Update-Due to the questionable kashrus standards in camps, every camp should be under a recognized reliable Hashgocha?

Just in-A gangster running a certain Bais Yaakov revoked a girl's acceptance after the father asked about the kashrus in the kitchen.

Did you inquire as to your childs camp Kashrus standard?
Is it acceptable?

Are there written policies for the acceptable hashgochas?
If yes?, obtain a copy.

What should I ask?
1- Who is in charge? Who sets the standards?
Any shailos that arise, who is the final Rabbinical authority?

Are they using any S. American  beef w/Alle/Mealmart or SBD?

Is there a Qualified Mashgiach in Charge?

2- Are the using "exclusively" pre-checked vegetables?
If yes?, who's vegetables? not most of them, but all brands that are being used!
If no?, Who is checking them?, is he trained? if yes? by whom?
Is it only being rinsed?

3- How about fruit? e.g. strawberries, blueberries, raspberries? What is the standard being utilized?

4- Bishul Yisroel issues- Convection ovens, steam kettles, etc.
Is bishul-yisroel for sfardim being addressed?
Is a shomer shabbos present in the kitchen at all times? [flames, ovens, etc]

5- Is yoshon, cholov yisroel, pas yisroel being strictly observed?
Hafroshs Chalah- who is responsible?

6- Who is responsible to check "all" deliveries coming in for compliance to the standards established?

7- Is there a properly trained experienced Mashgiach in the kitchen at all times?

8- Is the kitchen locked at night, Friday afternoon, etc? Who are all that have the keys?

9- Are the separate areas for dairy, meat, parve, etc? including sinks, etc?

10- Are all pots, utensils, etc clearly marked for dairy, meat, parve,?

11- Who is responsible for everything requiring seals?

12- ETC.?

Are the Overnight frum camps ripping off the Tzibur-BIG-TIME

 Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my deep concern and frustration regarding the exorbitant costs associated with frum summer sleep-away camps.

I have witnessed firsthand how these exorbitant fees place an immense financial burden on parents who are already struggling to make ends meet.

The summer camp experience is undoubtedly a cherished and valuable opportunity for children to grow, learn, and create lasting memories. However, it is disheartening to see how these camps are choking many families due to their astronomical price tags. Are these camps simply money-makers? I have no idea. What I do know is that the cost of sending a child to a frum sleep-away camp has reached such heights that it has become nothing short of a financial nightmare for numerous parents.

The implications of this issue extend far beyond mere financial strain. Parents are forced to make difficult decisions, sometimes sacrificing basic necessities or going into debt just to provide their children with this formative experience. The pursuit of this summer experience should not come at the expense of a family’s financial stability, not to mention its impact on the health and wellbeing of the parents and the accompanying stress.

It is essential for the broader frum community to acknowledge and address this problem. While it is true that running a summer camp costs money, the current situation seems to have spiraled out of control. The alleged “escalating costs” should not be disproportionately transferred onto parents, particularly those who are already grappling with financial hardships.

It is high time for camp organizers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to come together and find practical solutions to alleviate the burden on parents.

Does it make sense that I am paying for 4 weeks of camp almost as much as I pay for a year of school?

I kindly request that Matzav.com bring attention to this matter through your esteemed website, as I believe it is crucial to shed light on the profound impact these exorbitant costs have on frum families.

Thank you for considering my perspective on this pressing issue. I hope that together, we can strive towards a more inclusive and affordable summer camp experience for all frum children.

Sincerely,

D. B.

New Jersey

Are camps safe? Remember Camp Agudas KOLKO (cocoa) club-How many kids were molested?

 

Lakewood day camps kashrus ALERT-Are they using any S. American beef w/Alle/MealMart or SBD?

KCL certified Parve cholent may "not" be eaten with milk

"Menachems" and shloimy kaufman's kugel and parve cholent is truly parve, you may have it with milk.

another UPDATE: Camps (Bnos) is not safe for girls- watch the new video הכזונה יעשו אחותינו?ת

The attributes of Camp Aguda; see the following ; https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=B/LKfwohW4GEDUKmYnprTA==&system=prod

https://dusiznies.blogspot.com/2023/06/gershon-kranczer-faces-brooklyn-judge.html



Another confirmed horific episode at the camp?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viiMrvi0iyk&feature=youtu.be

הכזונה יעשו אחותינו?

- URGENT NEED TO KEEP OUR BNOS YISROEL SAFE

Dear Rabbis, parents and Leaders,

We assume you were not notified of the horrific event which took place at Camp Bnos (Agudas Yisroel) this past summer. It is important for you, as a leader, to be made aware that a camper was raped on the girls’ campus. She was left unsupervised and taken advantage of in the worst possible way. There were 2 boys involved.

AS OF LAST SUMMER. CAMP BNOS IS A MAKOM SAKANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally, Mr. Meir Frischman admitted it happened, he has since changed his tune (obviously he has since received direction and advice from perhaps the Agudah directors, Rabbonim or Attorneys) and now denies all allegations and has completely removed himself from any & all responsibilities surrounding this situation. He has gone so far as to deny it, and refer to the RAPE as a "rumor".

The police were notified, and Mr. Frischman did NOT have them speak with more than a few people from the camp. Directors who have been in the camp for literally decades were not notified until they returned home after camp was over.

From An Insider: Meanwhile, a simple observation.  We are both familiar with defense mechanisms.  I make observations all the time of new mechanisms that are just that, but masquerade as something else.  The Agudah position, which we know to be fundamentally flawed, is not really a policy at all.  It is a simple effort to cover-up the cover-ups.  They cannot do different, because that would be self-incrimination.

Alert- Video by Rabbi Daniel Sharratt of the OU "How to wash strawberries"- The thrips watched the video, and learned where to hide-the video is good only for Show-n-tell!

1- Even after following the video, and following it. All strawberries are infested, fresh & frozen.

2- Ain mivatlin issur, prevents one from pureeing the strawberry unless it has gone through a cleaning process that will leave it in a status of sofek, then one can puree. 

After the video performed washing, they remained as a Muchzak.

3- Any certifiers that claim anything different are factually not correct.

ALERT: The "Beleaves" brand joined the Bowery brand and decided to crawl out of the kosher market.

 The Brand name BELEAVES was recently hijacked by Minchas Chinuch Tartikuv and Zichron Shmuel DON'T USE THEM

Alert RE: Shatnez testers

 

Shatnez Notice!

Important Notice Regarding Shatnez Laboratories ­ So that you know, some shatnez testers lack proper training and are performing substandard tests. There have been instances where linen was left in wool garments after testing. (In the attached picture, you can see the linen left behind in the woolen suit.)   It's vital to have your garments tested by trustworthy and qualified shatnez testers.   This is particularly important for testers hired by retail outlets. Cases have been confirmed where garments "tested" at known Jewish-owned retail outlets were found to be shatnez at the Flatbush Shatnez Laboratory and other laboratories.    To confirm a tester’s qualifications, reach out to the Vaad L'Mishmeres Shatnez by emailing vaadlmishmeresshatnez@gmail.com or calling 1-877-4-SHATNEZ.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear a case involving a kosher worker's overtime exemption claim

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/jewish-group-shielded-kosher-inspectors-work-related-lawsuit-us-court-says-2024-12-30/ 

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear a case involving a kosher worker's overtime exemption claim,

 aligning with several other recent decisions where the Court has avoided addressing specific labor and religious accommodation issues. 

This decision follows a pattern seen in other contexts, such as the denial of a bid to expand religious exceptions to worker rights and the refusal to hear challenges related to healthcare worker vaccine mandates.

Extra Virgin Olive oil- The Heimish Hashgochas will certify olive oil without any Mashgiach present at productions

June 187, 2025-“Extra virgin olive oil adulteration, whether by mixing with lower-quality olive oils like ‘virgin’ oil or with other vegetable oils, is a form of consumer deception and negatively impacts the reputation of producers,” Hicham Zaroual told Olive Oil Times.

https://nypost.com/2024/07/11/world-news/italian-cops-uncover-phony-olive-oil-conspiracy-in-raids-that-find-71-tons-and-extra-virgin-packages-worth-1m/

 Extra virgin olive oil is getting very expensive. And it might not even be real

Olive oil has been a staple of the Mediterranean diet and culture for millennia. Before it ever made it to the table, it was used for medicinal and religious practices, earning the moniker “liquid gold” in Homer’s “Iliad.”

Throughout the centuries the olive branch has come to symbolize peace and prosperity, and pungent extra virgin and virgin olive oils are high-value global exports. Valued at $22.3 billion in 2022, the olive oil market is expected to increase exponentially over the next decade.

But behind the most popular extra virgin olive oils in the world - produced in Italy, Spain and Greece - are equally lucrative criminal enterprises cashing in on the gold rush by selling fake liquid gold that uses sunflower, canola or even lamp oil to create a product that can retail for up to $30 a liter in the United States.

In late November, authorities in Spain and Italy working with the EU’s Europol law enforcement agency said they arrested 11 people tied to one such criminal gang, sequestering 12 barrels containing some 260,000 liters of adulterated, or non-virgin or extra-virgin olive oil.

They also seized an additional 5,200 liters of market-ready quality oil that had been ready for export. The authorities said it was “unfit for consumption,” despite false labeling that claimed the oil was 100% Italian or Spanish.

Authorities also found 91,000 euros (almost $100,000) in cash, four high-end vehicles, falsified labels, and paperwork that stated the oil was Spanish and Italian-grown when sample tests revealed it was more likely made by mixing olive oil byproducts with other types of oil.

Demand for olive oil and recent struggling harvests have led to sharp increases in the price of olive oil. - Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Rising demand

“A mix of various factors, such as the general inflation of prices, reduced olive oil production and increasing demand, have created the perfect breeding ground for fraudulent producers,” according to a Europol statement.

“Unfortunately, the faking of extra virgin olive oil is a common practice, which is why the fight against it is a law enforcement priority — especially in production countries,” the law enforcement agency added.

Infusing high quality olive oil with lesser products has become a common practice as rising demand for Mediterranean oil exports is countered by lower production rates driven by increasingly harsh weather extremes, says Coldiretti, Italy’s main farming organization.

Fraudsters have also increasingly been using chlorophyll or beta carotene to color the oil its characteristic green or buttery yellow hues.

In 2023, Mediterranean oil production was down by 41%, Coldiretti said. An extremely wet spring meant olive trees flowered less and record-setting heat in summer shriveled the olives that did grow.

That’s left producers unable to meet marketplace demand.

The so-called “agri mafia” in the Mediterranean oil producing regions has been moving in to fill the gaps in supply, developing its fake extra virgin olive oil operations.

“Mixing consumer-grade olive oil with lower grade alternatives allowed the criminals to offer competitive prices while entering legal supply chains,” Europol says.

“This illegal practice can not only cause a public health risk, but also undermine consumer trust and thus have further economic repercussions,” the statement warned.

According to the North American Olive Oil Association, it’s highly unlikely bogus olive oil products would go on sale in the US, with research by the Food and Drug Administration finding no adulteration in samples tested.

“In reality, US consumers should have a high level of confidence in the quality and authenticity of the olive oil they buy,” said Joseph R. Profaci, the NAOOA’s executive director.

Profaci said the NAOOA was undertaking its most comprehensive, rigorous olive oil testing study to date to ensure adulterated products weren’t infiltrating US markets.

“While our routine testing hasn’t indicated any rise in intentionally mislabeled or adulterated olive oil in 2023, the current high prices and tight supplies may create an additional incentive for wrongdoing. We hope this study will deter such conduct, and at the same time, give olive oil consumers the assurances that they deserve.”

 

Hot Bagels Lakewood - De Ja Vu

I was just there and there is a Hispanic lady who is wearing short sleeves and open top and she is walking around the store cleaning up and it’s disgusting.

Therefore please tell the KCL or whoever is the Hashgocha Hisachdus CRC to stop that because kashrus  is not just on the food ingredients it’s on the horrible Display that this lady is on.

Sent from my iPhone

 

Bais Din and Toy'anim

 Synopsis of the Article: "Regarding Shlomo Halpern – Grave Concerns Regarding Halachic Integrity"

The article, authored by Rabbi M. F., issues a serious and detailed warning to the Torah community about the alleged misconduct of Mr. Shlomo Halpern, who operates under the title toien (halachic legal advocate), primarily in Monsey, Brooklyn, and surrounding areas. The letter outlines a pattern of behavior that the author claims severely undermines the halachic judicial system (Batei Din) and the integrity of Dinei Torah.

Key Allegations:

1. Filing in Secular Court Without Heter Arka’os: Halpern allegedly filed lawsuits involving religious disputes in secular courts without rabbinic permission and falsely claimed he had a heter from Rav Daniel Geldzahler, who unequivocally denied giving such authorization.

2. Enforcing Ribbis (Interest) Contracts: He is accused of initiating legal actions to enforce contracts with prohibited interest clauses, without using a heter iska, thereby violating Torah laws of ribbis.

3. Documented Deception and Manipulation:

   • Alleged forgery and use of fraudulent documents.

   • Switching sides in cases for personal gain.

   • Sending proxies to Batei Din to conceal conflicts of interest.

   • Reviving settled cases for strategic advantage.

4. Bribery and Betrayal: Specific cases are cited where Halpern allegedly accepted bribes to switch sides mid-case, used fronts to avoid scrutiny, and sabotaged existing psak din (rabbinic rulings).

5. Use of a Nonprofit for Private Gain: The article asserts that Halpern used a nonprofit entity (Mechon Rav Shalom) to:

   • Collect client retainers without refund.

   • Issue interest-bearing loans without heter iska.

   • Funnel all proceeds into an account he personally controlled.

6. Matrimonial Manipulation: He is accused of obstructing gittin (Jewish divorces), playing both sides in divorce cases for financial gain, and prolonging disputes to extract more money.

7. Encouraging Arka’os (Civil Court): Halpern allegedly advised clients to abandon Beis Din and instead pursue civil litigation, sometimes without halachic permission, further undermining the Torah system.

Call to Action:

Rabbi M.F. calls on Rabbanim, Dayanim, and communal leaders to:

• Disqualify Halpern from any role in Batei Din until full accountability is achieved.

• Institute stricter arbitration terms to prevent similar abuses.

• Investigate the alleged misuse of nonprofit funds.

• Publicly inform the community to avoid engaging his services.

Tone and Purpose:

The letter is passionate, urgent, and framed as a defense of the sanctity of halacha and Torah justice. It includes a blend of documented allegations and personal experiences, appealing to rabbinic authorities to act decisively and restore public trust.

Shatnez at Emporio Men's Clothing ­

 

Shatnez Warning!

­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Further Concerns Regarding Shatnez at Emporio Men's Clothing ­   Emporio Men's Clothing has been closely monitored due to the repeated presence of shatnez in their garments.   Unfortunately, various incidents over the years have sparked notable halachic concerns in the community.   We recently issued an open letter to Emporio detailing clear steps to responsibly address these issues. Our goal is to promote transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to maintaining the standards valued by our community.   We are now facing another significant issue, possibly a worsening situation, as a Tino Cosma suit sold by Emporio contained wool and linen in the actual fabric. A customer wore this prohibited garment unknowingly for nearly a year. Photos of the worn Shatnez Tino Cosma suit are attached.   We strongly recommend that everyone who purchased Emporio garments have them checked for shatnez in a certified shatnez lab before wearing them. This precaution will prevent them from becoming a victim of Emporio, as evidenced by this latest incident.

