Maintaining Kosher Travel while traveling offers several challenges. If you live in an area with a sizable Jewish citizenry you are probably used to having a wide selection of authorized Kosher restaurants at your disposal. This selection of reliable Kosher restaurants can decline significantly when one moves far from home. In such instances issues may happen concerning how to keep kosher while traveling and how to select a dependable restaurant far from home. Many individuals mistakenly believe that alleged “vegetarian” or “vegan” eateries are adequate solutions to actual kosher establishments–a dangerous myth indeed.
That Salad May Be Less Kosher Than Pig
Think it or maybe not eating a straightforward salad at a non-kosher cafe could possibly be worse than eating a portion of pig! From the Jewish legislation perspective (halacha) the prohibition against consuming insects is more stringent than eating pork! To ensure that that salad to be kosher it needs been totally examined for insects, a need that the essential washing techniques in practically all non-kosher consuming establishments does not satisfy. You will find specific pre-packaged salad products which are licensed to be pest free, nevertheless when you bite in to that salad on the next sail be certain question to begin to see the packaging to verify if that lettuce originated in a trusted source. When you have determined that the lettuce is insect free, make certain it’s offered on a cool clean (or disposable) place and that no “sharp” foods such as for instance onions, radishes, fruit, etc. have now been added since that could present different kashrut problems that may perhaps make that bug-free salad treif!
Dressings also present problems. For instance, may be the dressing parve or made with dairy? Does the dressing have an acceptable kosher certification (hashgacha)? You can find different concerns too, did the fruits or vegetables come from Israel? Such imported products and services could present issues regarding tithing, just together example. May be the cafe applying non-kosher wine or flavor oils?
Coffee
The recognition of coffee houses presents distinctive problems for the kosher traveler. Eateries such as for instance Starbucks present a variety of both kosher and non-kosher items which are not clearly labeled. Usually, unflavored espresso (regular or decaf) is acceptable. In these cases the consume must take a disposable glass and shouldn’t come into experience of silverware (stir the coffee with something disposable). In the United States it’s possible to include dairy for their espresso (assuming they cannot maintain Chalav Yisroel).
Flavorful coffees pose their particular problems. Several coffee places use non-kosher flavoring syrups or powders. Before putting taste to your coffee be sure to examine the presentation to make sure that it should indeed be kosher. Bear in mind that simply because you analyzed the appearance when, you’ll need to do so everytime you order because so many eateries may modify models without notifying customers.
The bottom range in regards to purchasing coffee as an unsupervised establishment is that one may possibly obtain basic coffee without as hasgacha if they’re careful to inspect any included substances, and use disposable glasses and utensils.
A Word of Caution
Even with the above mentioned leniencies and information it’s critically essential that you consult your own qualified Orthodox Rabbi for specific instructions. Not everybody keeps by exactly the same leniences or halachic rulings and therefore one must question issues of the rav ahead of buying from an unsupervised establishment. The above information is supposed as a rough guide and introduction to the problems of the kosher tourist and should not be taken as halachic advice.