How many hours must one wait between eating yellow cheese and meat?

Shalom,

According to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, zt"l, as a matter of law, it is permissible to eat meat immediately after eating cheese, even after strong cheese, [such as yellow cheese, salty cheese, blended cheese, and Tzfat cheese], provided that one rinses one’s mouth with bread or fruit or similar items, thoroughly chews them, swallows them, rinses the mouth with water or other beverages, and checks one’s hands to ensure that no cheese remains stuck to them, and only then eats meat. One who eats chicken after cheese does not need to rinse their mouth. (Responsa Yabia Omer, part 6, part Yoreh De'ah, section 7; Yalkut Yosef, Issur v'Heter, section 480, paragraph 46.)

Regarding the Ashkenazi custom, some hold that one must wait six hours after consuming yellow cheese (as is common today) before eating meat, while others argue that waiting six hours is unnecessary, and according to the law, it is possible to be lenient in this matter.

Sources: The opinion of Rabbi Yitzhak Yaakov Weiss, zt"l (author of Minchat Yitzhak) suggests waiting six hours after eating yellow cheese, as cited in Responsa Tshuvos V'henagos, part 2 (section 258). This is also the view of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt"l as mentioned in the book of Kashrut (chapter 10, section 50, and note 125). Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg, zt"l, was inclined to this as well (as recorded in the book, Migdalo and Meromemato, page 363). It is also stated in Responsa Shevet Halevi, part 2 (section 35) and in Responsa Mishnah Halachos, part 16 (section 9). Additionally, Rabbi Nissim Karelitz, shlit"a, mentions this in the book Beit V'Kashruto (page 41).

However, Rabbi Aharon Kotler and Rabbi Moshe Shtern, zt"l (author of Be'er Moshe), hold that one does not need to wait six hours after eating yellow cheese as it is found today, and their opinions were cited by Rabbi Aharon Papuifer, zt"l, in the book Kitzur Shulchan Aruch on meat and dairy (pages 137-138). Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt"l, also expressed this view in Responsa Mishnah Halachos mentioned above. Likewise, Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fischer, zt"l, stated this in Responsa Even Yisrael, part 9 (section 68). Moreover, see Responsa Divrei Pinchas, part 2 (section 51) where it is elaborated that one does not need to wait six hours after our cheeses, which are not aged for six months. (See there). Also refer to Responsa Tshuvos V'henagos mentioned above, Responsa Ma'aseh Ephod, part 1 (section 83), and Koveitz Mibeit Levi (Tishrei 5755, pages 269-270).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs