Sunday, April 22, 2012

Why many stopped completely eating Lamb?

Many shechitas shecht lamb at the rate of 120-160 @ hour. The ratio of glatt runs between 60-80%+. That means the bodek has to check about 95 @ hour (1.5 @ minute?).

There is usually 1 shoichet & 1 bodek & they change off. They feel very uncomfortable with the quality of the bedika especially after the first 100 at that speed.

Are the International Kosher certifiers rubber stamping the Heimish certifications?

Yes they are! sadly, to the kosher consumers detriment.

"Broineh-zeklach" pesach hashgochas.
Pesach "grubbeh-zaltz" Salt packaged "without a mashgiach" in a facility that packages chometz  items all year. Pesach Potato starch from a foreign facility without a mashgiach. Pesach Sugar packaged in a facility that previously had flour in their silos. Pesach Oil processed with citric acid, (in a facility that uses chometz, kitinious citric acid) without a mashgiach for the production. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

MasterMind is one of the "only" systems that work

BS"D- MasterMind LA presents: The Building Blocks of Jewish Education With World Renowned Educator: Rabbi Jonathan Rietti

MasterMind LA teacher development workshops provide participants an opportunity for hands-on learning, discussion with colleagues and curriculum planning. Interactive and experiential workshops will be taught by veteran educator Rabbi Jonathan Rietti. The workshops are designed to appeal to both new and experienced teachers. Our goal is to challenge teachers to teach Judaic subjects using multisensory learning techniques to enhance their students’ learning experience and their ability to engage every student in the classroom.

To make things happen, takes courage!

Reb Nosson's take




מה  שיעשה  הזמן  לא  יעשה  השכל   

וואס טוט מען ווען איינער האט נישט קיין צייט אונד האט נישט קיין שכל?

It will usually boomerang


Thursday, March 29, 2012

A successful leader?

"It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways."





"True satisfaction comes from getting the job done.
The key to a successful leader is to earn respect--not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character."

Friday, March 16, 2012

Kashrus Alert:

Kashrus Alert:

Most of the purveyors say their beef, veal, poultry, etc is kosher L'Pesach all year. The CRYOVAC plastic does have a starch which can be of non-pesach source.

Call the certifiers & the purveyors to verify the status for pesach.

INYAN Magazine (Hamodia) doesn't publish recipes anymore due to kashrus concerns.

THANKS from the Kosher Consumer

Monday, March 12, 2012

Recycling of "treif" food contaminated boxes

Recycling of  "treif"  food contaminated boxes, may be a concern to the kosher consumer, but due to the fact that the oils etc may ruin the entire batch it's not used.

The "Fish-experts" at the Sea-food show had a hard time "id" fish

I couldn’t understand why people were flocking around a white board on the expo floor. Then I realized it was a competition. They were waiting in line at the bio-analytical testing company Eurofin’s booth for a chance to prove they could match the right fish to the right name.The names of the “Top Fish ID Investigators” were put on a white board with a chance to win an easy 150 bucks.

Would you pass the test?

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

What are the qualifications of a mashgiach for infestation?

I have been checking for infestation for 12 years, I rarely find anything. When I do find it's an aphid, some thrips no mites & no miners. Going through the motions, doesn't qualify. If one knows a little more than others doesn't either qualify. There must be zero tollerance- NO INSECTS at all after checking.

I had many others check my product after I checked & they NEVER found anything after my checking. if the others were qualified checkers, then it shows that the mashgiach is qualified.

Anyone that checks by soaking, etc the vegies or fruit  then checking the water is not qualified [test were made & they missed many of the insects].

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Kashrus Alert:

Reb Yudel, shop rite in Lakewood has a sale on McCain frozen french fries and potatoes. The bags are all together in a chest freezer near the kosher experience.
Not all of the bags have an OU. People were buying different varieties only to realize and some have not that many bags do not have a OU.
The smiles shaped potatoes do not have a OU.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

RE: GRAPES- COR Alert

Please be advised that we have discovered some infestation on table grapes from Peru and Chile.

We have found a particular species of mites that are very small (about half of a millimeter) and hard to detect. While both factual and halachic research is ongoing we advise that grapes from Peru and Chile be washed carefully and thoroughly by using a strong stream of water.

