PESAH
Hamets
The restriction is solely hamets. Flour is not hamets! Sefaradim have always made fresh matzot during every day of Pesah. The humrot of the Ashkenazim has corrupted our thinking. Those unnecessary restrictions that were totally unknown to our sages should not be given any consideration whatsoever.
"Sweet Challah" is an Ashkenazi practice. Sweet breads are considered cake according to Jewish law and should not be used in place of regular bread, which was made of dough with only water, salt and leaven mixed into it, for Shabbat meals according to Sefaradic tradition.
Sefaradim follow the Shulhan Arukh while Ashkenazim follow the Rema. One opinion is to hang the mezuzah vertically and the other horizontally. You cannot satisfy both opinions by doing something which neither opinion subscribes such as hanging a mezuzah diagonally which satisfies neither opinion.
WHISKEY FINISHED IN WINE/SHERRY BARRELS IS KASHER
Our sages declared non-kasher wine is nullified six-to-one.
Talmud Avodah Zarah 74: Terumah wine is Batel besheish (six parts to one). Normally, Min b'Eino Mino (when mixed with another species), Terumah is Batel besheishim (sixty parts to one), like other Isurim. For example, wine is Batel in water six-to-one, for it does not improve the water. It is detrimental, i.e. Noten Ta'am li'Fgam (leaving a bad taste), which is permitted regarding all Isurim. According to this, our Mishnah forbids wine that became mixed with water when it improves it, i.e. there is at least one sixth wine; but if there are more than six parts of water for each part of wine, it is li'Fgam and it is permitted. It is a mere acidity.
The Shulhan Arukh and the Rema agree.
The Shulhan Arukh (134.5) and the Rema (128.8) both rule that non-kasher wine is batel besheish (nullified in a ratio of six-to-one). So the Ashkenazim cannot really take issue with this topic, after all they follow the rulings of the Rema!
Avida leta’ama does not apply.
The restriction of avida leta’ama (something added for its taste) does not apply. The whiskey aged in a wine barrel after aging in a charred barrel adds to the complexity of the finish, but the flavor of the wine is not imbued – one cannot actually taste the wine flavor, but only a new blend of flavors. Nonetheless, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein stated that even if wine was added to it for flavor, the whiskey would be permitted because wine which is batel besheish is no longer considered wine – it is referred to as "kiyuha" (soured, acidic). So again, the Ashkenazim cannot really take issue with this topic as Rabbi Feinstein's rulings are regarded by their community in the highest esteem!
Bitul issur lekhathila (intentional nullification) does not apply.
There is no concern for ein mevattelin issur lekhathila (it is forbidden to intentionally dilute issur so that the laws of bitul will apply) because most of the wine is for non-Jewish use. Whiskies which are finished with such wines are produced by a gentile and primarily for the gentile market. So it will be batel bedieved (already nullified after the fact) when purchased by a Jew.
Unfortunately, there is rampant misinformation about finished whiskies.
There is the concept of taking on a humra for oneself, but one is not permitted to espouse as if it was actually the halakha.
KASHERING SINKS
Humrot are NOT Halakhot
Some Ashkenazim have humrot [voluntary stringencies not required by the halakha], due to their adherence to the rulings of the Rema. Nonetheless, a Posek is not allowed to rule strictly for Sepharadim who follow the rulings of Maran. Even if the Posek wishes to be stringent, he may only do so for himself. [Hazan Ovadia, Pesach p. 109-110 and note 31 at length]
No kashering of sinks between milk and meat
According to Maran Bet Yosef [Shulhan Arukh Yoreh Deah 95.4], Sinks do not need to be kashered between meat and milk since the sink is used to wash dishes with soap, and thus separate sinks are unnecessary.
Kashering of sinks is very basic
Hacham HaRav Ovadia [Yalkut Yosef 451.42] says a kitchen sink can be kashered by pouring boiling water onto its surfaces three times, even if the sink is made of earthenware (porcelain).
Sink liners are unnecessary
Hacham HaRav Ovadia [Yalkut Yosef 451.42] calls the practice of lining the sink [such as with aluminum foil, or with a dishpan] a stringency beyond the halakha. It is a humra of the Ashkenazim.
BREAD BAKED BY A NON-JEW
The mishna prohibits eating bread that was baked by a non-Jew. In the talmud the rabbis permitted one to eat the bread of a non-Jewish baker (pat palter) but not of a private individual, that is, the bread that was baked by a non-Jew for his personal use, is forbidden. Pat palter is permitted but privately baked bread is prohibited.
Maran, z"l, writes in the Shulhan Arukh, that one may eat pat palter, obviously assuming the ingredients are kasher, when there is no Pat Yisrael available or if the bread from the non-Jewish bakery is superior in quality to that of the Pat Yisrael.
The overwhelming custom, followed by many, however, is that bread baked in a non-Jewish bakery is permitted, even where there is Jewish baked bread available, since the problem of intermarriage between the baker and those who are purchasing the bread from him, does not apply in such a case.
[Citing Mishna Avodah Zarah 35b, Talmud Avodah Zarah 2, Shulhan Arukh Yoreh Deah 112, Ben Ish Hai Parashat Huqqat Ot 2,3]
SWORDFISH IS KASHER
Please visit Swordfish is kasher!