Boiling soup, chopping vegetables, using the microwave... halachos of household help 

Prepared for print by Faigy Peritzman

I have a new non-Jewish cleaning lady, and she used my microwave to heat up her nonkosher food. What do I do?

It depends on several factors: 1) If the food she warmed up in the microwave was completely wrapped or tightly covered, and nothing spilled from it, then the microwave remains kosher and nothing needs to be done. 2) If the food was heated while uncovered, then it depends if the food was solid and dry, e.g., a sandwich, or liquid, e.g., a soup. If it was dry, then the microwave needs to be scrubbed clean, and nothing further needs to be done (assuming that the dry food was placed on a paper or plastic plate and not directly on the glass turntable). 3) If the food was liquid, and it was heated to yad soledes bo temperatures (approx. 110ᴼF [43ᴼC] or higher), then the microwave will become nonkosher and may not be used unless it is kashered.

Kashering a microwave from nonkosher to kosher is halachically debatable. Some poskim permit kashering a microwave by first scrubbing it clean, waiting 24 hours, and then placing a utensil filled with water inside the microwave and heating it until the entire chamber is filled with thick steam. If food was placed [or spilled] directly on the turntable, then the turntable will require hagalah as well. Other poskim, however, question this procedure, and are wary of permitting kashering a microwave altogether. Some poskim rule that while it’s permitted to kasher a microwave, it may only be used for foods that will be covered while using the microwave.

My non-Jewish housekeeper often starts preparing the vegetables I’m planning to use before I get home from work. Is it a problem to have her work in the kitchen if I’m not home?

It’s not a problem for you to allow your housekeeper to cold prep vegetables in your kitchen, but it’s always a problem to allow a non-Jew access to your kitchen without some type of supervision or oversight (as she may easily confuse the dairy and meat sides of the kitchen and cause many other possible halachic issues). At the very least, you must make it clear to her what she may or may not do in your kitchen, and then follow that up by monitoring her actions to see if she understands what you told her and follows your directions. Often, there is a lack of communication that could result in serious halachic issues.

My cleaning lady works mornings when I’m at work, and then leaves as I get home. Is it a problem to have her alone in the house if she’s not touching our food? Are there any problems with the sealed meats and chickens I have in the freezer?

While the cleaning lady may not be touching your food, if she’s allowed access to the kitchen, she may make use of it for her own food or her coffee. As stated earlier, it is always a halachic concern to allow a non-Jew unsupervised and unmonitored access to your kosher kitchen.

There is no problem with leaving sealed packages of meat and chicken in your freezer, even if your cleaning lady is alone in your home.

I have kitchen help, and she’s incredible at food prep. But my friend told me I may not have her check my vegetables for bugs. If I teach her how to do it, would this be a problem?

Checking for infestation in produce is a labor-intensive and difficult process to undertake and complete successfully. We don’t trust a non-Jew to do the meticulous process that is required by halachah. You are, however, permitted to let her do the washing and cleaning of the product, so long as you follow up with a thorough inspection of whatever she did to make sure that the infestation is completely gone.

I have a non-Jewish live-in. Is it a problem for us to keep our wines in our basement storage racks if she generally doesn’t go down to the basement?

If the wines in the basement are sealed, then there is no problem keeping them there, even if she does go down to the basement at any time.

I left meat defrosting in my fridge, but then had to run out to do carpool, and I forget today was the cleaning lady’s day to come. She was alone in the house for a bit until I got back. Do I need to throw out the meat?

You don’t need to throw out the meat. The only reason why meat [and other kosher sensitive foods] may not be left alone under the control of a non-Jew is the concern that perhaps the non-Jew will swap the kosher meat with nonkosher meat. In the case you described this concern is a nonissue for many reasons. The meat is permitted even l’chatchilah.

While I was making supper, I went into the laundry room to put up laundry. Meanwhile, the soup started to boil, so my cleaning lady turned the flame lower. Is that a problem?

It’s not a problem. Lowering a flame is not associated with bishul akum at all.

My mother recently moved in with us, and she has a full-time non-Jewish aide. Does installing nanny cams help to avoid problems with yichud for my husband?

Installing nanny cams could help mitigate the yichud issue, but only if someone will actually be monitoring the camera in real time. The monitor isn’t required to be looking at the camera the entire time that the yichud is taking place, but he or she needs to do so at random times throughout the entire time that the yichud is happening. Your husband needs to be aware that the nanny cam is in operation, and that someone will be monitoring it on a regular basis.

We have triplets and receive help from the state to watch the triplets. If she’s changing the babies on Shabbos, may she put on diaper rash cream? May she heat up bottles the regular weekday way or must do it the Shabbos way?

As long as she does what needs to be done on her own, she can diaper the babies and heat the milk in the same manner that she does during the weekdays. Since both of these activities can be done in a permissible manner, we’re not concerned if the non-Jew does it in the way most convenient for her.

I have a cleaning lady for many years. Recently she started wearing a cross on a necklace. Is it permitted for her to wear it in my house? May I make a brachah if she’s facing me?

You’re not required to ask your cleaning lady to stop wearing a cross in your house. However, you may not recite a brachah if you’re facing her while she’s wearing the cross.

Does paying a worker on the day he does his job apply to non-Jewish workers as well?

It is important to ensure that all workers are treated with respect and paid in accordance with local norms and your agreement. The mitzvah of paying workers on the day they complete their job doesn’t apply to non-Jewish workers. 

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 922)