Large clusters should be divided into smaller clusters so that the water can reach all surfaces of the grape.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Do you have a Tzedokah "ISHUR"?

Tomchei Tzedakah just received a call from someone in Lakewood: $7300 was withdrawn from his account - this past Motzoei Shabbos he had written a much smaller check to someone that had come to his door and the check had been altered and cashed. We then received another call with almost the exact same story - this time for $8700.

At this point we have very little additional information and are investigating. Please check your bank accounts and take whatever precautions you can.

 
Please feel free to email us at TomcheiTzedakah@gmail.com or call us at 732-367-7770 or at 848-210-5188 if you have any information that may be useful or if you have also been victimized.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

A Mashgiach's nightmare in Long island

A Mashgiach's nightmare in Long island. A private hashgocha was hired to oversee a wedding in a Long Island Synagogue that was under a Hashgocha from Brooklyn. The mashgiach sent in a list of requirements to the non-Jewish owned caterer a month prior to the affair. The mashgiach was somewhat surprised not to receive a call re: some of the requirements.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

BMG Freezer is being opened today and being dismantled

BMG Freezer is being opened today and being dismantled as BMG is being in the fore front of solving the shiduch crisis.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Alert: Daily halacha email re: tu-bi'shvat should not be relied upon!

1 big fish was caught-the rest are still out there

Seafood Company Fined $1M Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:53pm

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Torrance, Calif.-based seafood corporation has been ordered to pay $1 million in fines and community service donations for falsely labeling frozen catfish fillets as grouper.

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Only properly trained individuals are qualified to check for infestation-don't try it.


Mishnah Berurah in Hilchos Morer brings the Shu"t Chasam Sofer (130+-) that one must have "anushim-mi'yu'chudim-mi'su'yomim" with very good eyesight to inspect the lettuce, otherwise one may not use lettuce for morer.

Rav Shmuel Wosner, shlita says the chasam sofer is referring to special individuals that are experienced & it's known that they can find all of the camouflaged insects. 

Who's Platters are good? Nuts Galore! (Papaya is a "Ho'adamah")

Papaya is a "Ho'adamah", those that make a Ho'eitz are eating "ORLAH" r"l.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Beware: Flower arangements insects may fall on table food

Perhaps the Cellophane may be used to prevent the insects from getting into the food. Some may be crawling,

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Jolly rancher Stix - Kosher Status: Not kosher.

HERSHEY'S -JOLLY RANCHER Stix
www.hersheys.com/jolly-rancher/products/stix.aspx

JOLLY RANCHER STIX Candy offers a blast of apple flavor in long-lasting stick form. View Nutrition Info ... Enjoy the classic fruity flavor of cherry JOLLY RANCHER Candy in a long-lasting stick form. ... Kosher Status: Not kosher.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Some Ka$hru$ mi$nomer$

If one would glance at the full-page glossy ads in the ubiquitous Jewish magazine, it would seem that produce growers are falling over themselves to provide every possible green with the best of hechsherim, all while stating the various methods used to ascertain that one should not stumble and transgress these Biblical prohibitions.
 “Greenhouse Grown”, [are not insect free!]
 “Triple Washed”, [does not rid enough, to permit]
 “Insect Free”, [to those that are not trained]
 “Requires No Checking [not to be used after checking ]
scream out from the ads.

The Mishna Berura brings the Chasam sofer, that only trained individual with very good eyesight may checks infestation otherwise "don't use".

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Industry body says olive oil imports are ‘not really’ olive oil

By Ankush Chibber, 02-Feb-2012- A new study sponsored by the Australian Olive Association (AOA) has said that imported olive oils being marketed in the country as extra virgin olive oil are anything but olive oil.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Saturday, January 07, 2012

"CAVIAR-Sushi, Fish Sticks, Imitation Crab, surimi all use minced Pollock fish which is infested.

NOTE: The following information is correct. There are others attempting
to confuse the facts with their theories.

Sushi, Fish Sticks, Imitation Crab, surimi, all use minced (not ground)Pollock fish which is infested. Caviar (fish eggs) used at Sushi stations also infested. Yellow tail is a type of flounder, also infested.
Lox is from farmed salmon. Lox from wild salmon even if sliced thin is infested.

