Is beer kosher without certification? Alert Re: French Vodka & Grey Goose Vodka- ORIGINALY PUBLISHER 2/21

GREY-GOOSE VODKAS HAS WINE IN IT!

RE: VODKA- BTW- All French vodkas are aged in wine barrels, there are many more issues with Vodkas so only use with a proper Hashgocha. Grey Goose vodka is a French Vodka.

THE MAKING OF BEER- & Its Kosher Considerations

Beer is classified according to its alcohol content, the bitterness level produced by the hops. The principal kinds of beer are as follows:

Lakewood et al-

MAILBAG: The Alcohol-Drinking At Prominent Yeshivos Is Out of Control And Being Ignored

December 26, 2017 9:45 pm

Share on Facebook

Tweet on Twitter

This headline may sound familiar to many. I’ll remind you. In August, I wrote a letter to YWN titled “The Alcohol-Drinking At Yeshiva Camps Is Out of Control And Being Ignored”. Now I’ve decided to change the word “Yeshiva Camps” to “Prominent Yeshivos”.

It may be a bit harsh, but things are getting a bit out of control.

First off, I hope all of you just had a wonderful Purim. Wait, Purim? Have you been drinking early? It was Chanukah last week, not Purim! It was Chanukah at your family Chanukah party perhaps, but in the most prominent of Yeshivos it was PURIM.

Hatzolah in many communities had many calls for intoxicated Bochrim on Chanukah. At one very prominent yeshiva located in Upstate NY, Hatzolah needed Paramedics for one boy. In Lakewood, I heard from multiple Haztolah members that there were “intox calls” at Yeshivos as well. To say this clearly, the booze was flowing like water at these Yeshiva Chanukah parties.

While discussing this topic with my nephew in Eretz Yisrael, he informs me of a new fad called “Drunken Dreidel,” played by bochurim in dirahs of prominent yeshivos. Based on a graphic description from my nephew, it seems this ‘game’ entails taking turns spinning the dreidel and knocking down shots of vodka based on what letter the dreidel lands on. If it lands of a “Hay,” then everyone drinks a half a shot. A “Gimmel” would be a full shot for everyone etc. By the time the game is over, the boys are nearly passed out.

I’ve heard stories about Bochurim even getting arrested for disorderly conduct on a night of Chanukah! The famed Mashgiach at one of the most prominent Yeshivos was busy getting Bochurim out of jail instead of focusing on the more important things… like banning local stores from being opened past 11PM…..

There are stories every Shabbos in Yeshivas of Bochrim dead drunk in the dormitories.

I can go on and on and I should probably start naming Yeshivas. This is Pikuach Nefashos Mammish!

Nothing is being done about this. Nothing at all.     Our community is in total denial.

But lets all keep our heads in the sand and pretend that we don’t have a crisis on our hands.

Do these Roshei Yeshiva have any idea what an “AA” meeting looks like in the Frum community in 2017? They are PACKED with Frum people. Just wait until year 2025 when the number triple and quadruple. We are raising a generation of drunks.

What are these Yeshivos waiting for? Do we need a few boys to die of alcohol poisoning before people boycott these Yeshivos? Why is the “zero tolerance for a smartphone” enforced but the drinking epidemic being ignored?

I am demanding that the Yeshivas take action before I and others like myself take appropriate action to ensure the problem is dealt with another way. We will make sure your Yeshivos are (legally) exposed and blacklisted by every single family in America.

Thank you for publishing my letter, and I am sorry for being so harsh, but the reality demands this.

Yeshaya Dovid Braunstein – Lakewood

ATTENTION- Agudah National Action Summit to feature Special Rabbonim session on permitting.....

 Agudah National Action Summit to feature Special Rabbonim session on permitting  Married women to re-marry without a get.

  בס"ד

Aguda convocation Speaker Lineup is released, flaunting Sholom Kamenetsky - who is listed as addressing three forums he's best suited to subvert:

Trigger Alert:

Don't burst out laughing if you're reading this in a public place:

1) Rabbonim and Morei Derech (column 1);

2) Mental Health Professionals (column 2);

3) Kallah Teachers (column 2).

הצד השוה שבהם: תמר אפשטיין?

 NEWARK, NJ — The upcoming Agudah National Action Summit, taking place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the Newark Marriott Hotel, will feature a unique and important Rabbonim Session addressing one of the most complex and sensitive areas of rabbinic leadership today: “Case Studies in the Hashkafah and Halacha of Conflict Resolution: Shalom Bayis and Family Alienation.”

 The closed-door session, open exclusively to rabbonim, will run from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. and will present real-world case studies exploring the intersection of halachah, hashkafah, and mental health. These discussions will highlight the challenges faced by rabbonim and mental health professionals in navigating issues of shalom bayis and family estrangement, seeking to bring clarity and guidance rooted in Torah values.

 The distinguished panel will include:

 Hagaon Rav Sholom Kamenetsky, Rosh HaYeshiva, Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia

Dr. Shmuel Mandelman, Ph.D., Founder and Clinical Director, The C.L.I.N.I.C.

 

Update: At the 2 Cheder halls on Vasser Ave- they have ישן, Solomons meat and Mesorah/KJ poultry

ALERT"!  Menashe Frankel's- (Matel)  Chasunah halls in Lakewood-  Alert:  Equipment must be kasherd, contaminated by 'בישול עכו"ם ובשר שנתעל

COOKING ON SHABBOS-ALL VERIFIED INFO

NO YOSHON!

New-Alert:  Equipment must be kasherd, they were contaminated by 

בישול עכו"ם ובשר שנתעלם, וכו' COOKING ON שבת

Workers fired from other food service because of " repeated kashrus violations" are working at this place!

"Reb Moshe Feinstein, זצ״ל, ruled that if the chosson and kallah do not wash and partake in the seudah together with the guests, then the Sheva Berachos recited after Birchas HaMazon are considered a berachah levatalah, חס ושלום."

Reb Moshe instituted the system that the "most important picture is" photographer's are instructed to have a picture of the Choson cutting the Challah and the Chosson & Kallah must therefore wash and eat the meal with the guests.

 Menashe Frankel has them use EMPIRE poultry, etc. that Reb Shnuer, Z"L did not allow in BMG.

You can (hopefully) ask for kosher fish.

From a comment: This caterer has some serious kashrus concerns  that are in the areas of chilul Shabbos, Bishul Akum, Bos'ur Shenis'alem, treif utensils, misleading clientele, cooking on shabbos, picku-ps and deliveries on shabbos,etc. R"L

Lakewood caterers, restaurants, take-out, pizza stores, food service, etc. establishments do not all have an acceptable kashrus standard.

Some are more reliable from a kashrus standpoint.

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

from a commentor; Others found they could make their families life very easy by going the URI Newman, Yehzkel Aurebach, KCL, Thumim, Fund, et al way in kashrus, using Empire, Tartikuv, Minchas Chinuch, Yecvhiel Babad, Weismandel, Star-K, Infested strawberries, infested Sun dried tomatoes, Bossur Shenisalem, Bishul Akum, etc. it does not mean that it's necessarily kosher, but at least one could say, I followed URI Newman's et al protocol. After 120, they'll tell you where to go .

We see Professional Sofrim are coming from Eretz Yisroel to check the Mezuzahs for Lakewood households-

 Does Lakewood have a shortage of qualified sofrim?

There a Course now in Lakewood for Sofrim by Rav Zeida.

KASHRUS ALERT! BLUE PANTRY CHICKEN AT BINGO IS EMPIRE- educated kosher consumers do not use it.

 Reb Moshe notified Reb Shnuer not to use Empire, and it was much then, before Yechiel Babad took over. But KCL's bak'shish overrules.

Baptized by CRC?

Empire Kosher Poultry with establishment number P1015

MESORAH

Establishment Number: M1655 + P1655 + V1655

Kiryas Joel Poultry

M31727, P31727, and V31727A

Alert: Nikei Chapaiyim Organization??? may be tainted with non-nikei-chapayim.Is it like GEMACH CHASDEI YOSEF

 Which Bais Din is  in charge of this Organization?

Which Accounting firm Monitors the in and out in loans?

The phone number is a Lakewood 732 exchange.

One Rabbi Yaakov Siemiatycki is on the Bais Din, he is also the Rosh "Bais Din" of another "Bais Din".

SBD has brought down the kashrus standards at ALLE/MEALMART

 That's why others have opted out of using ALLE / MEALMART if SBD emblem is on the package.

Rav Shlomo Machpud's opinion Regarding Rabbi Osher Hatchual's "SBD" beef et al from South America

Rav Shlomo Machpud's opinion  Regarding SBD 
 beef from South America.

It's not Shaiyish, Not Bais Yosef, and it's not even Glatt.

Regarding SBD Veal, others were instructed by their Hacham to kasher their utensils, R"L

The Israeli Rabbanut will not allow it in any Israeli establishments.

UPDATE: Rabbi Hatchual's "SBD" is "NON-GLATT" even for Ashkenazim- The "SY's" black hatters don't eat SBD anymore

 According to the latest from Israeli Rabbanut sources.

The above-mentioned meat should not be considered as GLATT at this time, until the proper changes are made, including Cameras that are monitored online. 

We will advise when the changes are in place.

Israeli Rabanut's letter re: concerns of cross contamination of their kosher meat with the non-Glatt SBD & MEALMART BEEF.

 26 Iyar 5784, Monday, 03/06/24

To the Honorable Rabbinical Committee Members:

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Shlit"a Rabbi Yitzchak Ralbag Shlit"a Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weiss Shlit"a

CEO Rabbi Yehuda Cohen y”u Legal Advisor Mr. Harel Goldberg y”u

Subject: Plan for the "Les Feyder" Plant in Uruguay

Due to the unique high speed of slaughter and inspection at the "Les Feyder" plant, which operates at approximately 120 to 140 animals per hour, a request has been made to establish a program that adheres to the stringent standards of rabbinical kosher supervision while accommodating this high speed.

At the committee’s request, I have formulated two possible plans, with the second being preferred according to kosher standards:

1. Approved speed up to 120 animals per hour.
2. Five knife inspectors with the following roles:
• Two slaughterers alternating, each slaughtering one animal per minute, including washing and preparing knives for the next slaughter.
• Two simultaneous slaughterers.
• One additional knife inspector to support and handle knives that need adjustments.
• The inspectors must remain in the slaughter area throughout the entire process, except during factory breaks.
3. Two internal inspectors checking alternately, each inspecting their designated color-coded animals.
4. Two external inspectors working simultaneously, each focusing on their color-coded animals.
5. The team leader will replace the external inspectors every 40 minutes.

Important Note: This plan can only be executed if all team members adhere strictly to the outlined procedures. If not followed precisely, significant kosher issues could arise. Based on past experience, it has been proven that the speed of slaughter and inspection can reach up to 140 animals per hour in this plant.

To avoid problems and ensure proper adherence to kosher standards, I suggest the plant operate with six slaughterers divided into two teams of three each. Each team should consist of two slaughterers and one knife inspector, with an additional inspector for marking and handling non-kosher or kosher animals.

Additional Notes:

1. There must be a supervisor present in the room where heads, tongues, and cheeks are processed, ensuring proper preparation and sealing of the boxes for transfer.
2. Past infractions have shown that soaking and salting times were not adhered to properly. It is essential to ensure these processes meet the required durations.
3. The water temperature for soaking must not drop below 7°C.
4. Due to morning slaughter by American teams, the plant must prioritize the Rabanut’s kosher certification process, ensuring thorough cleaning before Rabanut kosher beef use. In order to avoid cross-contamination of the American beef with the Rabanut’s beef.
5. The plant is equipped with security cameras; it is advised that the rabbinical team should have access to these cameras to monitor all workstations.
6. The plant must send an official letter, signed by a notary, committing to work according to these guidelines in both slaughter and inspection processes.

In prayer that no mishap will occur through us,

Sincerely,

Rabbi Avraham Buchbut Director of Meat Processing Plants and Butcheries

 

The root cause of OTD- consuming Rabbi Hatchual's SBD Alle/mealmart S. America and the like.

Sourced from the Rambam, the Ohr Ha'chaiyim, Reb Akiva Eiger, The Chasam Sofer, Rav Zalman Sorotzkin's Oznayim LaTorah , etc. 

Israel, Zionist, Bibi, Netanyahu-as long as you don't show maximum respect for chareidim, you'll get clobbered, by the entire word and the USA!

In Kashrus Hashgochas, What's worse- "Ignorance" or "apathy"?

  KCL say "We don't know & We don't care!  

(Re: How to run a successful Kashru$ Organization)

From a comment;

What’s the story with the Milchiger = Kosher? Corrupt Restaurant in Howell NJ behind Amazing Savings called Ottimo Cafe?
They have the KCL = Stands for Kosher? Corrupt?? Lousy no hashgocho? 

Do they have a mashgiach temidei, the one I saw who claimed to be the Mashgiach temedei looked like a Am Ha’aretz and a Shaygetz with a Pepsi Yamalka. When I spoke with the KCL, the guy who answered the phone realized I had a point, and I told him there are serious Kashruth violations in the KCL when a restaurant does not have hashgochoh temedis. He did not answer when I asked him how often does the KCL administrators make unannounced check ups at this establishment.

During the time I was there, one and a half hours,, no Jew/yid stepped foot in the kitchen and goor heimisher and chassidische yidden went there and ate. There was a large function in the back hall of this place. A simcha and who is asking questions? What a Shanda and scandel.

Who does bedikas Toylay’im at this establishment? Suggest people should be more vigilant when frequenting “Kosher” establishments who don’t have any standards for hashgochoh. May ghe KCl who I understand now, has no standards and is totally hefker.

An Email Re: A Hashgocha of R' Yechiel Babad Tartikuv-

 Dear Rabbi Shain,

Good Morning! 
I'm  from Flatbush 
NY Smash (1360 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11230) is Sephardi-owned and under Tartikov supervision. Daytime relies on the owner; evenings previously lacked a frum presence. 
Key Issues:

1. July: Reported no frum staff evenings to Reb Yechiel Babad. They hired a Sephardi girl with minimal halachic/kashrus knowledge to stand at the register.
2. September: Found she was training a non-Jewish employee to do her job, claiming the owner would be present while the new employee was working. The next day (11:30 PM), no Jewish staff; non-Jews said mashgicha quit, and the owner left at 6 PM. Babad's son falsely claimed via text that a Jew was present—I told him he's being misled or worse.
3. Current: Mashgicha returned only because the owner withheld her last paycheck; she is not comfortable reporting to the Department of Labor and plans to quit soon due to low pay ($17).
4. Ongoing: Non-Jewish griddle worker cracks eggs directly onto the hot surface without blood-spot checks—unlikely incentivized to inspect.

Community views Tartikov as reliable (from your blog, I now see you strongly disagree), and when I share my experience, people are shocked by these lapses. From my talks with Reb Yechiel, he seems aware there are issues, but hopes I'll drop it and go away.
Who can I report this to for real pressure on the hashgacha or store?
Thank you,