Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, founder and director of The Jerusalem Kollel (www.thejerusalemkollel.com), is a widely respected authority on Halachah and well known for his telephone tapes on Shmiras Halashon. He is well known as a teacher and lecturer throughout Jerusalem and was ordained at the Mirrer Yeshiva, Jerusalem.
What is the status of a pot or pan that cooked something non-kosher? Is it necessary to throw out dairy food that was cooked in a meat pot or vice versa? What if parve food was cooked in a meat pot - is it considered meat? Rav Berkovits also deals with sharp foods, and where the law differs regarding their usage.
Ovens and stoves can be pretty straightforward until the major culprit is taken into account - how and where steam rises and touches can become very problematic. It affects passing one pot over the other, as well as adding spices to cooking food. And can you use the same oven for meat and dairy? Once again, steam comes into play. Rav Berkovits also covers the basics of koshering various kitchen utensils, as well as appliances.
We keep as far away as possible from treife food. But what if your child is sick, and needs non-kosher medicine? Or your parents are irreligious and are waiting for your help in carrying heavy non-kosher groceries? Also discussed is the concept of maris ayin - doing something that appears forbidden - and its wide ranging boundaries that extend even to a private room, far from anyone's eyes.
Rav Berkovits gives a broad look at the laws of Kashrus, covering the basics as well as areas you may have been unaware of. Knowing what goes into making meat and chicken kosher (even if don't plan on doing it yourself), how to deal with buggy foods, and many other important subjects can help you know when there is a potential problem, and what to ask.
Keeping a kosher kitchen requires a great deal of knowledge, at the very least to be able to know when to ask a question. Rav Berkovits gives a detailed review of the laws regarding meat and milk, pots and pans, and everything in between. An excellent refresher for someone who wants to brush up on their halachos quickly.
Visiting an unkosher homes is full of pitfalls and questions. Can you drink from a glass that wasn't toveled, or trust them on the certification of the ingredients in a cake? Is there any way to use the cutlery they supply? Which are the trouble foods to stay away from? This class is a must for anyone with non-observant friends and relatives.
Why are we required to recite blessings on all the food we eat, and on certain actions? Hear a fascinating exposition on the details of brachos. Without knowing the parameters of this important topic, it would be impossible to know which to say on what - and when.
Why are we required to recite blessings on all the food we eat, and on certain actions? Hear a fascinating exposition on the details of brachos. Without knowing the parameters of this important topic, it would be impossible to know which to say on what - and when.
Why are we required to recite blessings on all the food we eat, and on certain actions? Hear a fascinating exposition on the details of brachos. Without knowing the parameters of this important topic, it would be impossible to know which to say on what - and when.
Why are we required to recite blessings on all the food we eat, and on certain actions? Hear a fascinating exposition on the details of brachos. Without knowing the parameters of this important topic, it would be impossible to know which to say on what - and when.