Klal Yisroel's dilema without a solution.BMG's Freezer

OK-We'll close the freezer, under 22 year olds will be the accepted age-They can go out on dates immediately, etc
Pell grants will roll in.
Shiduchim crisis will be alleviated iy"h.
Who will come to the shi'urim?
If these 22 year olds don't come to shiur, and Noviminsk, Brisk, etc will almost not be an option, they'll mamash bleib r"l no big talmidei chachomim "uhn a shiur"?

Rav Shach Z"L letter addressed the solution.

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Olive oil adulteration-again

Adulterated and even fake olive oil is widespread, according to studies. Just how big is the problem, and how can you avoid being caught out?

Last month, the Olive Oil Times reported that two Spanish businessmen had been sentenced to two years in prison in Cordoba for selling hundreds of thousands of litres of supposedly extra virgin olive oil that was, in fact, a mixture of 70-80% sunflower oil and 20-30% olive.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Groceries Pull Lettuce After Salmonella Scare

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Heads of iceberg lettuce are being removed from grocery store shelves in at least seven states after salmonella was found in an Arizona field adjacent to the grower's property.

The Cholov Stam / akum heter from Rav Moshe Feinstein Z"L not valid anymore?

The USDA, FDA, etc does NOT test for non-cow milk presence, hence the heter is not valid anymore.

This does not affect the fact that the Veterinarian procedures make the cows "TREIF". There is no shishim on the farms.
The USDA doen't either test for other milk.
The fines are minimal.

Monday, January 02, 2012

RE: Haolam shredded Cheese recall

RE: Haolam shredded Cheese recall; After clarifying the facts re: the process & kashering required for all of the shredding equipment, we are completely satisfied that there wasn't any kashrus issue at all-it was strictly a business & FDA precaution issue that initiated the recall.
There was no sakanah either, as the lab tests were all negative.

From an Email:

Rav Shain, I'm wondering if you or anyone else knows how to deal with a very serious kashrus situation. my company is kosher certified by a so called heimish hashgocha organization. They are known as the "mifia'nerim". They are strong-arming themselves into every possible hashgocha that they take away from other erlicher heimish Rabonim. Their own standards are based on "tzuhl oifen tzeit" nothing else. I'm sure the Rabonim are afraid "pachad-muvess" from the administrator, but why do the companies like me and the tzibur have to suffer from a mafia fake kashrus? 

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Vaad's newsletters for the past 5 years

BMG's  VAAD did nothing at all for the tzibur, so there are none.

They only used the Tzibur voting block for their own selfish interests.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Does the falseclaims act apply to Lakewood?

The False Claims Act-Whistleblower, Qui Tam

On behalf of its clients, Whistleblower, Qui Tam & False Claims Act Group utilizes the federal False Claims Act to seek legal redress against companies who have defrauded the federal or state government through any number of fraudulent schemes.

Successful whistleblower actions under the False Claims Act generally entitle the whistleblower to a reward ranging between 15% and 30% of the Government's overall recovery.

http://www.falseclaimsact.com/sfca_New_Jersey.php

According to the rema in shulchan oruch, Cedarbridge Corp owners are considered "moisirim". R"L

Public Notice

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Bottecilli extra virgin Olive oil inferior product?

Bottecilli extra virgin Olive oil inferior product?
When one called the Company to complain that there are pieces & impurities, the 68 oz Bottecelli company said we know the problem. The Bottecelli company sent a small 16 oz bottle instead of replacing the same 68 oz size.

With all of the publicity of extra virgin olive oil adulteration, it seems pennies saved in making good on an inferior product may cast a question mark on the purity of certain olive oils.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Shabbos mode appliances are not shabbos friendly "Ossur"

Kosher slaughter ban fails to win majority in Dutch Senate as government proposes compromise

Kosher slaughter ban fails to win majority in Dutch Senate as government proposes compromise

An update Re: more whiskeys coming under kosher certification

Published on The Jewish Week (http://www.thejewishweek.com)Tuesday, December 13, 2011 Gamliel Kronemer Koval’s Chicago Whiskey is best served chilled or over ice. As the weather grows brisk, a sampling of micro-distillery whiskey. Special To The Jewish Week

Whiskey — wherever it is made, and in whatever style — is a great beverage for the winter. Just a few sips can warm the gullet, and take a bit of the chill off the coldest of winter nights.
All whiskeys were once almost universally considered kosher. But in the last few decades the kashrut of whiskey has come up for debate.