Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Tuesday, March 04, 2025
Rav Breuer, Z"L on Kashrus
Background: When Rav Dr. (Levy) Yosef Breuer, Z”L, announced the establishment of the highly respected KAJ Kashrus, he stated:
“I am founding a kashrus organization that will adhere to basic kashrus standards, without chumras or hidurim.”
He explained his reasoning:
“If one focuses on chumras and hidurim, eventually, there may be nothing left of basic kashrus.”
Then the Chumras and Hidurim are irelevant.
Today, Bnei Torah and Yeshiva Leit seek high-quality products with a reliable kashrus standard—one that maintains authenticity without unnecessary chumras and hidurim.
Tartikuv Minchas Chinuch stands out stands out very much in this are of Chimras/Hidirim, but no basic Kashrus.
Sunday, March 02, 2025
ALERT: Brown Eggs- Kashrus dilemma
Brown Eggs have a tendency to have more blood spots, brown or red. At times they have what is called in Yiddish a "gersh'tel", also a problem.
Very often they are Cage-free, and there are roosters.
The blood-spots are a ד'אוריתא.
All Amish country eggs have roosters.
Usually at least 3-5 eggs out of a dozen have an serious kashrus issue- THEREFORE COOKING THEM AND NOT CHECKING IS not compliant with THE HALACHA.
There is no Heter for a Non-frum to check eggs, even if they get paid for every one they find.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
UPDATE: CRC Hisachdus Alert- Glicks Parve chocolate had some dairy ones mixed in-The Mashgiach was "pre-occupied" with other interests- If he came at all!!
CRC Hisachdus has had numerous Parve/Dairy issues the past few years.
CRC/ Hisachdus Parve Chocolate from an East Greenville, PA manufacturer, which should be listed always as Dairy.
Their Pesach Chocolate made at the Barton's while chocolate covered Matzo was being made side by side.
CRC/ Hisachdus- Glicks Parve/Dairy chocolate made in Turkey- The Mashgiach was not doing his job. There were other distractions.
CRC/Hisachdus Bakeries often (we know of 3 times in the past year) send Dairy/Parve Danishes to caterers and affairs in not properly marked boxes and the Dairy ones were served after Fleshing's.
CRC/Hisachdus for years did a Lakewood production of "Parve" Chocolate in a facility that does Cholov Akum - with no Mashgiach at all.
ETC
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Sunday, February 16, 2025
They just had a mamzeres named Layah, per blessing of Reb Shmuel and Sholom Kamenetsky and Rabbi Gershon Bess et al
TAMAR EPSTEIN REMARRIed WITHOUT A GET!
Monday, February 10, 2025
The biggest Holocaust ever, is taking place in Israel by the Israeli leftist, chilonim, etc. Their fake Concerns about the Hostages?, only to take down the BIBI Government!
PS -Stop the Abortions, you'll have 30,000 soldiers annually, without the Chareidim at all.
Note: In the army, it's 100% abortions!
Given Data:
- Jewish births (mostly by the frum) in Israel in 2021: Approximately 135,639
- Legal abortions in Israel (mostly by chilonim) in 2021: Approximately 16,508 (99.5% of 16,591)
- Estimated illegal abortions in Israel: Approximately 15,000
- Arabs don't allow abortions
Total Abortions (Legal + Illegal):
Ratio of Jewish Births to Total Abortions:
Ratio=Total abortions Jewish births=31,508 v.135,639≈4.3Percentage of Abortions Compared to Jewish Births:
To calculate the percentage of abortions relative to Jewish births:
Percentage=(Jewish births Total abortions)×100=(135,63931,508)×100≈23.2%Final Results:
- There are approximately 4.3 Jewish births from the Frum for every abortion (legal and illegal) mostly from the Chilonim.
- Abortions account for approximately 23.2% of Jewish births in Israel.
Sunday, February 09, 2025
Tuesday, February 04, 2025
Others are looking to put together Chaburos for Matzos at East Kennedy Bobov Bakery, we observed many bakeries, and we think that East Kennedy Bobov ranks above
AT BOBOV IT WAS CHECKED WITH A MOISTURE METER, 18%-+ as a DOUGH, 1-2% right OUT OF THE OVEN, NOBODY COMES CLOSE TO THAT- GET YOUR REJECTORS AWAY FROM THE OVEN- ABOUT TIME, uNLESS YOU WANT TO WEAR AN APRON AND LOOK LIKE A ROSH YESHIVA AT MATZO BAKING-IT WON'T GET YOU A SHTELLAR.
