Yeshiva World News

Russia Emerges as New Center for Newly Certified Kosher Products

There was a time that Stolichnaya was Russia’s best known kosher certified product, but Russia is rapidly emerging as a new center of kosher certified products. Partially as a result of the growing trade between Russia and Israel, but also because of an interest in the lucrative kosher market in the US. Many of the products are certified by Kosher Russia (KR), under Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar. But like Stolichnaya many of the products are certified by US certifiers, including the Orthodox ...

OU Kosher Not Passing Over Passover Consumer Relations Opportunities

The final numbers are in, and here is how the OU Kosher Consumer Relations Department responded to thousands of questions in the month leading up to Passover: · More than 2,000 inquiries were submitted to OU Kosher’s Webbe Rebbe (for information related to OU policies and OU products) and Social Media “OU Kosher” on Facebook and “@OUKosher” on Twitter; · More than 5,000 phone calls were answered using the OU Kosher Hotline (212.613.8241); · More than 10,000 individuals ...

CRC Kashrus Alerts (Shavuos 5772 / 2012)

By Rabbi Sholem Fishbane Kashrus Administrator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council Kashrus Updates Please be advised that TRADER JOE'S CHOCOLATE CHIPS are no longer certified Pareve. They are certified dairy (non-cholov Yisroel) when bearing the OK-D on the label. The Chicago Rabbinical Council is pleased to announce that Kotel Kosher, located in the French Market, 131 North Clinton, Chicago, Illinois, is now under the certification of the cRc. All sealed foods and beverages ...

Badatz Eida Chareidis Announcement Regarding Kashrus & Lag B'Omer

The Badatz Eida Chareidit has announced exactly which places are under its kashrus supervision in the Kever Rashbi area and other northern cities ahead of Lag B’Omer. The badatz warns that others selling food and assuring customers that “we are badatz” are not under the hashgacha and therefore, the badatz assume no responsibility for the product sold. Kever Rashbi on Lag B’Omer (under the hashgacha of the Eida Chareidis) To read the entire article, please click HERE. (YWN – ...

Meet Badatz Rabbanei Kehillos HaChareidim

A new hashgacha is making its way onto Israel’s kashrus scene, Badatz Rabbanei Kehillos HaChareidim. The kashrus is based in Kiryat Gat, headed by the city’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Moshe Havlin Shlita. Also on the beis din are Rabbi Betzalel Wachselstein Shlita (Rav Kiryat HaChareidis & Kehilas Chassidei Gur), Rabbi Gedalya Reizal Shlita (Rav Kehilas Chassidei Slonim). The kashrus intends to provide a hechsher for those food businesses operating in the Kehila HaChareidis that meet its ...

CRC Pesach Kashrus Alerts (Pesach 5772 / 2012)

By Rabbi Sholem Fishbane Kashrus Administrator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council Kashrus Updates cRc Coffee Policy for Pesach: Coffee beans that are plain, unflavored and are not decaffeinated do not require Pesach certification, but the grinder should be clean.  Instant, flavored, or decaffeinated require certification. Folgers, Tasters Choice, and Nescafe instant coffee, unflavored, regular (not decaf) is acceptable without special Pesach certification. ACE Productions (the media ...

OU Kosher Addresses Kashrus of Keurig (Including Pesach)

Coffee throughout the ages has played an important and often critical role in people’s lives and daily operation. Be it in the halls of the bais medrash, at work, or even waking in the morning, many individuals look toward coffee as a vital boost to their daily energy. In fact, this beverage is so important to some that the Mishna Berura (89:22) rules that one may drink unsweetened black coffee before Shacharis in the morning, so that he will be able to daven with the proper concentration. ...

Likovid Purim: cRc Approved Liquor List

Attached is an extensive and detailed list of alcoholic beverages, which can be used as a guide when purchasing alcoholic drinks for Purim and any other time. The list is the most recent listings available as of this time, and was complied by the cRc of Chicago. The cRc does not in anyway encourage, or discourage drinking these beverages. This is simply a guide as to their findings into what the Kashruth status is of the many drinks which people buy. To read the list, please click ...

Eida Kashrus Trying to Preserve its Image

There have always been differences of opinion in the Eida Chareidit as well as different factions, with some favoring the moderate approach synonymous with the respectful Yerushalmi chossid while others prefer extremism. Events during recent months have left the Eida with a tainted image in the eyes of many, and today, Shmuel Poppenheim, who oversees the operations of Badatz Eida Chareidit is concerned, for the changing winds are working against the Eida, which may have a negative impact on the ...

