Can One Kasher Drinking Glasses for Pesach?

Shulchan Aruch (451:26) writes that glass does not absorb and therefore does not need to be kashered. However, Rama (Orach Chaim 451:26) writes that the minhag of Ashkenazim is that glass that had been used with hot chametz may not be used on Pesach even if it was kashered. There are two reasons given for this. One reason is because we compare glass, which is made from sand, to cheres (earthenware), which is made from clay. Just as cheres cannot be kashered, likewise glass may not be kashered. The other reason is because we are concerned that one might not kasher glass properly for fear it might crack. Although Chayei Adam 125:22 writes that if it is difficult to get new drinking glasses for Pesach, one may be lenient and kasher glasses, however in America this situation doesn’t really apply.

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.