Sunday, February 02, 2025
Chaburah Hand Matzos some pointers
Chaburah Matzos 5785
1- Room
cleaned out completely from any dough pieces, flour dust etc. “a chometz free
environment”.
2- Only
Yoshon wheat [sometimes they add spring wheat to add gluten]. More whole wheat
in mix, less water. Note: a dry crumbly dough could handle a hot oven 1000F +.
The dough must be worked out very well to become very pliable, so the velgerers
can easily roll out a thin large matzo. We’ll use the flour with added “Rozoveh”
that works best with the least amount of water. 40% water ratio to flour
3- Without
Finners, it’s very hard to work out the dough be very pliable, unless they use
more water which causes many other problems.
4- Another
Finner table, so the finning will be longer and a more pliable dough. The
knetter & Finner are the first ones finished by the 18-minute break, so
they should start earlier, same in the morning at first “ma’irah”. All finning
tables to be used, smaller mairos. Too often matzo dough piles up by the
reddler table- corrective solution needs to be implemented??
5- Change
bowl & gloves between every mayrah-even first 3.
6- Change
water cup every time. (the one that pours water into flour) as it may splash
flour onto the cup.
7- Plastic
sleeve on vacuum, by the “knetter”.
8- Finning
tables & finning bars should be wiped with a dry towel in between every
dough. [by a chabura person]
9- By
the finning-always go down to bottom with the finner bar, to prevent folds,
hand roll into a log.
10- The
aluminum dough divider, must be changed after every dough, wiped clean (not
over table) & checked.
11- They
should be cut equal size.
12- We’ll
have people to work the dough pieces after it’s cut.
13- The
edges should be the same thickness as the rest not a thicker rim.
14- Matzo
dough should have a moisture percentage of 18% +-
15- Rolling
pins should not be kept under the arm. Rolling pins should not leave room.
16- Sufficient
number
of sticks that take the matzos to the oven, so we don’t have to reuse any
during the 18 minutes.
17- Burn
out the redlers & the bowls the night before or that morning early.
18- Reddler
paper to move a bit quicker.
19- No
waiting at the redling table, straight into oven -1-2 or 3 matzos- prefer sets
of 2 matzos at a time, there will be less burned ones
20- 9-10-
to the pound
21- Even
steel will b end when hot, therefore if the matzo bends does not necessarily
mean it’s not baked well, chech the moisture percentage if it’s in the range of
2%, it’s fully baked.
22- If
need be, lower the oven temp, unless water or other adjustments can be made.
[water 40% +-]
23- No
matzo is to be moved around from place to place in the oven; once it’s picked
up it should be removed completely.
24- The
matzo shouldn’t be kept at the oven door after baking, to dry out.
25- Clean
boards by oven to put matzos on when removing from oven.
26- Reddler
table should be moved further from oven room door, if need be.
27- No
outsiders at any time during our baking time. No room & it’s a shter to the
chaburah.
28- We
can check at packing for burnt matzos, kefulos & remove them.
29- Silica gel packs supplied by customer, to be put into each
box inside the plastic bag.
NOTE: I eat in KCL establishments, can I eat in various food establishments in the tri-State area
Then you can eat in the other establishments provided that you do not use any items that require Bedikas toloyim or cholv stam/akum which is actually cholov treif.
Friday, January 31, 2025
We were given this to post,-Teves 5785 To the Rabbonim of the Beis HaVaad. [Note: we'll fix up the hebrew iy"h next week]
Teves 5785 To the Rabbonim of the Beis HaVaad.
I am reaching out once again to express my deepest concerns over recent events surrounding the heter-nisuin of a kohein and giyores, and its aftermath. It has been about nine months since my previous letter.
1 During this time, the tumult surrounding the saga of the heter-nesuin, given and then officially retracted by a Beis Din of the Beis HaVaad, had mostly quieted down, at least in the public sphere.