Israel: New Hashgacha in Town – Badatz Orot

The dati leumi community has decided to launch its own hashgacha, a hechsher that intends to compete with the top-of-the-line chareidi hechsher, Badatz Eida Chareidis. Orot HaKashrut will be under the guidance of Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Shlita, the chief Sephardi rabbi of Tzfat and a son of the late chief rabbi, HaGaon HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu ZT”L. Rabbi Eliyahu has appointed Rabbi Ezra Sheinberg to oversee the day-to-day operations of the new badatz. The new hashgacha is expected to begin ...

Israel: Kashrus Incompetence & US Breakfast Cereals (Amended)

In Eretz Yisrael the Chief Rabbinate is the official word on kashrus policies, impacting imports that are imported via official channels. For example, one of the recent alerts released by the Chief Rabbinate Kashrut Enforcement Unit targeted Hagan Dazs® ice cream, which displays a valid hechsher from a well-known American hashgacha. Nevertheless, the Chief Rabbinate does not permit importing items with liquid chalav akum, but it does permit items with chalav akum powdered milk. Since the ...

Star-K: Reflections On Kosher Cruises

STAR-K Certification’s heartfelt condolences extend to those who have lost loved ones in the recent horrific tragedy of the capsized cruise ship, Costa Concordia. Rescue operations continue to search for those who remain unaccounted for among the 4200 passengers onboard the liner when it hit the rocks off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy. “A tragedy like this brings home the issue that travel at sea has its dangers,” says STAR-K Kashrus Administrator Rabbi Zvi Goldberg. “The ...

Chicken With Onion Sauce, Italian Style

Moving past Chanukah and all the frying, it's time to buckle down for winter. Here is a great chicken dish for a cold Shabbos night. It will warm up your Shabbos and do wonders for your palate. Enjoy! Ingredients 2 Chickens Quartered 30 gram/s Oil 10 Onions Finely Chopped 2 tablespoon/s Vinegar 1 cup/s Dry Red Wine 1 cup/s Chicken Broth 1 teaspoon/s Thyme 1 teaspoon/s Rosemary Preparations 1.Heat the oil in a frying pan and steam the onions until translucent. Add the vinegar ...

CRC Kashrus Alerts December 23, 2011

By Rabbi Sholem Fishbane Kashrus Administrator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council Kashrus Updates Please be advised that the following flavors of Snapple 11.5 cans made by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, St. Louis, MO are now made on dairy equipment and are labeled OK-DE: Diet Lemon Tea, Green Apple Juice, Kiwi Strawberry, Lemon Tea, Mango Madness, Orange Mango, Peach Tea, Raspberry Tea. Please note that any Snapple cans of these flavors still on the market with labels bearing the OK symbol ...

Fried Pastrami Salad

Not your typical salad. Definitely a worthwhile dish for chanukah when frying is the name of the game. Can also be served as an appetizer. Ingredients Salad 1 tablespoon Canola Oil 1/3 pound Pastrami Sliced 10 ounces Lettuce 8 ounces Mushrooms Sliced 1/2 Red Onion Sliced 1/2 box Cherry Tomatoes Dressing 3 tablespoons Soy Milk 2 tablespoons White Vinegar 2 Garlic Cloves Minced 1/2 cup Mayonnaise 1 pinch Salt And Pepper Preparation Fry the pastrami in oil. In a separate bowl ...

PHOTOS: OK Kosher Certification Held it’s 13th International Annual Mashgiach Conference

[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] On Monday, 2 Kislev (November 28), OK Kosher Certification held its 13th annual international Mashgiach Conference in Chovevei Torah in Brooklyn, NY. Over 150 OK personnel and mashgichim were in attendance, including rabbis from Japan, India, Greece, Israel, Poland, Germany, Belgium and others from around the world. As in past years, the OK honored two mashgichim. This year's honorees were Rabbi Shloime Bistritsky, the newly elected Chief Rabbi of Hamburg, ...

Israel: Olive Oil Alert To Consumers

The Ministry of Health’s Food Division conducted routine tests on oils to verify the integrity of the product, including olive oil. Tests were conducted in Haifa and Tel Aviv facilities, with the results indicating that many olive oils do not comply with Israeli law and are not actually olive oil as defined by the Israeli Regulation 191. HaMevaser reports that bottles of ‘olive oil’ are sold and the contents are simply something else, mixtures containing different ingredients to ...