Is it sufficient to wait five and a half hours between meat and dairy?

Greetings,

Ideally, one should not eat dairy products after consuming meat until six full hours have passed. This applies even if the meat is from a kosher animal or poultry. However, those who are lenient in circumstances of need to eat dairy after five and a half hours do have grounds to rely on this leniency. Therefore, in the holy yeshivas during summer months, when they needed to schedule dinner after five and a half hours from eating meat, this can be permitted, as it is considered a necessity for their schedule. Similarly, in army camps, one can be lenient even after five and a half hours, as this is also a place of need. Further, regarding poultry, leniency is more readily accepted after five and a half hours, especially when there is a need.

Sources: Yalkut Yosef, Halakhot Isur Veheter (Siman 480, Seif 15) as clarified in Responsa Yabia Omer, Part 1 (Yoreh De'ah, Siman 4, Se'if 13) and Part 3, (Yoreh De'ah, Siman 3, Se'if 9). See also the book Ashrei Ha-Ish, Part Yoreh De'ah, Part 1 (Chapter 5, Se'if 20), the opinion of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztz"l, in Responsa V'Drash'ta U'Venisha, Part 3 (Yoreh De'ah, Siman 3, Se'if 1), and what is brought in the book P'tachim Teshuvot, Halakhot Basar Bechalav (pages 55-56).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs