Meat And Milk - Added Stringencies

Q. The Torah forbids eating meat that was cooked with milk, and Chazal added many additional layers of prohibition. For example, milk may not be placed on the table during a fleishig meal. Why are there more stringencies regarding meat and milk than with other prohibitions?

A. The Ran (Chullin 32b) explains that Chazal instituted more restrictions for meat and milk than other prohibitions because both meat and milk are permitted when eaten separately. It is more challenging to refrain from eating foods which we are accustomed to eating, than avoiding items that are always forbidden. Most people have milk and meat in their kitchens and keeping them separate requires a heightened level of vigilance. We find similar stringencies for chametz on Pesach. Since we eat chametz all year, Chazal required that we search our homes and remove all traces of chametz. Technically, it is not necessary to destroy or discard chometz after bitul (nullification), but Chazal did not want us to rely on bitul alone, so we will not accidentally err and eat the chometz that is in our possession.

Rav Shimon Schwab zt”l (Ma’ayan Beis Hasho’aiva) offers an additional explanation. The Torah (Devarim 14:21) states, “For you are a holy nation to Hashem your God; you shall not cook a kid in its mother’s milk.” Holiness is easily compromised and is best maintained with strict safeguards. Since the separation of milk and meat enhances our holy stature, Chazal enacted many protective restrictions.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.