09 Apr PESACH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT FROM THE OU

If someone is going away for Pesach to
a hotel- what kashrus questions should
they ask before booking? What issues
can come up at a hotel over Pesach?
The kashrus questions you should ask are, what
hashgacha does the hotel have? Is it a reliable hashgacha? Unfortunately,
too many people are calling me with questions about hotels where they
have already booked the reservations and didn’t think to ask under which
Kosher supervision is this program. I can tell you that we at the OU, the
largest hashgacha in the world, don’t give hashgachas to any hotels for
Pesach. It’s very complicated to certify hotels for Pesach. If a hotel isn’t fully
kosher, there’s a section they take and the rest of the hotel isn’t kosher, I
would strongly recommend not to go there on Pesach. Therefore, I would
recommend that you make sure the company giving the hashgacha is reliable and up to
standards you are comfortable with. It’s not something you should take for granted that
just because the hotel advertised in Jewish media, there’s no question you can go there.

Can I kasher my quartz (stone aggregate) countertops for Pesach?
Engineered quartz countertops, such as Caesarstone
or Silestone, are made from a combination of stone,
synthetic resins and pigments. Shulchan Aruch (Orach
Chaim 451:8) writes that stone can be kashered. But
there are differences of opinion regarding whether one
may kasher synthetic materials for Pesach. The Majority
of poskim permit kashering synthetic materials such as
plastic, however, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l was strict, and
many have the custom to follow this ruling. Rav Belsky,
zt”l said that even those that have the minhag not to
kasher synthetic materials, as per the psak of Rav Moshe
Feinstein zt”l, can still be lenient and kasher these counters. This is because these counters
are primarily made of stone and the resin is only a small amount used to bind the stones
together. Achronim debate whether we can define a material based on the majority of
its components (See Minchas Yitzchak 4:114:4), which in this case is stone. Since not
kashering synthetic materials is itself a chumra (stringency), Rav Belsky, zt“l said that
one may rely on the poskim that view this material to be like regular stone. However, on
a practical level, it is difficult to properly clean and kasher a countertop. Rav Belsky, zt”l
would recommend that instead of kashering, countertops should be covered for Pesach.

Are blanched almonds kosher for Pesach without an OU-P?
Yes, blanched almonds are acceptable for use on Pesach
without special certification.

I am Sephardic and consume kitniyot on Pesach. May
I use any soy or rice products on Pesach or do these
items need to bear Pesach certification?
Items containing soy or rice must bear a Pesach certification due
to the possibility of cross-contamination with chametz at the
production facility. The OU certifies a number of products for
Pesach which bear the designation of OU-kitniyot.

Do alcohol-based sanitizers require Pesach certification?
You can use them.

Which medications/vitamins are Kosher for Pesach?
Medications that are non-chewable and do not contain
flavored coatings do not even have to be Kosher for Pesach,
as they are inedible and are not consumed in a normal
manner. Rabbis disagree as to whether the same can be said
for non-chewable vitamins. We suggest you consult with
your personal rabbi as to whether or not they should be
Kosher for Pesach. We cannot emphasize enough that you
should speak to your personal rabbi before refraining from
taking any medication for any reason.

I do not sell actual chametz even if it is part of a
mixture. Does food containing modified food starch
(MFS) constitute chametz?
A: In the United States it is assumed that modified food starch (MFS) is derived from corn
or potato starch. Therefore those who are meticulous not to sell chametz gamor (actual
chametz) may sell such items. If, however, the product is labeled Non-GMO (genetically
modified organism) or is imported, it may be actual chametz and one should discard it
before Pesach to avoid selling it.

Going to a motel on chol hamoed – kashering a microwave
and refrigerator:

In terms of going to a hotel on pesach, you’re allowed to
go into the room, but the Halacha is that you have to do
bedikas chametz. Check the room, you don’t necessarily
have to use a candle and obviously you can’t use 10 pieces
of bread, but you should check the room and check the
refrigerator. If you want to put food into the fridge you
need to clean it first. In terms of the microwave, the
halacha is that you can’t kasher it on Pesach.
Any kashering you do, has to be erev Pesach before the zman. So, without getting into the
question of how to kasher a microwave, you can’t kasher it on Pesach. So, if you’re going to
want to use the microwave, which is not something I recommend, but if you really need to
use it, clean it well and then triple wrap everything.

Why does milk need a special Pesach certification?
Milk contains added vitamins that contain a slight chametz
risk. Therefore, it is best to purchase milk made with special
Pesach supervision. If you cannot get Pesach certified milk,
regular milk should be bought before Pesach at which time
chametz can be batel (nullified).

If you have a question for Rabbi Elefant please email jewishvues@gmail.com and write in the subject line “Question for Rabbi Elefant”