Observation of interest- One that can't stop vaping, etc., generally also has issues with שמירת עניים

Bishaim Roshei Yeshiva, Reb Eli Ber Wachtfogel and Poskei Hador, Reb Shlomo Miller-

The Arbitration agreement to be signed at any Bais Din-Otherwise do not go to that B"D- copies? kashrusy@aol.com

**********************************

שטר בירורין

אנו, בעלי הדין החתומים מטה, מודים ומאשרים בחתימות ידינו להלן — שייחשבו כעדות של מאה עדים כשרים ונאמנים — כי אנו החתומים מטה, בררנו יחד שני דיינים:

הרב ________________________________

הרב ________________________________

וקיבלנום על עצמנו לדון בינינו כפי ראות עיניהם, בין ע"פ דין תורה, בין ע"י פשרה הקרובה לדין, כפי אשר ימצאו לנכון.

ואם שני הדיינים הנ"ל לא יוכלו להגיע להסכמה, יבררו הם דיין שלישי.

וכל מה שיפסקו או יפשרו בינינו — בין לפי שיקול דעתם ע"פ ההלכה ובין בדרך של פשרה — אנו מתחייבים לשמוע ולקבל.

כל אחד מאיתנו לא יסור ימין ושמאל מדבריהם, ולא ייפול דבר מכל אשר ימצאו בינינו, בין דין ע"פ ההלכה בין פשרה קרובה לדין.

ודבריהם יהיו בתוקף כוח בית דין יפה, כאילו עמדנו לדין לפני בי דינא דרבינא ורב אשי.

כל אחד מאיתנו שימרה את פי הדיינים הנ"ל — בין שפסקו ע"פ דין, בין שפסקו פשרה, בין שדברו מעצמם ובין לאחר שהתייעצו עם רב אחר — יתחייב בקנס בסך: _______________  / $_______________

כל צד רשאי לבקש פירוט הפסק, כולל:

- העובדות שעליהן התבסס הפסק

- הנימוקים והמקורות ההלכתיים שהביאו להכרעה

יתבצע תיעוד של מהלך הדיון — בין בהקלטה קולית ובין ברישום מלא בכתב — לשם בהירות, דיוק ושקיפות.

פסק הדין יהא ניתן לאכיפה על פי חוקי המדינה שבתחום סמכות בית הדין, ויינתן גם בשפת המדינה

צדדים מסכימים לפתור את כל הסכסוכים באמצעות בוררות מחייבת ומוותרים על כל זכות להתדיין בבית משפט, כולל הזכות למשפט עם חבר מושבעים, לזאת קיבלנו על עצמנו בחרם חמור ובקניין על דעת בית דין, לאשר ולקיים כל האמור לעיל, לא כאסמכתא ולא כטופס רגיל של שטרים.

 

נחתם ונאמן

ביום ______ לחודש ______ שנת ______, בעיר ________________________________

 

חתימת בעל דין א׳: ___________________________

חתימת בעל דין ב׳: ___________________________

חתימת עדים / מזכירות ב"ד  -אופציונלי: ___________________________   ___________________________

Arbitration Agreement

We, the undersigned parties to this matter, hereby acknowledge and affirm with our signatures below — which shall serve as testimony as if given by one hundred valid and trustworthy witnesses — that we, the undersigned, have jointly appointed two arbitrators:

Rabbi ________________________________

Rabbi ________________________________

and we have accepted them upon ourselves to judge between us either according to what they see fit under halacha (Jewish law) or to render a compromise close to the law, as they see appropriate.

If the two aforementioned arbitrators are unable to reach agreement, they shall appoint a third arbitrator.

Whatever rulings or compromises they issue between us — whether according to their judgment under halacha or by compromise — we are obligated to accept.

Each of us, the undersigned, shall not veer right or left from their words, and nothing that they determine between us shall be void, whether a legal ruling or a compromise close to law.

Their ruling shall have the full authority of a proper Beis Din, as if we were standing before the Beis Din of Ravina and Rav Ashi.

Each of us, the undersigned, who disobeys the decision of the aforementioned arbitrators — whether it is a legal ruling under halacha, a compromise, whether issued by their own judgment or with consultation from another Rabbi — shall be fined the amount of: _______________ dollars / ₪ _______________.

