[Avodah] Kosher Watermelon

[Yitzhak Grossman]

[In response to a claim that it's perfectly OK to purchase watermelon
that may have been cut with a knife that has been previously used to
cut non-kosher items]

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:22:50 -0700

From: Elliott Shevin <eshevin at hotmail.com>

> R. Shmuel Zajac:
>  
> > I can see it in the big stores. The way these places are organized also supports that, 
> > I think.> > In small places, though, I would never take the chance. I've seen the way these 
> > guys work, and if they sell anything treif that might be cut with the same knives, I 
> > wouldn't get the watermelon.
>  
> Watermelon: cold, and easily more than 60 times whatever might be 
> stuck to the knife--possibly more than 60 times the knife itself.
>  
> Knife: cold and dry.
>  
> Produce clerk: someone who doesn't know there is such a thing as bitul 
> bashishim, much less is relying on it.
>  
> If the combination still gives you the creeps, you're free to pass on the 
> watermelon. But it's still kosher al pi halacha. There is no chance to be 
> taken. Elly

You still need graidah or hadaha [0].  Moreover, the Shach [1] seems to
imply that lechat'hilah one may not cut something with a non kosher
knife, since he may forget to do the aforementioned procedures.  [He
doesn't say, though, that you should avoid buying something that has
been so cut.] 

[0] Shulhan Aruch Yorah De'ah 96:5
[1] ibid. 23

Yitzhak
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