Halacha for Sunday 17 Av 5782 August 14 2022

Frying Fish in a Meat Pot, Baking Fish and Meat in the Same Oven, and Maran zt”l’s Custom

There is a well-known prohibition of eating fish and meat together, as discussed by the Gemara and Poskim.

Cooking Fish in a Meat Pot
Although it is prohibited to cook a dairy dish in a meat pot as we have discussed in a previous Halacha, nevertheless, Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l writes that there is no prohibition to fry fish in a meat pan or to cook fish in a pot that is usually used to cook meat, for the reason behind the prohibition to eat fish and meat together is because of the danger involved (as we have explained in the previous Halacha) and this danger only applies when actual fish and meat are present; however, the mere flavor of the meat which was absorbed by the pot is not sufficient to create a hazard.

Baking Fish and Meat Next to One Another in an Oven
Baking fish and meat next to one another in the same oven is also prohibited because of the danger involved, for both of their flavors mix with one another and they are both somewhat tangible. Nevertheless, if one mistakenly placed a tray of fish and a tray of meat in the oven to bake at the same time, one may act leniently and eat from them both since there are several doubts regarding this law which allow us to rule leniently on this matter once this has already occurred. Nonetheless, the great Rishon Le’Zion, Moreinu Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Yosef Shlit”a writes that several years ago, he and his father, Maran zt”l, travelled abroad and their hosts mistakenly baked fish and meat together in the same oven and Maran zt”l acted stringently and did not partake of those foods that were baked in the oven, although, as we have explained, according to the letter of the law, one may act leniently in this regard.

Grilling Fish and Meat Together on the Same Grill
Although one may not bake fish and meat together in the same oven, this only applies to our kinds of ovens which are enclosed (and not that large). However, it is permissible to grill fish and meat together on the same grill next to one another as long as they do not touch each other at all, for their respective smells and steam become dispersed in the open air and they do not come back down and become absorbed by the respective foods. (Grilling fish and meat together on the same grill over charcoals is especially common in restaurants where fish and meat are served. This is indeed permissible as long they do not come in contact with one another.)

Summary: Fish may be cooked in a clean meat pot. One may not bake fish and meat together in the same oven; rather, one must only bake them in the oven one after another, as prescribed by Halacha. One may grill fish and meat together, next to one another on the same grill as long they do not touch one another.

8 Halachot Most Popular

Parashat Naso in the Diaspora

(From the teachings of Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l) (written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds UK) Trading Places! The Parashah states, “The sacred offerings of each individual remain his ......

Read Halacha

Taking Haircuts and Shaving During the Omer Period- 5786

Abstaining from Taking Haircuts During the Omer It has become customary among the Jewish nation to refrain from taking haircuts during the Omer counting period: According to the Ashkenazi custom, until the 33rd day of the Omer and according to the Sephardic custom, until the morning of the 34th day......

Read Halacha

The Omer Counting Period

The period of the counting of the Omer is exalted indeed and filled with sanctity, as the Ramban writes in his commentary on Parashat Emor that the days between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot, i.e. the Omer counting period, retain the sanctity of Chol Ha’Moed and are not days of national t......

Read Halacha

The Holiday of Pesach- The Zodiac of Aries

The Torah (Shemot 12) states: “Speak to the community leadership of Israel and say that on the tenth of this month each of them shall take a lamb to a family, a lamb to a household. But if the household is too small for a lamb, let it share one with a neighbor who dwells nearby, in proportion ......

Read Halacha


Arriving Late to or Skipping Some Portions of the Megillah Reading

Every member of the Jewish nation is obligated to read the Megillah on the day of Purim. One must read it during the night and once again the next day, as the verse states, “My G-d, I call out to you during the day, and you do not answer; during the night I have no rest.” This verse is w......

Read Halacha

Leaning During the Seder

The Mitzvah of Leaning The Gemara (Pesachim 108a among other places) states that there are several things during the Seder that must be eaten or drunk while leaning, i.e. while leaning to one’s left side. Indeed, the Midrash states on the verse “And Hashem led the nation in a roundabout......

Read Halacha

Food Products for Pesach Use Nowadays

Beginning from thirty days before Pesach, the Mitzvah of eliminating Chametz takes effect. This includes all of the Pesach cleaning and all measures taken to ensure one does not transgress the prohibition of consuming or owning Chametz on Pesach. It is therefore incumbent on each of us to begin t......

Read Halacha

The Custom of the “Commemoration of the Half-Shekel”- 5786

In the beginning of Parashat Ki-Tisa, which we read again not long ago for Parashat Shekalim, the Torah commands the Jewish nation to donate a Half-Shekel during the times when the Bet Hamikdash stood. This Mitzvah was auspicious in that it protected the Jewish nation from all plague; indeed, the......

Read Halacha