What remained in its place was the sad chillul Hashem of a heter given without any reality-based explanation to support it, leaving the public with the perception that the heter was given only because its recipient was wealthy enough to pay for it. Recently this saga returned to the public sphere with the release of Rav Gorelick’s kunteres, “Kesser Kehuna” volume one, which traces the kehuna of the Laskin family, making them, ironically, from the best documented kehuna families in Klal Yisrael today.
This kunteres also introduces us to a letter, written in Russian and dated September 10, 1915, which the Beis Din recently produced in an attempt to justify the doubt cast on the kehuna of the Laskin family. This letter seems to have been written by the Laskin’s great grandfather Avraham Lashinsky, and happens to mention details about Avraham Lashinsky’s life, which would force us to conclude that the Laskin’s great grandfather Avraham Lashinsky, is actually not the person whose kever in queens says “Avraham Yitzchak HaKohein Lashinsky,” but rather a different person with an amazingly similar life. The issue with this letter is that it’s a forgery.
Rav Gorelick demonstrates this clearly in his kunteres, and includes letters from several additional Rabbonim who call out this forgery as well. After the release of Rav Gorelick’s kunteres, the mood of the many yungerleit who have been paying attention to the developments of this saga, became cautiously optimistic. Surely now, the Beis Din would respond with something of substance. Perhaps they would explain the basis of their heter, or alternatively, perhaps the Beis Din would explain that they paskened only based on information presented to them, and now that their information has turned out to be inaccurate or unreliable the psak is withdrawn…
Regrettably, the Beis Din chose instead to release a compilation of letters insisting that their psak is valid, claiming support from well-known Rabbonim, and threatening divine punishment to those who question the authenticity of an unexplained heter allowing a wealthy kohein to marry a giyores. What was missing from these letters was the one thing desperately needed - a reality-based explanation of why this marriage is permitted. Not only did these letters fail to reassure us that an explanation for the heter actually exists, but they also actually had the opposite effect, as several of the statements made in these letters were quite alarming, exasperating concerns over Beis HaVaad’s credibility and integrity instead of quieting them.
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Takanah Weddings
A Takanah Wedding, with additional guidelines for eliminating certain customs like a Vort and simplifying Sheva Brachos, emphasizes modesty, affordability, and spiritual focus. These adjustments are often instituted by Rabbinic or communal leadership to create a framework for weddings that aligns with Torah values and avoids unnecessary financial or social pressure.
Enhanced Guidelines for a
Takanah Wedding:
- Eliminating the Vort:
- No Engagement Party: The traditional Vort
(engagement party) is omitted entirely, saving families from the expense
of hosting an additional event.
- Instead, a simple l’chaim may be held with
immediate family and close friends to celebrate the engagement privately.
- Simplified Sheva Brachot:
- Small Gatherings: Sheva Brachos meals during
the week are limited to intimate gatherings with close family and
friends.
- Home-Based Meals: Often hosted in private
homes rather than rented halls, with simple, home-cooked meals or modest
catering.
- Shabbos Sheva Brachos: A primary focus is
placed on celebrating Sheva Brachos during Shabbos, often incorporated
into the Shabbos meals. This allows for a more communal and spiritual
atmosphere without added expense.
- Avoidance of large-scale or extravagant Sheva
Brachos events.
- Core Features of the Wedding:
- Guest List: Limited to close family and
friends to keep the event meaningful and affordable.
- Catering: A simple menu is provided for the
wedding meal, with fewer courses or simpler options.
- Music: A small or one-piece band suffices,
ensuring a lively yet modest celebration.
- Purpose of These Changes:
- Financial Relief: Eliminating the Vort and
simplifying Sheva Brachos reduces financial burdens on families.
- Minimizing Pressure: Helps avoid social
competition over engagement parties or elaborate post-wedding
celebrations.
- Focus on Kedusha: Keeps attention on the
sanctity of the wedding day, the chuppah, and the mitzvah of building a
Jewish home.
By implementing these practices,
Takanah Weddings foster an atmosphere where the focus remains on Torah values
and the joy of the couple without unnecessary materialism. These changes ensure
that families can celebrate without undue stress while maintaining dignity and
joy.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Wig Alert: The Hashgocha of chanichei yeshivas, Rav Gross, Avrohom Schlesinger
According to Rav Moshe Shternbuch and other Dayonim,
DO NOT RELY ON THE HASHGOCHA on wigs/ sheitels It's a bluff, just taking money.
