Holiday FAQs

You may use a washing-up bowl in a non-kosher sink.

Metal sinks may also be kashered as follows:

• Ensure that the sink is thoroughly clean.
• Ensure that 24 hours have passed since the sink was last used for non-kosher food.
• Pour water from a kettle onto the sink immediately after boiling, keeping the spout close to its surface. Ensure that each area of the sink is completely dry before the boiling water comes into contact with it.
• Ideally, once the process is complete, run cold water over the sink before use.

The counters must be spotlessly clean if you intend to use them for Kosher food or utensils.

If you intend to place hot pots or dishes directly on the countertop, it is recommended to place a covering over the surface so as to ensure that any residue on the countertop does not come into contact with the hot cookware.

The shelves of the fridge/freezer do not need to be covered but should be inspected and if necessary cleaned, to ensure they are clean and free from food remnants from previous occupants.

Kehillas Federation policy is not to permit the kashering of ovens from non-kosher to kosher.

Everything that goes into the oven should be double wrapped. It is vital to ensure that each layer of the double wrapping is strong and well-sealed all the way round.

One should ensure that liquids do not leak between the layers, which would invalidate the double wrapping.

The safest and easiest option is to carefully double-wrap all food. Ensure that the bags or wrapping do not burst during use.

If it is necessary to kasher the microwave, follow these steps:

(Note: a microwave that also has a grill element inside, cannot be kashered.)

• Ensure that it has not been used for 24 hours and is completely clean.
• Place a container filled with water inside the microwave and heat it on its highest setting, long enough that it steams out of the microwave. Then move the container and steam out the microwave again (thereby ensuring that the second time it kashers the area which was under the container the first-time round.)
• Once these steps have been completed the microwave is Kosher to use; however, it is still preferable to cover all food during use.

Each type of stove top has its own individual requirements for kashering. Ideally you should find out in advance what sort of stove is in place, so you can arrive equipped with any items you may need.  Some people may prefer to bring along their own portable or two-ring electric stove to avoid any issues.

Electric stove – Metal Rings or Plates
If the stove is a traditional electric model with metal rings or plates, kasher as follows

To kasher the rings:

• Ensure that the stove is thoroughly clean.
• Turn each ring on to full power for 30 minutes.
• There is no need to wait 24 hours before kashering.

To kasher (or, if preferred, cover) the base of the stove:

This is necessary to prevent any liquid spills beneath a kosher pot from producing steam that could affect the pot’s kosher status.

Either:

• Thoroughly clean the stove and leave it on full heat for 20 minutes. Consider placing a blech over the stove to help distribute the heat during the process.

Or:

• Cover the base of the stove with foil or a silicone stove mat, available from kitchenware retailers and kosher stores.

Electric stove – Ceramic (Glass) Stove

Kashering a ceramic (glass) stove presents a number of challenges. One must consider both the heated areas that glow red and the surrounding surfaces on which a pot may inadvertently be placed.

In addition, some authorities question whether a glass stove can be kashered at all. Covering the surface with foil or chicken wire may be unsafe and could damage the stove.

We therefore recommend the following:

• Heat the stove on full power for 30 minutes.
• Kasher the surrounding areas by pouring boiling water directly from a kettle onto the heated circular areas, allowing the water to flow over the rest of the surface.
• Only use the stove indirectly by placing pots on a simmer ring.

Gas stove
Clean and kasher the gas stove as follows:

Pan rests/grates
These should be covered using chicken wire, foil, or any other non-flammable material.

Practical options include:

• Placing a disposable barbecue rack over the pan rests.
• Using a simmer ring.

If using a thin mesh or rack, it may be advisable to use two layers to ensure that the weight of a full pot does not press through onto the pan rests.

Base of the stove

The base of the stove should be kashered (or, if preferred, covered). This is necessary to prevent any liquid spills beneath a kosher pot from producing steam that could affect its kosher status.

Either:

• Thoroughly clean the stove and leave it on full heat for 20 minutes. Consider placing a blech over the stove to help distribute the heat during the process.

Or:

• Cover the base of the stove with foil or a silicone stove mat, available from kitchenware retailers and kosher stores.

