INFESTATION updates for Rosh Hashonah-transgressions that you will violate!

ROSH HASHONAH 5756- ALERT: Honeycomb & Black eyed beans including with reliable Hashgochas were found to be infested.


https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/kashrus-anytime

אין לנו רשות להשתמש בהם אלא לראותם בלבד
Use only the Kosher Garden or Positive brands with Rav Moshe Vaye  & R' Dovid Goldstein or Blossom w/ Hisachdus only

How many "transgressions" will you violate with the custom of eating the following on Rosh Hashona?

If you were not trained, shown and don't know how to identify the various insects, clean properly, etc
you should not use the following items for Rosh Hashona & all year.

Salmon Heads- Fish lice & other insects. Salmon with gills removed & power washed is fine. Available at the Fishing-Line, Lakewood. or Use Smoked White-fish, cut off the tail, & use the rest. 

The following are some of the insects to be familiar with; aphids, thrips, leafminers, maggots, scale insects, mites, fish lice, etc

Items that may have some of the above insects; do not use.

Blueberries- blackberries, raspberries ALL, fresh /cultivated, frozen even w/ hashgocha, filling, etc ( has Scale insects, mites, maggots)
Leek- thrips,mites

Orange Juice all- Scale insects- tropicana, Golden Flow, Lakewood farms, Dvash, etc.

must be filtered with 100 mesh filter. available at Shain 1140 Forest Ave, crner Carey St. Lakewood

Herbs -All fresh / frozen -Only kosher garden herbs are acceptable (Dried ones -are acceptable). 
Strawberries- Fresh- (must be peeled completely), frozen even w/ hashgocha don't use. Mites, thrips.
Celery-Leaf miners, flies, etc
Romain- Thrips, Leaf miners, aphids.
Spinach- thrips, miners, mites.
Figs- fresh, dried- even w/ hashgocha are very infested, don't even try to check them. All w/ Star-K infested also.
Black eyed peas (beans)- Don't even try to check them. Leave them raw on the table for the siman.  Even w hashgocha-don't use.
Dates- Must open each one and check very carefully, even w/ Hashgocha- FYI- usually from last year's crop, so no שהחיינו

Raisins- All R infested w mites, etc- Use craisins 

Swiss chard/Beet leaves- very infested, hard to check, better to avoid.

All Sundried tomatoes are infested, especially all of the ones w/ Star- K.

Andy boy romaine hearts, generally infested.

Note: Bell peppers were checked and were found to be generally clean.

for Rosh Hashonah- use a whole "smoked-white-fish", cut off just the tail end and the rest is all HEAD OF FISH

                    










One can also buy a whole smoked white fish, which comes with the head.
Once you remove tail, the rest is all ראש דג
No cooking required.

Rosh Hashonah Update: all black eyed peas are infested even w/ any hashgocha.

https://vimeo.com/141843358

http://matzav.com/watch-insect-infestation-found-in-black-eyed-peas/


ALERT: Klein's Dates, etc. are again infested!

Klein's is a major distributor to the hemish suppliers.

Leek- Has Thrips and aphids- Separate every leaf, soak in soap water for 5 minutes- Sponge very well both sides, especially near fold in leaf, remove membrane-or USE ONLY ABOVE "V" on each leaf, but must wash well w/ soap.

Figs, fresh or dry- Are very infested, don't use-regardless which Hashgocha. One must be an expert to see the camouflaged insects.

Some Hashgochas may write a disclaimer that the Figs, etc must be checked- DON'T USE anything from those unreliable Hashgochas.

Black eyed beans - fresh, frozen, ground-infested don't use- even with any Hashgocha.

Dates- must be opened each one & checked. Alert there are Israeli ones on the market, re: terumois umasrois-No Urlah issues. Dates are last year's crop, no שהחינו

Raisins- -Don't use they are  infested, Don't use regardless which other Hashgocha is on the box, or what others tell you that it's clean. Including South African.
some Currants are really raisins, and should not be used.

Raisin Chala- Don't use-Only Aida certified raisins,  use Craisans- are not an issue.

Fish Heads-  Check that gills were removed & check inside mouth that it was cleaned very well.
One may use a smoked white fish with the head, once the tail is removed, the rest is ראש דג.

Roish Keves- Many refrain from using & they don't consume Lamb at all. The Shechita , bedikas, speed are a serious issue.

Pomegranate-  To de-seed-Cut across width, turn cut side down, tap outer shell with back of spoon-seeds will fall right out.

Celery-  Does have miners in the stalk, must be cut away.