Each party may request to be informed of the ruling, along with:

- the facts upon which it was based

- the halachic reasoning and sources that led to the judgment

There shall be either an audio recording or comprehensive written notes taken of the proceedings, to ensure clarity, accuracy, and transparency throughout the arbitration process.

The ruling may be enforced under the civil laws of the jurisdiction of the Beis Din, and the ruling shall also be written in the language of that jurisdiction. The parties agree to resolve all disputes through binding arbitration and waive any right to a trial in court, including the right to a jury trial.

All of this we have accepted upon ourselves under a stringent cherem (religious ban) and with a binding kinyan (formal legal act of acquisition) in accordance with the authority of the Beis Din, to affirm and uphold all of the above, not as a mere formality and not as a standard boilerplate document.

As testimony and confirmation, we have written and signed this on the ________ day of the month of ________, in the year ________, here in the city of ________________________________.

Signature of Party A: ___________________________

Signature of Party B: ___________________________

 

Witnesses / Beis Din Secretariat (optional): ___________________________   ___________________________ 

UPDATE: ADEIREI hatorah- All the "unsealed" food was at the display for hours with no Mashgiach- at 4:00 PM A fellow came with KCL stickers- all was שנתעלם

The OU would have had Mashgichim, sealed platters, etc.

 BRING YOUR OWN SANDWHICHES, GRILL CHICKEN, WRAPS, ETC

In UMAN, Scheiner finally got the Eidah of J-M.

 We may show the video if enough demand is made to kashrusy@aol.com

KOSHERICA style AND OTHERS Marketing "Yeshiva week" kosher cruises!

  Kosher at Sea: A Voyage into Illusion

The sky was a watercolor of pastels as the Emerald Majesty, a five-star cruise liner, pulled away from the port, her decks glittering under the sun like polished glass. Laughter echoed across the vast ship as thousands of passengers, in shorts and sundresses, scattered across pools, spas, and endless buffet stations. Amid the hum of festivities and the gentle churn of ocean waves, a more serious mission was quietly underway.

Dave, a seasoned events facilitator known across the industry for organizing grand-scale affairs, was aboard. Though not frum, Dave had worked closely with many Jewish clients over the years. He’d heard the buzz—kosher cruises were the new frontier of luxury. Frum families, Yeshivish businessmen, and even noted Rabbanim were now choosing ocean voyages billed as “fully kosher,” complete with Shiurim, Minyanim, and lavish kosher meals. But something gnawed at Dave’s instinct. He’d seen too much behind the curtain of event logistics not to wonder: How kosher is kosher at sea?

The Emerald Majesty carried over 4,500 souls—passengers and crew. Only around 250 were kosher-observant. Dave took quiet note of the math. The kosher kitchen, modestly tucked into a lower deck, was dwarfed by the sprawling ship-wide culinary operations spread across five different floors. Food storage. Pastry prep. Dairy refrigeration. Meat thawing. Fish filleting. All in different corners of the vessel.

He observed the Mashgichim, a small crew, each trying their best. But Dave was trained to spot systemic failures—not personal ones. In one kitchen, he watched as a treif griddle, recently used to cook cheeseburgers, was sprayed down with boiling water as a form of kashering. He knew enough to understand that such equipment required libun chamur—a direct flame, glowing coals, or a torch. Hot water alone would never do. Yet this shortcut was repeated. Day after day. Griddle after griddle.

Even more jarring: grills labeled “DAIRY” yesterday were now marked “MEAT.” The only cleansing? Another hasty splash of hot water. No fire. No burn-off. No halachic reset.

One morning, Dave joined a group at a shiur delivered by a Rabbi flown in for the cruise. Polished. Charismatic. Speaking passionately about emunah and bitachon. Yet just hours earlier, Dave had asked a Mashgiach whether the tray of fresh croissants in the dining hall was Parve, dairy, or had any proper labeling at all. The answer: “We think it’s parve. It came from one of the ship's bakeries.”

One of them?

At lunch, he noted dozens of unwrapped meat trays being wheeled from a general freezer. No visible Hashgacha. No labels. When asked, a Mashgiach simply shrugged. “They were stored in the kosher freezer. That’s usually a good sign.”

