Rav Moshe Vaye Re: pureeing / blending infested fruits/vegetables, etc.

Shatnez Alert

Defining-The Askan [Shtadlan of yester-year] v. the Askan of today

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.

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

All kosher certified Sun dried tomatoes "infested"

All of the Sun dried tomatoes with hashgochas were found to be "infested"  with Thrips, Mites, etc . Most of them are from Turkey.

Eating bugs on/in your fruit and Vegies

Why you shouldn't worry about eating the bugs that live on your strawberries

By Alaa Elassar, CNN-Updated 5:52 PM ET, Thu May 21, 2020

(CNN)Bugs crawling on your strawberries? That's normal, according to some experts, despite a recent TikTok trend that suggests otherwise.

On the popular platform, people have been posting videos of themselves soaking strawberries in salt water for 30 minutes to see whether bugs come out of them.

So far, videos posted by users appear to show maggots, spiders, and other bugs crawling in and out of the berries. The results have left users horrified -- and shocked. Videos with the hashtag #strawberry bugs have amassed more than 11.8 million views.

If learning about bugs in your berries made you lose your appetite, you're not alone. But the truth of the matter, some experts say, is these bugs are harmless, and they most likely exist on all your favorite fruits and vegetables.

"If you're eating fresh produce, you're eating bugs," Greg Loeb, an entomologist and professor at Cornell University, told CNN. "Sometimes we entomologists joke that, hey, it's just a little bit more protein."

You've eaten them before and even soaking your fruits in salt water won't mean you'll never swallow a bug again, Loeb, said -- and that's totally okay.

"But the real point is there are organisms on your fruit and even if it makes people uncomfortable, it's definitely not going to hurt them. Eating those bugs won't make you sick."

Most of these bugs live on the outside of the fruit, and made their way to your strawberries at some point on their journey from the field to your local fruit stand or grocery store aisle.

The day'ss to the safest way to wash your fruits and vegetables, Loeb said using water should be enough. By the time you eat your strawberries, the only bugs you'll ingest are the tiny ones that you wouldn't even notice.

So next time you take a bite out of your strawberry, try to ignore what else you might be chewing on.

Contrary to Agudah's "Chaim Aruchim" who work with hospitals & doctors to have the patient die "with dignity"

AN EMERGENCY CALL FOR ACTION!

Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce Spearheads Battle to Preserve Pro-Life Values for End of Life Care.
        It occurs in doctor’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers every day - away from the eyes of the public: Life-and-death medical decisions are forced, or subtly encouraged, against the wishes and values of patients and their loved ones. Decisions over whether to provide lifesaving treatment to the elderly or chronically ill are made solely on the grounds of saving money and/or the secular liberal value that some lives are less worthy of saving than others.

This battle isn’t new; there are many families of all stripes who have endured it firsthand. However, the battle is continuously getting more difficult and contentious.

The world watched in horror as 1 year old Alfie Evans was forced off life support against the wishes of his parents, as decided by UK bureaucrats and judges. On one level or another, similar events occur countless times a day across the United States. Recently, a prestigious NYC hospital worked to limit access to Jewish community volunteers who assisted their patients, in part due to the fact that volunteers would sometimes advise on behalf of prolonging life against the will of hospital hierarchy.

“As an organization representing a cross section of families and corporations, including many in the healthcare field, the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce and our partners are working tirelessly to protect the integrity of medical providers and institutions, and improve relationships with patients, families and communities,” says Duvi Honig, Founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce. 

DON'T SIGN ANYTHING-Aguda's "Chaim Aruchim" Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Death with dignity, End of life, Hospice, Palliative care =They are all one and the same

Aguda's "Chaim Aruchim" (Passive murder is acceptable??)
Hospice & Palliative care "end of life" medical decisions- 

When the medical professionals state that the individual  has six months to live, protocol is to arrange Hospice or Palliative care.

The Hospice / Palliative providers will have their professionals take over complete care of the patient. including medication, hydrating, food, nourishment, nursing if needed, etc.

It's alleged that The Insurance Companies may advance three months payment in advance. If the individual doesn't make it for the three months, the funds are not returned to the insurance company but is kept by the providers. (Financial incentive)

STAR-K is to blame for the high rate of "Intermarriage" [per Reb Shlomo Zalman Aurebach] ! !

Reb Shlomo Zalman said "Intermarriage is caused by non-adherence to the halachos of Bishul akum and wine, of which the star-k's "choch'mas" (see Rashi-Kaheles, perek 1, posuk 16 "yudati")  is the main cause of the high incidence of intermarriage" end of quote.

From an Email:

Hey - Let's continue to beat the dead horse!