Lettuce, Romain, cabbage-  Only use the positive or kosher garden brands,  the only brand that is consistently insect free.

Blueberries-   Frozen, Fresh, Organic, Commercial, local farm, etc Every State including Canada are all infested, even with Hashgocha besides positive or kosher gardens.. To Clean soak in water, swoosh around vigorously, Rinse very well. Repeat process at least four times. Then check for scales & maggots. then don't use.

All  Orange Juices have scale insects,  the most scale, etc insects was Tropicana. all orange juices must be filtered w/ 100 mesh filter. Available at 1140 Forest Ave, Lakewood, NJ-732-364-8046- $10.00 @- washable, re-usable

PAPAYA- is a "borei-pri-ho'adama- [Those that make a "ho'aitz" should be aware that it's "vadai-Orlah" which is ossur even in chutz-lo'uretz. 
Pineapple- no orlah issue.

Pineapple- Ho'adamah

The "minhag" of Raisin Chala, may turn out to be an Aveira (sin) after all

 The "minhag" of Raisin Chala, may turn out to be an Aveira (sin) after all.

It's a well known fact that raisins (some currants) are an infested fruit. The only ones that aren't infested are the ones with the Hashgocha from the Aida (yerushalem).

Therefore if your raisins in your chala is not from the "aida" raisins. DON'T USE THEM! more so on Rosh Hashonah.

If you are making your own chala, cut up clean dry apricots and put into the Chala.

Blueberries are all infested, including frozen, canned, jelly, preserves, etc.

Freeze dried strawberries, blueberries, raspberries are fine with hashgocha.

Central Rabbinical Congress of the USA and Canada

Elul, 5772

Announcement
Regarding Blueberries, Raisins, Grapes

1) After intensive checking, our Choshuve Mashgichim who are Mumchim in checking for bugs have come to the conclusion that this season there is an infestation of bugs in blueberries.

Therefore the Beis Din instructs as follows:

 Raisins: We have already published in the past years that all kinds of raisins have a high infestation of bugs and it is impossible to remove them or to check for them, therefore no raisins should be used.

All bakeries/stores/products under our supervision do not use raisins (just currants which are similar to raisins, but do not have any infestation).

3) Grapes: The Beis Din has instructed in the past that all kinds of grapes have to be washed three times under a strong stream of cold water, and ensure that every grape is throughly washed.

Ksiva V'chasima Tova
Kashrus Division

Lakewood שלום בית-Therapists (terrorists) are not the solution, they are the root of the problem!

Advice on Responding to a Restraining Order

Unfortunately many women are receiving bad advice from therapists, attorneys and Pseudo Rabbonim who know nothing about Halachah. Their only interest is to pander their client and keep them satisfied. They will never advise their client to do the proper thing according to Halacha, when the client will not be happy with this advice. 
               The result has been a large increase in the issuance of RO’s to Yeshiva Leit. The proper response is to go to Bais Din and request that they commence proceedings to render the sender of the RO a מורדת. If the Bais Din sees that there is no justification for the RO and the issuer does not retract they will commence with the proceedings. The details of what Bais Din has to do are described in Even HaEzer Siman 77. 

As more women get declared a מורדת the reputation of the advisors will deteriorate since we can now quantify that they are giving bad advice and it is producing negative consequences to their clients.

A second benefit is that after the proceedings are finalized there are financial advantages such as no KESUBAH (see Siman 77 for more details)

A third benefit is after 12 months you can give a GET on your terms, and remarry according to most Poskim without a HETER MEIOH RABBONUM if she refuses to accept the GET (see Siman 77 for more details).

A fourth benefit is public relations “He left her because she was a מורדת sounds better than “she threw him out”.

I hope and encourage anyone who has received a RO to go forward with this advice and may הקב"ה give you ס"ד to end these issues with Shalom.

TOSHAV MONSEY

toshav@optimum.net

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                                                                   Lakewood- שלום בית

Therapists terrorists are not the solution, but the root cause of the problem.

ALERT: The "Beleaves" brand joined the Bowery brand and decided to crawl out of the kosher market, all due to the Feingold Hirsch group AKA ZICHRON SHMUEL (non-Glatt)

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

Only Pos'tive and Kosher Garden are the only reliable pre-checked vegies (even Bodek agrees)

Minchas chinuch & Zichron Shmuel are batting 100-

Bowery, Infested

Mehadrin, Infested

Strawberries, Infested

Beleaves, Infested

From an Email- There is some non-Glatt currently available

 Real beef certified by Tri-angle K- availablein wegman stores and wildfork stores 

Anonymous said...

