simply not for them.
That said, we do not take the position
that our responsibility is limited strictly
to the food. We work diligently with establishments to maintain an appropriate environment.
This includes attention to staff dress and the type of music being played. However, because
these matters are subjective, this is not an easy task. There is no clear black-and-white answer.
Unlike questions of kosher or not kosher, these issues are nuanced. We do our best, and often
that means satisfying no one completely.
Follow-up:
Does the OU include standards of dress and entertainment in its
contracts?
Yes. Our contracts include clauses regarding appropriate entertainment and standards of
dress. I know of an OU-certified restaurant owner who was deeply committed to these values.
When opening his restaurant, he personally reviewed all music played and provided staff
uniforms that met appropriate standards. That level of involvement is admirable, though not
always easy to achieve.