Usually?

But most chilling was the silence. Signs clearly stated: No Guests Allowed in Kitchen. But even more concerning—Mashgichim had been warned not to interact with guests. “Maintain separation,” they were told. “It’s a security policy.”

What it felt like, Dave observed, was a policy of concealment.

To the outside world, the cruise was spectacular. The frum crowd danced at kumzitzes on the upper deck under stars. Elegant buffets of chulent, schnitzel, and fresh-baked challah were served with flair. Children wore yarmulkes and girls sang zmiros as photographers snapped away.

But Dave had seen too much.

He’d seen the pastries with no source. The mishandled meat. The reused equipment. The unasked questions. The guessed answers. He’d seen Mashgichim overworked and under-trained, trying to keep pace in a behemoth system not designed for halachic integrity.

When he disembarked, Dave was resolute. “They can bring all the Rabbanim they want onboard. They can give all the shiurim and hand out kashrus certificates. But without real oversight, without understanding of halacha, without transparency—there is no Si’yata Di’Shmaya on these ships. It’s not kosher. Period.”

He hadn’t even touched the other concerns—of mingling, tznius breaches, the spiritual atmosphere. That, he said, was a separate storm.

But this storm—of misrepresenting kashrus—was real, and roaring just beneath the glimmering waves.

Takeaway:
Even the most luxurious kosher cruise cannot substitute for genuine kashrus vigilance. Without true halachic standards, experienced oversight, and transparency, kosher at sea becomes an illusion—one that risks both body and soul.

   

 You can't say "I didn't know".

"TREIF "kosherica" tours R"L- Lakewood joins them R"L

WATCH: Kosherica launches ‘Yeshiva week’ "treif" cruise?

Kosherica cruises has been machshil thousands in not providing kosher according to any standards.

Why Do the  Rabbis sanction these non-kosher cruises? 
Isn't it embarrassing that all of the Miami, Lakewood,  OU affiliated Rabbis are allowing this scandal 

Can someone like Rabbis Weil (OU), Schneier, Riskin, Heir, Herring, Lipskar arrange an "OU" Hashgocha at least?

Why doesn't the "OU" send their own staff on the cruises to witness the kashrus disaster.

Shavers-Following is an English translation of the Nisan, 5768 Psak Din regarding electric shavers - Reb Moshe did not to want to write a teshuva on Shavers, as people would interpret it as a Heter!

 Following is an English translation of the Nisan, 5768 Psak Din regarding electric shavers signed by R’ Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, R’ Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman, R’ Shmuel Halevi Wosner, R’ Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, R’ Chaim Kanievsky, R’ Nissim Karelitz, R’ Shmuel Auerbach, R’ Noson Tzvi Finkel - zichronam l'vracha and 26 other litvish Roshei Yeshiva:

"THE SEVERE BREACH OF HALACHAH INVOLVED IN THE USE OF SHAVING MACHINES is well known to all. Their use was prohibited by our Rabbis, the Gedolim of the [previous] generation, including the Chofetz Chaim and the Chazon Ish. Moreover, this [prohibition applied] even to the shavers of many years ago [when the shavers were far more primitive and did not cut hair as close to the skin as modern shavers]. Today, the shavers have been enhanced [and cut much closer to the skin], and thus the halachic issues involved are far more severe. This was also the halachic ruling of our great teacher [the Steipler Gaon, R’ Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky], the author of Kehilas Yaakov, zt’l, and of our great teacher, R’ Elazar M. Shach, zt’l. They would cite the ruling of the Chazon Ish who equated all shaving machines with a razor. For the Torah does not say: “Do not shave with a razor,” but rather “Do not destroy the edges of your beard.” Any shaving that destroys the beard is forbidden [as a razor], as is evident from Makkos 21a and Rambam, Hilchos Avodas Kochavim, ch. 12.