Truth of the matter is that there is some plain kosher Non-Glatt currently in the Market, but the supply must be enlarged considerably.

Currently there is the Hebrew National brands, 

 Zelingold's- UMK, 

SBD -Rabbi Hatchual, 

Rabbanut at postville and at solomon's shechitas.

Thu Aug 06, 02:41:00 PM 2026

UPDATE! Attention: Beef Purveyors and Certifying Agencies

Attention: Beef Purveyors and Certifying Agencies

The ongoing beef shortages of the past several years have reached a point where the industry can no longer treat this as a temporary inconvenience. We believe the time has come to introduce a non-Glatt line into the market, and we are asking you to take this seriously and act on it.

This is not a new or radical idea — it is a return to how things worked for most of American kosher history. Roughly seventy-five years ago, the great majority of kosher beef sold in this country was non-Glatt, and it was accepted as fully kosher by the overwhelming majority of Ashkenazi consumers. The wholesale shift to Glatt-only distribution followed Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum's push to move the market away from non-shomer-Shabbos distribution channels — a legitimate concern at the time, but one that has since hardened into an assumption that Glatt is the only acceptable standard, which halacha itself does not require.

We also have practical precedent, both recent and current. In 2008, when the Agriprocessors shutdown triggered a nationwide kosher meat shortage, Harvard Row Kosher Meats in West Bloomfield, Michigan, working with the Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit (COR) under Rabbi Doniel Neustadt, began sourcing and selling properly supervised non-Glatt beef alongside its Glatt offerings. The COR provided full-time supervision to stand behind it, consumers were clearly informed of the distinction, and the community absorbed a supply shock without being pushed toward non-kosher meat. The Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc) also had a non-Glatt line available a few years back. 

And this isn't only a historical model — United Mehadrin Kosher (UMK) in St. Paul, Minnesota, under Rabbi Asher Zeilingold, certifies beef as non-Glatt today unless it is specifically labeled otherwise. The infrastructure and precedent already exist. There is no reason a version of this can't be made permanent and mainstream rather than treated as a regional or emergency-only measure.

With proper supervision and proper seals in place, there is no legitimate reason distribution logistics should stand in the way. That is a solvable problem, not a barrier — and it should not be used as an excuse for inaction.

What is not solvable, and what should concern every one of you, is what's already happening on the ground: simply raising the price of USA beef is pushing people — including those who are only marginally affected, not just those in real financial distress — toward non-kosher beef. That is a direct consequence of continuing with the status quo, and it is a consequence this community cannot afford to absorb.

We are not raising this as a suggestion to be filed away. It requires action.

If there is anything we can do to help move this forward, please advise.

Thanks,
Yehuda Shain

Head Start overhaul, proposing to eliminate regulations

 

Trump administration moves forward with Head Start overhaul, proposing to eliminate regulations

By MORIAH BALINGIT

President Donald Trump’s administration said it plans to overhaul Head Start, tossing out many of the regulations that are the hallmark of the early education program for the nation’s poorest children.

Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the federally funded preschool program, said the proposed changes would encourage more local decision-making. Early childhood policy experts argue the deregulation could undermine Head Start’s position as the gold standard in early education.

Head Start centers serve around 700,000 of the nation’s most vulnerable children, including those who are homeless, in foster care or disabled. That wouldn’t change under the overhaul.

But Alex J. Adams, an assistant secretary at Health and Human Service, said the department is hoping to give Head Start centers the flexibility to change the way they operate. That means eliminating most of Head Start’s regulations, such as standards for low staff-to-student ratios or requirements to provide services to preschoolers’ families.

Kashrus Alert! Re: Hisachdus Harabonim of Brooklyn {CRC} DON'T BUY ANY SOURDOUGH ITEMS FROM THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS, חשש חמץ שעבר

 Hisachdus Harabonim of Brooklyn; Are allowing chocolate from a חלב עכו"ם manufacturer and being used in Parve chocolate without kashering.

Mashgichim have notified the Hisachdus Harabonim of Brooklyn;  numerous times that Danishes, etc. with their Hashgocha that are milchig are coming to hotels, etc. without being marked properly, and they are being used after fleishig meals. 

 Hisachdus Harabonim of Brooklyn; Allows bakeries to use the same ovens for cheese cakes, cheese pastries and Parve without a proper cleaning and kashering.

BTW- the Orginzatsye Hashguchas i.e. OU doesn't allow kashering chocolate factories from milchig to parve.

They don't allow bakeries to bake dairy cheese and parve in the same oven.