The (above) article was brief and to the point:

New contemporary "heterim" which the recognized gedolim do NOT approve of:

1- Light bulb for Bishul Yisroel
2- Mashgiach lights boiler once even if non-Jew shuts off and turns on.
3- Fish does not need Bishul Yisroel, because Sushi has raw fish.
4- Grama circuits Shabbos/Yom Tov- an Issur Di'oirasah (Zomet style)
5- Etc.

I've twice seen the need to comment and explain to those interested (not those UN-interested, v'hamaivin yavin) why this is necessary to call out, and how one must be wary of whom he talks to/listens to regarding negative reporting l'to'eles, and how outsiders are absolutely FORBIDDEN to read the same reports!

Reb Yudel is only quoting here the words of Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatza"l, and Ybl"ch Harav Mosheh Shternbuch shlit"a. Any attack on Reb Yudel here is merely a disguised attack on THEM and their Torah!

In addition - CHAZAL teach us (in Chagiga 14 is it? somewhere in seider moeid) that in the days before Mashiach those who hold severe issurim lightly will openly disparage those who hold light issurim severely...

To be properly faithful to HKB"H and His Torah one must (especially in our day!) make himself IMPERVIOUS to personal interests and attacks!

It is interesting how (aside from "revising" Rav Auerbach's Halichos Shlomo to delete this "inconvenient" issue) you irate commentors "throw the book" at Reb Yudel - going so far as to (100%!!) invent new "rishonim" and "acharonim" who re-wrote the issues of light bulbs and boilers to your satisfaction!

*************************************************
Per Reb Shlomo Zalman Aurebach and Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, et al
It's the fault of the Baltimore based kashrus agency.
They allow unacceptable "Heteirim" by Bishul Akum, and wine; among them are the following;
1- Light bulb for Bishul Yisroel
2- Mashgiach lights boiler once even if non-Jew shuts off and turns on.
3- Fish does not need Bishul Yisroel, because Sushi has raw fish.
4- Grama circuits Shabbos/Yom Tov- an Issur Di'oirasah (Zomet style)
5- Etc.
6- Rav Rubin's report on the Galil poultry Shechita certified by Star-K concluded that 20% of them are actually Neveilos/Treifos, etc. The Star-K "doctored" the report with numerous changes in order to entice Rav Rubin  to write to the OU that the report is a "forgery".

See Rav Sternbuchs letter, re Wine
 See Halichos Shlomo (not the Baltimore based agency doctored version) re: Intermarriage
for copies, send email to kashrusy@aol.com
subject- Rav Sternbuch, Halichos Shlomo
***************************************************************************

Insects on your fruits and vegetables are not a joke

Why you shouldn't worry about eating the bugs that live on your strawberries

By Alaa Elassar, CNN

Updated 5:52 PM ET, Thu May 21, 2020

(CNN)Bugs crawling on your strawberries? That's normal, according to some experts, despite a recent TikTok trend that suggests otherwise.

On the popular platform, people have been posting videos of themselves soaking strawberries in salt water for 30 minutes to see whether bugs come out of them.

So far, videos posted by users appear to show maggots, spiders, and other bugs crawling in and out of the berries. The results have left users horrified -- and shocked. Videos with the hashtag #strawberrybugs have amassed more than 11.8 million views.

If learning about bugs in your berries made you lose your appetite, you're not alone. But the truth of the matter, some experts say, is these bugs are harmless, and they most likely exist on all your favorite fruits and vegetables.

"If you're eating fresh produce, you're eating bugs," Greg Loeb, an entomologist and professor at Cornell University, told CNN. "Sometimes we entomologists joke that, hey, it's just a little bit more protein."

You've eaten them before and even soaking your fruits in salt water won't mean you'll never swallow a bug again, Loeb, said -- and that's totally okay.

"But the real point is there are organisms on your fruit and even if it makes people uncomfortable, it's definitely not going to hurt them. Eating those bugs won't make you sick."

Most of these bugs live on the outside of the fruit, and made their way to your strawberries at some point on their journey from the field to your local fruit stand or grocery store aisle.

Top of Form

When it comes to the safest way to wash your fruits and vegetables, Loeb said using water should be enough. By the time you eat your strawberries, the only bugs you'll ingest are the tiny ones that you wouldn't even notice.

So next time you take a bite out of your strawberry, try to ignore what else you might be chewing on.

ALERT! Non-kosher ORB certified- OU chicken hearts being sold in Boca Raton, Florida

 

None of the kosher poultry shechitas sell chicken hearts for the retail market.

None of the kosher certifiers, certify chicken hearts.

So who was the  hearts from, (shevach?)

Kosher Scandal- Florida's ORB Kosher- OU notice

IMPORTANT NOTICE

I would like to reiterate that the OU policy regarding all types of meat and poultry, including livers and hearts, is that these are not certified by the OU unless they have been kashered in accordance with halacha.

If you have a commercial customer who has approved facilities for kashering livers, and has a mashgiach who is knowledgeable and proficient in the method of kashering, approval may be given by contacting myself on 347-419-0982.

