7 Nissan 5770
March 22, 2010
Unfortunately, some people must be hospitalized over yomtov, including seder night. This poses a special challenge regarding kashrut due to the array of laws and customs surrounding the yomtov.
Following is a brief list of some hospitals in an effort to assist those from whom this will be relevant.
(Most of the information is from Halacha U’maase, volume 10, Nissan 5770).
**Asuta Hospital (Tel Aviv) – Is being kashered before yomtov but there is not central seder. Mehadrin meals may be ordered over yomtov, and they will come from Shtisel’s in Bnei Brak.
**Assaf HaRofeh (Tzrifin) – Bnei yeshiva are kashering the hospital for Pesach. The facility will maintain regular kashrus. One may order mehadrin meals from Masbia.
**Bikur Cholim (Jerusalem) – The hospital is being kashered to maintain its high kashrus standard. Guards have already been instructed to prevent anyone from bringing food into the hospital.
**Beilinson (Petach Tikvah) – The hospital purchased new Pesach equipment. All the new items display the words “chag somayach” on them, a move intended to make them easily identifiable and to prevent mix-ups.
A special stream pressure unit was purchased to kasher the kitchen, and this is being done under the supervision of the city’s chief rabbi. Guards are instructed to prevent anyone from bringing food into the facility and in addition, signs are posted in Hebrew, English and Arabic informing visitors they may not bring food into the hospital. Mehadrin meals may be ordered via one of the volunteer chessed organizations operating in the hospital.
**Bnei Tzion/Rothschild (Haifa) – The hospital complex is being kashered for Pesach and once again, outside food is prohibited. The organization that usually provides mehadrin during the year is not operating on Pesach and families that are shomrei Torah are being permitted to bring food into the facility.
**Hadassah Ein Kerem (Jerusalem) – The entire hospital is kashered for Pesach. Outside food is prohibited. Mehadrin meals are available year-round, including Pesach. A seder is held in the brit hall.
The hospital’s hotel is under mehadrin supervision year-round. Jerusalem Rabbanut mehadrin, and on Pesach mehadrin non-gebrochs (shruya) meals are available.
Hadassah Baby, the facility for new moms, offers Rabbanut mehadrin on Pesach as well and all meats are under the supervision of Rabbi Landau Shlita, Bnei Brak, no gebrochs.
**Laniado (Netanya) – The hospital administrators do not permit bringing any food into the facility during Pesach, with the exception of fresh fruits and bottled water. Families remaining in the facility can obtain meals from the hospital kitchen.
The hospital purchases Pesach utensils new every year, never using the items from previous years.
The hospital offers only hand shmura matzot in all departments.
**Mayanei HaYeshua (Bnei Brak) – The only food items permitted from outside during Pesach are bottled water, fresh fruits and vegetables and hand shmura matzot.
Families may purchase meals, as is the case year-round, and on Pesach, they include hand shmura matzah.
An expeditious seder is held in all departments to accommodate patients, staff and family members. Another seder is held near the delivery rooms.
**Soroka (Beersheva) – The hospital is kashered under the supervision of the city’s chief rabbi. Outside food is not permitted. Mehadrin meals are available from chessed organizations operating in the hospital.
**Poriah (Tiveria) – The hospital is kashered. Outside food is not permitted. As many patients as possible are discharged ahead of the yomtov. There are no seder provisions.
**Kaplan (Rehovot) – The hospital is kashered under the supervision of the city’s chief rabbi. Outside food is not permitted. Mehadrin meals are available from chessed organizations operating in the hospital.
**Rambam (Haifa) – Dozens of bnei yeshiva work to kasher the hospital. Plastic dishes are replaced and the stainless steel items are kashered. The hospital maintains a regular non-mehadrin kashrut on Pesach. Guards inspect visitors to prevent outside food from being brought in. Mehadrin meals may be ordered from Hamasbia (Eida Chareidit).
**Shaare Zedek (Jerusalem) – The entire hospital is kashered to maintain the year-round mehadrin standard. A seder is available on every floor, including all the simanim of the yomtov. Mehadrin meals are available for visitors and family year-round. They may be purchased in the cafeteria.
**Tel Hashomer (Ramat Gan) – The hospital is kashered. Outside food is prohibited. Mehadrin is available from Hamasbia (Eida Chareidit).
NOTE: In addition to Hamasbia, which supplies mehadrin to a number of hospitals, there is also Deli Chef (Eida Chareidit) which is capable of arranging for mehadrin food in a number of hospitals.
It should also be noted that even in most hospitals maintaining a mehadrin hechsher, newborns are given a non-mehadrin formula at night.