The Magen Avraham (509:11) writes that the
minhag is not to permit
kashering utensils from meat to dairy or from dairy to meat. If this were allowed, an individual might purchase only one pot or one knife and constantly
kasher it back and forth. This type of arrangement will inevitably lead to mistakes. Nonetheless, the Magen Avraham (OC 173, introduction) implies that one may eat cheese on a
fleishig tablecloth so long as it was washed well before doing so. Apparently, the Magen Avrahon distinguishes between meat and dairy vessels and meat and dairy tablecloths. Why are they not the same? The difference may be that changing the status of a vessel can only be accomplished by
kashering with boiling water. If a person would change a vessel from meat to dairy, we are afraid they may forget to
kasher in between uses. However, fabric can be rendered kosher with a standard washing, as explained in a previous Halacha Yomis. Since it is common to wash tablecloths between uses, we are not concerned that one might forget to wash it between meat and dairy.
Learn more about the Halacha Yomis program and subscribe
Subscribers can also ask their own questions on Kashrus issues and send them to GerstenE@ou.org. These questions and their answers may be selected to become one of the Q and A’s on OU Kosher Halacha Yomis.
