Shatnez warning- Hat box- De Ja Vu

 

Shatnez warning!!

­ ­ ­ Consumers of The Hat Box may be wearing Shatnez! ­   We received the following notice from the Flatbush Shatnez Laboratory regarding Italiano men's suits sold at The Hat Box.   From the desk of the Flatbush Shatnez Laboratory   Date: July 13, 2025   Re: "ITALIANO" men's suits from Hat Box   Dear Fellow Testers: As you may know, these suits have shatnez top and bottom armhole tapes, and some also have shatnez taper reinforcements.    As you certainly know, removal of the armhole tapes is a very tedious job, and it is very easy to leave linen remaining. We have found numerous such suits sold by the store with the shatnez already removed and repaired without supervision. Unfortunately, upon examining their armholes, we have found shatnez left behind in all such cases. We therefore urge our clients not to wear such a garment unless they have a label of a reliable shatnez tester.   If you have any comments or questions, you may contact us at (718) 382-5689.   End of Notice

בבא קמא נב.-כד רגיז רעיא על ענא עביד לנגדא סמותא- רש"י כך כשהמקום נפרע משונאי ישראל ממנה להן פרנסים שאינן מהוגנים-הפוך בה דכולה בה!

         The word Askan/ Shtadlan, the title public servant, has referred to a person characterized by selfless love for the Jewish people who sacrifices himself for the public good. We grew up hearing stories of people ran across Europe meeting with kings and governments in an effort to avert terrible decrees against the Jewish people. All this was done at their own personal peril and their own expense. The early klal workers in this country wanted nothing more than to spread chinuch and literally were moser nefesh for that ideal.   

        Every good thing can be abused. This includes public service and community service when a trust of the people with interests other than those of the public they represent. If that happens, the people who suffer the most are all of us, all of klal yisroel, because the true askanim / shtadlanim-and there many out in there in the  trenches helping others lesheim shomayim will have lost the goodwill of the public due to the indiscretions and selflessness of the abusers.

         There is a tremendous pitfall in askanus, a pitfall associated with all positions of power, especially those that are based on trust. In other words, the second an askan begins to think that it’s about me not about the cause; he is doomed to failure, because when there is a conflict between the “me” and the “cause”, the “me” is going to win and the “cause” is going to lose. That means that the little guy is going to lose.

         The problem is that some Askanim become so swept up with their roles and their deeds even good deeds, that they often have a hard time separating themselves from the cause. They begin to think of themselves as the cause in itself.

         If askanim want to retain the goodwill of the people and continue to help them; they must understand a few points. Firstly, it’s not about me. It’s about helping people. Secondly, an Askan is there to fill a need or a void. He’s not there to create a need and then becomes a knight in shining armor who will fix it. Don’t create a need or an organization that’s unnecessary or has already been created by someone else. If you do that, you’re not an Askan, but rather opportunist and a copycat to boot.

         In addition, it goes without saying that if a person’s public service will in anyway benefit his own private business, mossad or interest, that person is not an Askan, but rather an opportunist utilizing the public to further his financial or organizational goals.

         One particular form of askanus is that which exists in relationship between politicians and public servants. This is especially so when individuals with personal agendas and financial interests try to become liaisons between the frum community and politicians, taking advantage of the naiveté of so many in our tzibur.

         These words should not be taken as an indictment on askanus. On the contrary, it is because we feel that altruistic public services are such an integral component of preserving the welfare of our communities and ensuring the flourishing of yidishkeit  that we must weed and out and separate the true askanim / shtadlanim, the true public servants, who selflessly give of themselves and their time for the public with little thought for recognition and remuneration, from the charlatans and  opportunist who sully the ideal of askanus and sully the name of our  communities in an unforgettable, unforgivable  way.

 "true Askanus tell the Authorities what are the needs of the community".

Some have turned askanus into telling the community what the Authorities want them to pass on to the community, R"L

         As a prominent Rebebetzin "in the know" said "I never saw an (ex)askan, without full pockets".

 Based on an article by R' A. Birenbaum

https://chabadinfo.com/opinions/parents-outraged-after-kashrus-standards-quietly-lowered-at-oholei-torah-summer-program/

 

🚨 Parents Outraged: Kashrus Standards Quietly Lowered at Oholei Torah Summer Program

Without prior notice to parents, Yeshivas Kayitz of Oholei Torah (YKP) has made a quiet but troubling change: serving meat under the controversial “Lamed-K” hechsher — a standard not accepted by many families who rely on Oholei Torah’s well-known commitment to the CHK standard year-round.

📖 Full Article Below

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During the school year, Oholei Torah in Crown Heights proudly maintains a policy of serving only food under the CHK hechsher, the Kashrus certification trusted by the community it serves.

But this summer, as students attend Yeshivas Kayitz — a mandatory program for many talmidim — that standard has quietly shifted. Parents were not informed beforehand, and full tuition payments had already been collected.

This abrupt change has sparked serious concerns among families who feel blindsided and betrayed.

❌ No Transparency. No Choice.

Yeshivas Kayitz is not just an optional summer camp. For many boys, attendance is required as part of their full yeshiva experience. Parents enrolled their sons with the assumption that the food would reflect the same Kashrus standards they trust all year.

Changing those standards mid-course, without notifying parents, strips families of their ability to make informed decisions about their children’s food.

