Rabbi Shmuel Bornstein Explains Kashrut Challenges for Travelers Abroad

Rabbi Shmuel Bornstein, a globally recognized kashrut expert, hosts a new series on Kikar HaShabbat titled "On the Kashrut Table," presented by his grandson Tzviki Bornstein. In the third episode, Rabbi Bornstein continues to address common kashrut issues faced by Jewish travelers abroad, highlighting mistakes often made regarding leniencies.

He discusses the problem with half-baked rolls sold in Europe, which lack kosher certification to avoid issues of non-Jewish cooking, but present other serious concerns. Rabbi Bornstein shares a disturbing story about a bakery where the mashgiach (kosher supervisor) would light the oven each morning, unaware that non-Jews were baking non-kosher food there overnight.

The Rabbi also tackles a frequently asked question: whether it is permissible to drink soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Sprite without kosher certification while traveling. Finally, he outlines important guidelines for travelers to properly kasher the kitchen in their temporary accommodations abroad.

The full episode offers practical advice and exposes overlooked kashrut pitfalls for those vacationing outside Israel, emphasizing the need for vigilance even in seemingly minor details.