Q&A: Waiting Between Meat and Dairy
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Waiting Between Meat and Dairy
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I wanted to ask about the custom of waiting between meat and dairy for one hour, since that is the practice accepted in my family.
Some members of my family decided to change the custom to six hours, because one hour is not considered as good a custom, as seems implied by the Rema, who writes that someone who has a "scent of Torah" should keep six hours.
What does the expression "scent of Torah" mean in the Rabbi's opinion? Is there room to change from one hour to six hours? Is keeping one hour an inferior custom?
Answer
It is accepted in Jewish law that it is proper to change it (I also changed many years ago from four to six). But it is a custom, not an obligation, of course.