Lakewood - the-rishus-continues-when-will-it-end- The therapists, etc are the group responsible- Sidom at it's best

http://hefkervelt.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-rishus-continues-when-will-it-end.html

The Lakewood therapists, etc and their Rabonim etc ( a mafia style) are the group responsible for shalom Bayis issues, separations, divorces, breaking up families, etc.

We have been monitoring the methods and results of these so called therapists, etc for the past  few years.

It's not as bad as you think, it's much worse!. 

"Rishus" is too mild of a description.

Guest comment. [Hefker velt]

http://hefkervelt.blogspot.com/2015/12/hefker-velt.html#comment-form

Its a Hefker velt, thats exactly how to describe what goes on when dealing with the sensitive issue of shalom bayis and  R'L divorce. There is no responsible system set up, no trusted agency al pi Torah and halacha. 

No communal standard that everyone adheres to, or even a bes din to turn to. Its unfortunate that so many homes are shattered as a result of total incompetence, inexperience in dealing with the issues and problems of shalom bayis. 
Its a Hefkervelt when any Askan, therapist, social worker or Rav, can do what they want with no accountability for their actions. They get away with it time and time again. There is no mirsas, no fear, no repercussions its do what ever you please. They dont have to answer up to anybody. 
Take one side of a story, give bad advice, dont do basic homework or due diligence its only nefashos were dealing with. So what if you have no experience in shalom bayis issues, who says you cant take it on all by yourself? no one is stopping you. No guidelines set in place making sure all 

Update: Re: שלום בית issues: Lakewood "therapists & Mentors" are רודפים

Lakewood "Therapists & Mentors" just broke another family!!
Protect our children?

Don't push "Ritalin" on them like lollipops.
Ritalin? sure! so the School administrators can provide paying clients to their therapists.


Don't let Therapist [Terrorists](backed by Rabbonim) to break apart families. [Their success rate in at 99%]

Don't let the Rabbonim and therapists run for restraining orders against their husbands, who happens to be the father of her children.
She is throwing her children to the dogs. That's what revenge is.

Don't work in unison to support financially the therapists, by sending the parents, the children, etc. to therapy.

That's perhaps why children lost their respect for Rabbonim!

Don't allow the מקוה to break families. Terrorists & Rabbonim do it constantly R"L

מקוה schedules in WG are by pay-for-play? 
Get rid of the ones in charge, from the Rabbonim down. Get rid of the corruption in WG.
Don't play dumb.

Coaching Vs Therapists

https://www.noomii.com/article/coaching-vs-therapy

Coaching vs. Therapy

A common misconception is that coaching is the same as therapy, when in fact they are quite different. Therapy is intended to help people recover from emotional or other psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety. Coaching, on the other hand, is intended to help normal, healthy individuals achieve personal goals such as increased happiness, weight loss, improved work-life balance. etc.

The table below shows a quick side-by-side comparison of coaching vs. therapy

Coaching and Therapy

Coaching	Therapy
Client is emotionally and psychologically healthy	Client is emotionally unwell and in needs healing
Focuses on the present and future	Focuses on dealing with the past
Driven by goals and taking action	Driven by unresolved issues and feelings
Works toward a higher level of functioning	Works to achieve understanding and emotional healing
Results-based and focuses on exploring solutions	Explores the root of problems and offers explanation
Asks, “Where would you like to be and how can you get there?”	Asks, “How did that make you feel?”
Acts on information	Absorbs information
Done over the phone, internet or in person	Done in an office setting
Coach and client collaborate on solutions	Therapist is the ‘expert’
Contact between sessions expected (accountability and wins)	Contact between sessions for crisis and difficulties only

Anash Inc v. Borough of Kingston- a shul violating the newly imposed zoning ordinance

 

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Opinions

Anash Inc v. Borough of Kingston Docket: 25-1097 Opinion Date: July 30, 2026 Judge: Peter Phipps Areas of Law: Civil Rights, Real Estate & Property Law, Zoning, Planning & Land Use A municipality in Pennsylvania investigated two properties owned by a rabbi after receiving complaints about their use. One property was used as a residence for young men engaging in religious study, while the other served as a space for prayer, study, and religious instruction. Both properties were located in a commercially zoned district. Citing a new zoning ordinance, the municipality issued violation notices to the rabbi, asserting that such religious uses were not permitted in the district. The municipality then obtained administrative search warrants, conducted inspections, and condemned the properties the day before a major religious holiday, barring occupancy until the buildings were brought into compliance. The municipality also threatened daily fines for continued non-compliance. The rabbi and his congregation filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the municipality and its officers, raising several claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), among other federal and state claims. They sought a preliminary injunction to regain access to the properties and halt enforcement actions during litigation. The District Court denied their request, finding no likelihood of success on the merits or irreparable harm, and reasoning that alternative locations for religious activities were available. On interlocutory appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reviewed the denial of preliminary injunctive relief. The Third Circuit held that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their RLUIPA substantial-burden claim as to the zoning ordinance, since enforcement prevented access to property for religious exercise and imposed significant penalties. The court found irreparable harm and determined that the balance of hardships and public interest favored the plaintiffs. The Third Circuit reversed the District Court’s order denying a preliminary injunction and remanded for further proceedings, instructing the lower court to enter appropriate injunctive relief.

