Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 4/29/2005

Question
I guess I am considered conservative. I keep kosher inside the home but not outside. During pasover, I do not eat bread or any chametzh.

I went to this diner during passover and the
special menu had a selection "for passover". I got the corned beef w/potatoe pancakes. When I asked the
register is this is kosher meat she said im not sure. Then i asked the cook behind the counter and he said yes its kosher meat. After I ate, i called back and the girl that picked up the phone said no its not kosher meat. AHHH!
I FEEL SO GUILTY....Will g-d forgive me?

Answer
Dear Debbie,

Thanks for writing and I do understand your feelings.

First of all, when others misinform you and cause you to break a rule of ritual, then it is on their shoulders, their fault and not your fault.

The problem with eating out of the home in general is that often the "kosher" and even more so "kosher for Passover" is fraudulent unless there is a respected certificate publicly displayed in the store/diner/restaurant. I work these days some times supervising kashrut and I can assure you that indeed there is more fraud than I care to recall or admit. That is why I maintain high standards on anything I supervise and sign off on.

Perhaps during Pesah you can take advantage of the recipes on the internet to avoid this sort of problem or find a restaurant which is reliable.

Primarily, it is less an issue of God [no need to write G-d] forgiving you than you forgiving yourself. I would urge you to work harder to observe kashrut outside of the home and even moreso Pesah outside the home - and all will work out.

Check out my website www.jewishfreeware.org for Pesah and let friends know about it for their Pesah and other holidays and information.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov