Q&A: Meat and Milk
Meat and Milk
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi,
I am a soldier in the IDF.
In principle, I eat a meat meal every day at a fixed time, 5 in the evening, and I usually wait 6 hours between meat and dairy, but this comes with many difficulties. Because I wait 6 hours, I have to wait until 11 at night.
There are many situations where I am really hungry and need to wait 6 hours in order to eat a dairy food that will fill me up. Even after I wait until 11 at night, I go to sleep soon after the meal, which is not so healthy.
I really do try, despite the difficulties, to keep the full 6 hours, and I am honestly trying to find pareve substitutes, but I haven’t found many alternatives.
Is there any possibility of being a bit lenient about the waiting time between meat and dairy just during this period of military service, depending on the situation?
And would there be any difference between poultry and mammal meat?
Thank you 🙏
Answer
There is no difference between poultry and mammal meat, since this is about the custom of separation and not the prohibition of eating. But if this is your practice, it is like a vow, and it must be annulled before a rabbi.
If you feel that this harms your fitness for duty, then of course you can be lenient because of the laws of saving life and warfare. If not, then annulment is required. Do you have an accessible military rabbi nearby?
Discussion on Answer
So much so
Forwarded:
Rabbi Michi, for some reason it didn’t let me send a follow-up comment on my question yesterday regarding meat and milk (it said: incorrect security key).
I come from a traditional family. I became religious at age 18. I am almost 20. In my home, and I myself until age 18, I kept 3 hours, at most 4, between meat and dairy (I am half Ashkenazi).
Less than a year ago I took upon myself to wait 6 hours between meat and dairy as part of becoming more observant.
It is also important to note that I am not in a combat role.
Do I still need annulment of vows? Or is it permitted to be a bit lenient with the number of hours just during this period of service?
You can be lenient and wait five hours and a bit, and start counting from the time you ate meat and not from the end of the meal. Beyond that, annulment is required.
https://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/129418