Kosher Cheese: Difference between revisions
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#There is a major dispute between the poskim whether or not soft cheese, such as cream cheese, cottage cheese and farmer's cheese, is subject to the prohibition of non-Jewish cheese. Some poskim hold that since soft cheese can be made without the use of rennet and is made with bacterial cultures, it shouldn't be considered a cheese for the purposes of this enactment and would be permitted without any Jewish involvement as long as all of the ingredients and utensils are kosher. However, others disagree and don't rely on that leniency.<ref>[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/cheese/ Rabbi Avraham Gordimer] explained that the OU and other kashrut organization's policy was to rely on this leniency and to give a hechsher to cottage cheese as long as all ingredients and utensils in the factory are kosher even if a Jew isn't present all of the time. | #There is a major dispute between the poskim whether or not soft cheese, such as cream cheese, cottage cheese and farmer's cheese, is subject to the prohibition of non-Jewish cheese. Some poskim hold that since soft cheese can be made without the use of rennet and is made with bacterial cultures, it shouldn't be considered a cheese for the purposes of this enactment and would be permitted without any Jewish involvement as long as all of the ingredients and utensils are kosher. However, others disagree and don't rely on that leniency.<ref>[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/cheese/ Rabbi Avraham Gordimer] explained that the OU and other kashrut organization's policy was to rely on this leniency and to give a hechsher to cottage cheese as long as all ingredients and utensils in the factory are kosher even if a Jew isn't present all of the time. | ||
*Igrot Moshe YD 1:50 says that we can rely on the Rama to have jews watching the cheese making process, but otherwise it is forbidden even if it all kosher ingredients. There he’s also strict on cottage cheese but says not to protest those who are lenient. In Igrot Moshe YD 2:48 he elaborates on the topic of cottage cheese and says that cottage cheese might not be considered gevinat akum since it could have been made without any rennet, so they never made a gezerat about it. He concludes that there’s a strong reason to be lenient but didn't want to establish any opinion as it being permitted or forbidden but wouldn’t protest those who are lenient. Aruch Hashulchan 115:16 implies clearly that cheese which doesn’t need rennet to become cheese is still forbidden. Chelkat Binyamin 115:60 writes that it is a unresolved question. Ben Yisrael Lamim (by R' Taharani p. 325 Birurim n. 17) is strict on cottage cheese and proves it from the Radvaz 6:2291 regarding yogurt. Yalkut Yosef (YD 81:23 Isur Vheter v. 2 p. 115) seems to conclude like those who are strict on ricotta cheese, but does cite those who are lenient in places that have the minhag to be lenient. Ultimately, he quotes the Zivchei Tzedek who says that someone pious would be careful on ricotta cheese from non-Jews.</ref> | *Igrot Moshe YD 1:50 says that we can rely on the Rama to have jews watching the cheese making process, but otherwise it is forbidden even if it all kosher ingredients. There he’s also strict on cottage cheese but says not to protest those who are lenient. In Igrot Moshe YD 2:48 he elaborates on the topic of cottage cheese and says that cottage cheese might not be considered gevinat akum since it could have been made without any rennet, so they never made a gezerat about it. He concludes that there’s a strong reason to be lenient but didn't want to establish any opinion as it being permitted or forbidden but wouldn’t protest those who are lenient. Aruch Hashulchan 115:16 implies clearly that cheese which doesn’t need rennet to become cheese is still forbidden. Chelkat Binyamin 115:60 writes that it is a unresolved question.</ref> Sephardim are strict in this regard.<ref> Ben Yisrael Lamim (by R' Taharani p. 325 Birurim n. 17) is strict on cottage cheese and proves it from the Radvaz 6:2291 regarding yogurt. Yalkut Yosef (YD 81:23 Isur Vheter v. 2 p. 115) seems to conclude like those who are strict on ricotta cheese, but does cite those who are lenient in places that have the minhag to be lenient. Ultimately, he quotes the Zivchei Tzedek who says that someone pious would be careful on ricotta cheese from non-Jews.</ref> | ||
==Kosher Rennet== | ==Kosher Rennet== | ||