Induction stove
Kehillas Federation policy is that induction stoves cannot be kashered.

They may, however, be used when cleaned and then properly covered. A number of products are available for this purpose, including induction stove protector mats and induction discs.

For further information about these products, please see the Recommended Products page on our website. https://www.federation.org.uk/recommended-products

Ideally, you should use kosher crockery and glassware, or disposable alternatives. However, if these are not available, the one-time use of glassware, plates, bowls, and spoons for cold food is permitted.

Knives and forks should not be used, even for cold food, due to the pressure involved in their use.

If the kettle’s internal appearance is as one would expect and contains only white limescale residue, there is no need to be concerned that it has been used to boil non-kosher food. The kettle may therefore be used.

Preferably, wipe down the exterior first, then fill and boil the kettle once, discarding the water before use.

However, if there is black residue inside the kettle, it should not be used, as this may indicate that it has been used to boil something other than water.

It is best to bring along disposable barbecues as it is very difficult to kasher a barbecue from non-kosher.

When you are not staying near any shops where kosher food can be purchased, you may eat genuine pas palter products (as long as the product has a reliable hechsher).

There is no leniency to use food and drink products with unsupervised milk (cholov stam) in this situation.

You should not use these items but should rather bring along your own.

No. In this situation, you may assume that the fruit does not originate from Eretz Yisroel and therefore need not be concerned about shemitta or maaser.

The easiest way is to enter the postcode of the place where you are staying into a zmanim website such as MyZmanim.com. Be sure to write down key times, such as Zman Krias Shema, Shkiah, and Motzei Shabbos, before Shabbos begins so that you can refer to them during Shabbos.

Yes. You may accept Shabbos any time after Plag HaMinchah.

The calculations of Techum Shabbos are complex. You should consult your Rov before travelling so that the relevant boundaries and distances can be determined for you.

The fridge door switch must be disabled before Shabbos. In some cases, this can be achieved by using strong sticky tape to hold down a physical switch. Many modern fridges, however, use a magnetic door sensor, in which case strong magnets may be required.

Magnets can be purchased from our website – please order early to avoid disappointment.

For video instructions on temporarily disabling common fridge door switches with the magnets, visit our Holiday FAQs page at https://www.federation.org.uk/shailatext/faqs-holiday

Before travelling, we recommend bringing:

• Strong sticky tape
• Strong magnets
• A plug-in time switch

Once you arrive at your holiday accommodation, test the fridge and attempt to disable the door switch using tape or magnets, following the instructions on our website.

If this is not possible, place the fridge on a timer and only open the door when the timer has disconnected the power to the appliance.

If there is no option to use candles in any part of the building then switch on a regular filament light and have in mind that you are fulfilling the mitzvah of Hadlokas Neiros with that.

There are differing views regarding whether the brocho should be made, so ideally consult your own Rov on this – but the default position would be that no brocho is made.

This is a debated point, but there is room to allow going out as long as you don’t actually need or specifically intend to benefit from the light.

An important point for consideration is whether the area is lit by other light sources; if it is so dark that it is unusable you should not leave the house using that path.

We recommend discussing this with your Rov.

You do not have to be concerned about this, as long as you do not instruct them to clean on Shabbos.

No, this would not be permitted.

This is a problematic situation, and we recommend strongly that before booking, one makes advance enquiries to avoid such situations. If this is no longer possible, you will need to discuss your options with a Rov who may advise that you ask a non-Jew to accompany you instead of turning on the light yourself. Based on knowledge of your situation, there may also be room for further leniency.

In advance of asking a Shaila you should investigate if the hallways are lit sufficiently to manage to walk through them without those lights – for example where an outdoor streetlight shines brightly in the corridor.

You may request coffee if the water has been preheated in an urn. You can also take hot water from hot water flasks which have been heated for the general hotel guests.

Ordering a coffee on or before Shabbos is prohibited if in preparing the coffee, the staff will heat water especially for you.

We always recommend asking your local Rov where available, but if that is not possible, feel free to contact ShailaText. Our service remains active over the summer – simply text your question to 07403 939 613 for a reply within four working hours. Please give as much detail as possible, which will ensure a speedier response to your question.