THEREFORE, USING ANY SHAVER that leaves the face smooth, even if it was used to remove only two hairs, violates the prohibition of “Do not destroy the edges of your beard.”
IT IS THUS OBVIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE ROSHEI YESHIVA [heads of the yeshivos] to confront this issue and not allow shavers that leave the face smooth to be brought in [to the yeshiva premises]. This prohibition applies both to the one who shaves and the one who is shaven.

IT IS A GREAT MITZVAH TO STUDY THE SEFER TIFERES ODOM, authored by the Chofetz Chaim, zt’l, which focuses on strengthening the observance of this prohibition and explains the reward received in both this world and the next for its practice."
Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv zt’l, refused to sign this Psak Din in its original proposed wording, which indicated a “halachic concern.” He only agreed and signed it once the wording was changed to “a clear prohibition,” ("עד שיתוקן לאיסור 'ודאי' ולא בלשון 'חששא'") as is related in the authoritative collection of Rav Elyashiv’s halachic decisions Ashrei Ha’ish Y.D. p. 143

Rav Chaim Kanievsky when he was asked whether any shaving machine can be “kosher” :
"החזון איש אסר כל מכונה וכ"כ כל גדולי הדור"
“The Chazon Ish prohibited every [shaving] machine. ALL the Gedolim of our generation ruled similarly.”

In his sefer Emes l’Yaakov on Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 181), Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky zt’l wrote (to his grandson) that there is no mesorah from the Rabbonim in America that can be relied upon to permit the use of electric shavers. To quote Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky zt’l:
"Regarding [the prohibition of using] machines for shaving [the beard], this is not just a chumra [halachic stringency] but a substantive [halachic] issue…. In fact, I do not know whether the great Torah authorities (Gedolim) of America [ever] explicitly permitted them. It is possible that they kept silent because no one asked them [their opinion], and they avoided the issue, knowing that their words would not be heeded. As for [any leniency] that has become accepted in past generations, it is a fact that over time there have been many improvements in the machines. It is possible that, as a result of these improvements, shaving with them has become prohibited [even according to the reasoning offered for that leniency]. Accordingly, in this case, it is difficult to rely on [any] tradition [to be lenient].... Indeed, [Rabbonim] should rule that it is not just a halachic stringency. If a young man wishes to be scrupulous and avoid using any shaving machine, his parents should not object to this and say that [their son] is just trying to find [superfluous] halachic stringencies."
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The issue of "lift and cut" in electric shavers is a major topic in halachic discussions regarding whether certain shavers violate the Torah prohibition of "lo sakifu"—the prohibition against shaving the beard with a razor (Vayikra 19:27).

Key Background

• The Torah prohibits shaving with a razor where the blade touches the skin and cuts the hair at the root.

• A "lift-and-cut" mechanism involves a dual-action system: one part lifts the hair, and the other cuts it below the skin surface, which resembles the action of a razor and is therefore problematic according to many Poskim.

• Permitted shavers are those that function like scissors (cutting above the skin) and do not have a “lift and cut” feature.

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Rabbi Shmuel Feurst's Position (Chicago)

Rabbi Shmuel Feurst permits only certain shavers. His psak, consistent with many other prominent poskim, is that any shaver with a "lift and cut" mechanism is forbidden, as it is halachically comparable to a razor.

Permitted Shavers (according to Rabbi Feurst and other major poskim):
These typically do not have a lift-and-cut mechanism:

• Panasonic Arc series (wet/dry models) – These use a foil system and do not have the rotary “lift and cut” blades.

• Certain foil shavers without a second cutting mechanism beneath the foil.

• Norelco OneBlade – This is often permitted, as it trims more like a trimmer/clipper, above the skin.

Shavers considered problematic:

• Philips Norelco rotary shavers with Lift-and-Cut (many 3-head rotary models) – These are generally assur.

• Braun rotary models with dual action (if they mimic lift-and-cut) – Need to be checked individually.

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 Summary Psak:

According to Rabbi Shmuel Feurst and others (including Rabbi Belsky zt”l, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l via talmidim):

• Lift-and-Cut = Assur

• Foil shavers acting like scissors = Mutar

• Shavers must be checked model-by-model.