If this was due to unforeseen logistics, why wasn’t it communicated upfront? Instead, parents are being told after the fact — when it’s too late to act.

---

📢 The Official Response Falls Short

In a message, Rabbi Blau explained:

“Although we strive for CHK, the realities of running an out-of-town kitchen make it not always practical. Most of the meat is CHK, and we are using other Lubavitch shechitos only when needed. Options exist for boys with stricter preferences.”

But this raises serious concerns:

🔹 Why are boys — some as young as 13 — being asked to self-advocate for Kashrus standards that should never have been compromised?

🔹 If CHK is available at all, why not serve it to everyone as has always been done?

🔹 Since when are “other Lubavitch shechitos” considered equal to the CHK standard parents expect — especially when the change was unannounced?

This sudden shift, paired with a lack of transparency, undermines trust in the program’s overall Kashrus standards, including its commitment to Cholov Yisroel.

---

⚠️ This Is About More Than a Hechsher

Parents entrust Oholei Torah with their sons — spiritually and physically. When Kashrus standards are lowered quietly and justified only after objections arise, that trust is shaken.

This isn’t just about a hechsher. It’s about transparency, accountability, and a mosad’s responsibility to uphold the standards expected by the community it serves.

We call on the leadership of Oholei Torah and Yeshivas Kayitz to:

✅ Restore full transparency about their Kashrus policies.
✅ Reinstate the CHK standard for all students.
✅ Reaffirm their commitment to the families and values they represent.

Anything less sets a troubling precedent.

---

📜 Rabbi Blau’s Full Response to Staff (Not to This Article):

*“At Yeshivas Kayitz, we are fully committed to maintaining high Kashrus standards — in line with Halacha and the spirit of Lubavitcher mosdos. We exclusively serve Lubavitch shechita.

In Crown Heights, we serve only CHK meat and dairy. However, in out-of-town locations such as Lakewood, PA, it is not always practical to rely solely on CHK due to fewer distributors, stricter schedules, and higher costs.

While most of our meat is CHK this summer, we also use other trusted Lubavitch shechitos when necessary. Dairy remains strictly Cholov Yisroel under reputable hechsherim such as the Vaad HaKashrus of Baltimore and HaOlam.

Additional options exist for boys with stricter preferences, allergies, or sensitivities. If you have further concerns, please reach out directly.”*

Why "you" should never talk to the police

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE 

looking to replace a roof fan motor- any recommendations are appreciated- kashrusy@aol.com

A well‑known civil–rights and police‑brutality lawyer is Thomas J. Mallon at Mallon, Tranger & Budzek. They handle excessive force and police misconduct cases, and their clients have posted strong testimonials about results and compassionate support

 If your concern is “overactive” police or excessive force claims, Thomas J. Mallon and his team in Freehold have a strong reputation and track record.

Notable Police‐Misconduct Experience

• Acted as lead counsel in multiple 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights suits involving excessive force, false arrest, illegal searches, supervisory liability, and Monell claims hudsoncountyview.com.

• In 2014, represented Ricky Patel in a suit against Union City officers for alleged excessive force, illegal arrest/search, and more tmallonlaw.com+3hudsoncountyview.com+3transparencynj.com+3.

• Litigated cases against Atlantic City, Ocean County, Borough of Tinton Falls, and Lakewood for police misconduct fr.scribd.com.

---

💵 Significant Settlements & Verdicts

• Mallon, Tranger & Budzek recovered over $1 million in police brutality settlements in 2020 alone in Freehold opramachine.com+9tmallonlaw.com+9tmallonlaw.com+9.

• In 2015, Mallon secured a $200,000 settlement in a Monell excessive force case against Atlantic City PD after trial 

As Gold Meir was told (likely by R' Shlomo Lorincz)- as long you go after the chareidim in Yeshivas, She'll never finish with the Yish'maeilim- You could witness it every day!

Politicians and Diapers must be changed often, and for the same reasons- Mark Twain

 

Re: שחוטי חוץ בלייקווד

 

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.

Baseball Gloves shatnez alert

 

Important Camp Notice!

­ ­ Baseball Glove Shatnez Update ­   Baseball is a mainstay in many boys’ camps.   Yet, not many are aware that a shatnez issue might exist within baseball gloves due to their materials. Numerous baseball gloves have threads and fibers made from a mix of materials, and occasionally, both wool and linen are present.   The Vaad L'Mishmeres Shatnez calls on camps and parents to ensure that their campers' and children's baseball gloves are free of any shatnez concerns.   Please see below from the דבר שמואל, that those in authority have an obligation to make sure that the public is not transgressing the איסור of שעטנז.   Please take a look at the attached pictures, which show a shatnez example found in a baseball glove. Rabbi Yosef Sayagh, a leading shatnez expert, notes that the colorful filling seen extending from the fingers contains both wool and linen!   As we mentioned in an earlier email notice, it is also essential to have your items tested at a qualified shatnez laboratory. Click here to view that notice.   To verify a tester’s credentials, contact the Vaad L'Mishmeres Shatnez by emailing vaadlmishmeresshatnez@gmail.com or calling 1-877-4-SHATNEZ

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.

Write to President Herzog to pardon Netanyahu!

   I am asking our readers to write a short email to President Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu, it takes only 2 minutes and may very well help!

public@president.gov.il

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.