IT'S A FRAUD, to say it mildly.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Others claim the "vegans" are causing it!
Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Lotus cookies has kashrus issues and is not recommended, many bakeries are using them.
A very reliable European Rav knowledgeable in kashrus has verified that there are kashrus issues of concern.
Monday, January 13, 2025
Monday, January 06, 2025
Sunday, January 05, 2025
Alert: Prioritizing Safety in Lakewood's and Central Jersey's Changing Landscape
Numerous episodes have been happening at the local restaurants, inappropiate language, inappropiate touching, the rest one can figure out.
Alert: Prioritizing Safety in Lakewood's Changing Landscape
Over the past few years, Lakewood has undergone significant changes—shifts that may not align with the original vision of Reb Ahron and Reb Shnuer, Z"L.
Some concerning incidents have occurred in various establishments. While we won’t delve into specifics at this time, it’s clear that vigilance is essential.
Our Recommendation:
Always ensure accompaniment for safety and guidance—whether as an individual or part of a group. Having someone alongside you provides protection, support, and peace of mind as you navigate these changes.
Stay safe and make mindful choices to uphold the integrity and spirit of our cherished community.
The Hashgocha says as long there aren't constant violations of kashrus and their fees to the Hashgocha are timely, that is our only responsibility.
Important Kashrus Alert: Food Service Establishments in the Monsey Area
Important Kashrus Alert: Food Service Establishments in the Monsey Area
We have received numerous inquiries regarding kashrus standards in food service establishments throughout the Monsey area. This topic has been the subject of much discussion, and unfortunately, there has been significant activity from self-proclaimed "wannabes" in the kashrus field.
Currently, there are two overlapping organizations claiming to provide information and oversight, whose emblems are often displayed prominently. Additionally, CHAMA (Chevra Mivakshei HaKashrus) is another entity in the area, which also provides mashgichim for establishments.
Having been involved in the food service kashrus field for nearly 50 years, we have been fortunate to have Siyata Di’Shmaya in uncovering serious issues in numerous establishments. Based on our extensive experience, we must issue the following guidance:
Bottom Line:
As of Chanukah 5758, we cannot recommend relying on these organizations for kashrus certification. Instead, the reliability of a food service establishment often depends on the owner, manager, and mashgiach. If these individuals are known to be truly yir’ei shamayim (G-d-fearing), there may be more reason to trust the establishment. However, this requires careful discernment. Tjhese Organizations are actually a מכשיל את הרבים, ר"ל
To ensure your safety and adherence to proper kashrus:
- Bring your own food whenever possible.
- Avoid consuming vegetables from food service establishments that require bedikas toloyim (checking for insects), as this is often mishandled.
We urge the community to exercise caution and prioritize the highest standards of kashrus in all food-related decisions.
Friday, January 03, 2025
Update-2: Avoid the rush-Get your trees cut or branches trimmed. Glassman- Shomer Shabbos- insured
Avoid the mad-rush,
Thursday, January 02, 2025
Synopsis: Ninth Circuit Rules on Ministerial Exception in Kosher-Certification Dispute
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the ministerial exception applies to the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) in a lawsuit filed by Yaakov Markel, a mashgiach (kosher supervisor). Markel alleged unpaid overtime and unmet promises of promotion and wage increases, arguing that the claims involved secular matters.
Circuit Judge Ryan D. Nelson, writing for the majority, affirmed the lower court's decision that the OU is a religious institution, and the role of a mashgiach qualifies as ministerial. The court held that the ministerial exception, grounded in the First Amendment, bars Markel’s claims, as his work was essential to OU’s religious mission of kosher certification. The court emphasized that delineating religious and secular decisions within religious institutions could lead to unconstitutional entanglement between church and state.
The ruling also extended the ministerial exception to protect individual defendants, such as Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, from employment-related claims brought by ministerial employees. Circuit Judge Gabriel P. Sanchez concurred with the outcome but disagreed that the exception could apply to purely secular disputes.
The case underscores the constitutional principle that religious institutions’ decisions, even if appearing secular, are often intertwined with religious doctrine and are thus shielded from judicial interference under the ministerial exception. The decision is significant in defining the scope of the ministerial exception within religious organizations providing services for profit.