SWEET'N LOW- contains non-kosher wine?

Sweet & Low contains "cream of tarter" derived from grape-juice extracted via a centrifuge process. The source of the grape-juice is "ANY SOURCE".

The Chofetz Chaim in two places paskens that smoking/vaping is מאבד עצמו לדעת and the second hand smoke affecting others is a form of רציחה

 

Zachor L'Miriam, ch. 23

Likkutei Amarim, ch. 12

Kosher cruises- are they kosher by name only?

https://kosherrivercruise.com/amsterdam/?utm_source=website&utm_campaign=jcn

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.

Alert- Re: all Strawberries of Bodek & B'gan, regardless of dates, lots, etc. DO NOT USE ANY OF THEM REGARDLESS OF DATES, ONLY PEELED STRAWBERRIES ARE INSECT FREE!

Public Notice

Regarding Bodek and B'gan Frozen Strawberries

 It has been noted that both Bodek and B'gan—two separate companies—market frozen strawberries produced in Peru. Under existing arrangements, the primary certifying authorities including Rabbi Shmuel Teitelbaum, Minchas Chinuch Hashgocha and the OU rely entirely on the insect-free certification of Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum (the Nirbater Rav), who oversees the initial production for B’Gan etc. in Peru. Consequently, no independent, secondary reinspection of these products is conducted before they are marketed.

Recently, independent kashrus individuals not affiliated with Bodek or B’gan have reportedly discovered insect infestations in these imported frozen strawberries from Peru. These findings have called into serious question the reliability of the current certifications, particularly because the specific authorities being relied upon are widely known not to be specialized experts in insect infestation or entomological kashrus inspection protocols. This raises severe concerns within the community regarding whether the oversight is sufficient to guarantee that the strawberries are entirely insect-free.

The Halachic Context

From a halachic standpoint, strawberries are widely recognized as much’zak be’tolaim (substantiated and presumed to be infested). Due to the nature of their textured surface, many halachic authorities maintain that it is virtually impossible to ensure they are insect-free through standard commercial washing alone.

As a result, a growing consensus of halachic experts advises that consumers should not rely on pre-washed frozen strawberries—even those bearing multiple prominent certifications. Instead, strawberries should only be used if they are completely peeled, as this is the only definitive way to ensure they are free of insects.

Current Actions and Lack of Public Alerts

Reports indicate that the certifying Rabbonim have quietly directed companies to remove affected stocks from retail store shelves. However, no public alerts have been issued to warn families who may already have these products stored in their home freezers, or who may have already used them in prepared foods.

The Problem with Undated Notices

Notably, both the B'gan and Bodek consumer notices are undated. An undated notice is a significant irregularity in any consumer-protection context:

• No Traceability: It cannot be tied to specific production lots, shipment dates, or timeframes.
• Lack of Accountability: It allows the notice to be quietly circulated—or quietly withdrawn—without creating a fixed public record of when the problem was acknowledged.
• Consumer Ambiguity: Neither notice identifies lot codes, production dates, or a date range of affected product, leaving consumers with no way to determine whether strawberries already in their freezers are NOT included.

The absence of dates and lot identification points to a broader systemic concern: that a system relying on a single initial inspection—conducted by an authority lacking specialized infestation expertise, with no independent secondary reinspection—cannot reliably distinguish clean lots from infested ones. If the certifiers were confident in identifying which specific lots were affected, standard practice would be to disclose them. The decision to instead pull all Peruvian-sourced product, without dates or lot numbers, speaks for itself, THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK!

Conclusion

The lack of a transparent public statement or formal clarification from the certifying Rabbonim in the wake of these independent findings has created significant ambiguity for kosher consumers. This prolonged silence leaves the current safety and halachic status of these batches open to serious question, heightening the urgency for consumers to discard these items or consult their own competent halachic authorities before using them.