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Kosher Catering
Your article on catering was quite interesting ("Making the Most of Your Simchah," April '98). I was happy to hear that the OK permits kashering to be done only after twenty-four hours' down time (aino ben yomo).

However, you write that the OK does not require ovens and stoves to lie idle for twenty-four hours. I would like to know why you do not demand the same standard for stoves and ovens that you require for flatware. The Mishnah Berurah (Orach Chaim 451:4, 30) writes that we treat libbun kal (kashering by heating the oven to its highest temperature) as equivalent to hag-alah, kashering with boiling water. Since libbun gamur (kashering with a blowtorch) is not done due to fire regulations, and only libbun kal is done on ovens and stoves, the same aino ben yomo requirement exists for these as for utensils.

Additionally, why don't you require a caterer to provide his own silverware rather than have him use the hotel's? This standard is commonplace in some communities outside New York City, including Chicago.

Furthermore, I have been led to understand that even if the silverware is not used for twenty-four hours, a ben yomo problem can exist in some hotels. The steam kettle in these hotels utilizes steam from the cooking of non-kosher food. This in effect makes the silverware ben yomo.

If the OK would set still higher standards, perhaps other agencies would follow suit. Thanks again for an excellent article.

Shmuel Foxman
Far Rockaway, NY

Rabbi Don Yoel Levy replies:
The OK policy is that one can kasher a ben yomo item by libbun kal. Please see the Shulchan Aruch HaRav (451:10), among others, who writes that libbun kal burns out absorbed taste rather than merely causing it to exit the walls of the stove or oven. Thus it is superior to hag'alah. We do not require caterers to bring their own silverware because we kasher these only after twenty-four hours' idle time. Finally, we are aware of the steam problem, and our kashering method accounts for it in a halachically satisfactory manner.

Positive Comments
Let me commend you on the Pesach issue of The Jewish Homemaker. The entire issue was well done, but I was particularly taken with the sensitive piece about Reuven Feuerstein ("The Transformer"), with whom I worked closely while I was in Israel on a Fulbright Scholarship in the late 1980's.

I was also impressed by Jay Litvin's Reflections column. It did a great job of making the point that we who work with children need to be sensitized to their world and to how they experience life.

Jerome Beker, Ed.D.
Editor, Child and Youth Care Forum (received via e-mail)

Pesach and Gebrukts
I really enjoy The Jewish Homemaker. It is a great publication that addresses the physical and spiritual needs of the Jewish home. You really live up to your name.

I do have a complaint about the Cooking section in the Pesach magazine. You included many recipes that stated they were gebrukts, but you did not explain the meaning of gebrukts. Also, it is preferable to minimize the use of gebrukts.

Yakov Schwartz Brooklyn, NY

Editor's Reply:
Most of our readers are familiar with the concept of gebrukts, and we therefore did not find it necessary to explain that gebrukts refers to the combination of matzoh or matzoh meal and water. There is no halachic imperative to "minimize" the use of gebrukts. One either does eat gebrukts on Pesach or does not. Of the sixteen recipes offered, only four were gebrukts, leaving readers free to select the recipes that conform to their particular custom.

We have received numerous requests from readers asking how to contact Prof. Reuven Feuerstein, who was featured in the article “The Transformer” in the Pesach issue. Prof. Feuerstein can be reached in writing at: The Center for Enhancement of Learning Potential, Rechov Narkiss 47, P.O.B. 7755, Jerusalem, Israel.
The fax number is: 011-972-2-561-9815. If you are writing to request guidance concerning a specific case, please send along all relevant details, including any test results and evaluations. The Center has asked that readers not call directly, but faxes are acceptable.

The Jewish Homemaker welcomes letters from readers. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Letters must be signed and dated.

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