[Avodah] Question on video Can I Drink Kosher Coffee from an Uncertified Restaurant?

[Akiva Miller]

R' Yitzchok Levine wrote:

> Rabbi Moshe Elefant says towards the end of the video at
> https://goo.gl/yPrU that if one found a fleishig utensil
> in a dairy dishwasher "It would be a catastrophe."  I do
> not understand why this would be the case.

(Please note that when I tried RYL's link, it brought me to an unrelated
Portugese site. I suggest using this link instead: https://goo.gl/1zVBU3)

I agree with RYL. He might have said merely that the fleishig utensil would
now have to be kashered, but using the word "catastrophe" gives the
impression that even the dairy utensils (and maybe even) the dishwasher
itself) would have to be kashered. Perhaps he was merely exaggerating, but
if so it is a good example of the dangers of exaggeration.

But what REALLLY bothers me about that video is his conclusion, where he
asks the audience, "So how could someone go on a regular basis, when they
know that the cup that they're drinking from, and the other items that were
used to prepare that coffee, were washed together in the same dishwasher,
as non-kosher items."

He never answers the question.

He never says whether we are allowed to do this or not. He only asks,
rhetorically, "How could someone do that?"

He is implying that it is assur, or that it ought to be assur, or something
along those lines but I'm not sure what - without actually answering the
question.

He even *changes* the question, by introducing the words "on a regular
basis", suggesting that "Maybe I could see doing it occasionally, but how
could one do it on a regular basis?" Like the rhetorical non-psak, this too
seems deliberately designed to muddy the waters. If he would indeed allow
this on an occasional basis but not on a regular basis, then he ought to
come out and say so (similar to the very nuanced articles that the Star-K
writes about Starbucks and Slurpees and liquor).

On the other hand, if the OU feels that they need to draw a strong red line
as a Lo Plug for people who won't grasp the nuances (like their refusal to
allow "Dairy Equipment" markings), the this video too should have been
clearer and unequivocal.

I'd like to write to the OU about this video, but I want to hear from the
chevra first.

Akiva Miller
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