Duchka D'Sakina - Chiltis

QUESTION: I cut an onion with a fleishig knife that had not been used in more than 24 hours (aino ben yomo). When a utensil is not used for 24 hours, the absorbed taste becomes stale. Is the onion considered fleishig?

ANSWER: The Gemara (Avoda Zara 39a) states that if one cut a chiltis (a very spicy vegetable) with a non-kosher knife, even if the knife had not been used with non-kosher for more than 24 hours (aino-ben-yomo), the chiltis will become non-kosher. This is because the strong spicy taste of the chiltis has the ability to revive even stale tastes. The same applies to a fleishig knife. Even if the knife had not been used for 24 hours, the chiltis would become fleishig. While all agree that this halacha applies to a chiltis, Shulchan Aruch cites differing opinions as to whether this halacha applies to less spicy vegetables such as a radish. The Shach (Y.D. 96:6) writes that the accepted ruling is to extend this halacha to all d’varim charifim (e.g., even radishes and onions). Therefore, if someone cut an onion with a fleishig knife, even if the knife was cold and clean and had not been used in the past 24 hours (aino ben yomo), the onion would nevertheless become fleishig.

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