Absolutely no exceptions will be made for vendors selling hearts, livers, or any other types of meat to retail customers.

Meat or poultry, which has not been kashered, bearing the OU symbol, will be considered trademark infringement.

Rabbi Moshe Klarberg

Senior Rabbinic Coordinator
Orthodox Union
11 Broadway,
New York, NY, 10004

Phone/Fax:212-613-8354

Cell: 347-419-0982
Email: klarbergm@ou.org

UPDATE: Re: Tarnogol chicken- one Must kasher utensils if you cooked the Tarnogol

KIRYAS YOEL poultry and BINGO is  pushing a non-kosher chicken for kaparos!

Bishaim Rav Moshe Shternbuch & Reb Moshe Brandsdrfer, one must kasher keilim if they use the "Tarnogol breed".

Rav Shmuel Wosner, Z"L "assered" the Kabir chicken because of no Mesorah. His Talmidim say that he definitely without the slightest doubt would have "asered" the "Tarnogol".

FYI- The ones that are matir the non-kosher Tarnogol are the ones that sell their Neshoma for a few kopeks. R"L. 

-והראה ואת האיה וגו' היא ראה היא איה היא דיה - ולמה נקרא שמה ראה שרואה ביותר ולמה הזהירן בכל שמותיה שלא ליתן פתחון פה לבעל דין לחלוק שלא יהא האוסרה קורא

 אותה "ראה" והבא להתיר אומר זו "דיה" שמה או 

איה" שמה וזו לא אסר הכתוב

Kosher scandal- ORB Florida Kosher

1-      None of the current Glatt shechita’s certifiers allow non- broiled poultry hearts or livers to be sold to the retail market.

2-      At the Aroma kosher supermarket in Boca Raton, Florida, kosher certified by the ORB of Florida they do sell non-broiled chicken hearts (we did not check about non-broiled livers).

3-      The package on the shelf states that it’s OU-Glatt. The OU says that is unauthorized, as they do not allow any non-broiled hearts or livers to be sold in the retail market.

4-      The package states “must be kashered”. To an average consumer that means, soaking, salting, rinse.

5-      Hearts must be “Broiled”, so standard Kashering is unacceptable.

6-      The pack date box is blank, the sell by date is 5/08/2020. We were there on the 5/7/2020. Therefore, it was there more than 3 days, so the package should have also indicated, “should not be cooked after broiling”.

7-      We don’t know if the hearts were from any kosher certifier as the Aroma super-market, when questioned, management said they don’t know the brand nor the Hashgocha of the hearts.

8-      We wanted to talk to the Mashgiach (if there is one). The Aroma store will not reveal the contact information for their Mashgiach. If there is a mashgiach, he’s definitely not in charge and his competency is questionable at best.

9-      The ORB kosher certifier only responded that after the OU contacted the ORB, they notified all stores that they can’t sell any raw Hearts or livers on the retail market.

10-   The distributor says they haven’t had any poultry hearts from before pesach (April 1, 2020).

11-   The Hearts at Aroma on May 7^th were very fresh looking to me, not 6+ weeks old. Where did Aroma get those hearts?

12-   I question the source of the hearts at Aroma as there was no blood leakage at all in package, which is usually an indicator of a non-kosher kill which electrocutes prior to kill.

13-   We also asked the ORB (by email) for more information re: above issues, they refuse to respond.

14-   We also asked, “what are the ORB standards re: checking for infestation”, the ORB refused to respond.

15-   We did observe many of the produce items that were certified by the ORB as clean from infestation. We were very dissatisfied with the end result of the ORB certified pre-checked produce. More on this another time.

16-   There is no longer a “kosher enforcement bureau” in Florida, we tried reaching out to the Consumer fraud division.

I think that if we would ask the ORB “what is the RED-LINE in kashrus that they will not cross”? they will respond “we are color-blind” so there are no red lines. All for the Franklins.

We may have brewing another Shevach/Finkel, Doheny, Netzach, King David, Gough in Manchester & Liverpool (Europe), Queens and Flatbush situations.

When a store or a hashgocha refuses to respond to serious questions,  standards, mashgiach, etc. we know we have serious kashrus issues.

At this time, we would not rely on the Florida ORB in their butcher departments and their pre-checked produce. What about their other hashgochas? It’s Russian Roulette.

I remain,

Kosher Consumers Union, Inc.

Yehuda Shain

PS there is more to the above, read between the lines.

Why are the other Florida Hashgochas sleeping?

Did Rabbi Pesach Weitz leave ORB for kashrus violations, or was he just pushed out before it’s revealed what ORB is for the Educated kosher consumer.

קב הישר-Just whom you should never trust! by "kav-ha'yashar"

פֶּרֶק נ"ב

צבועהא. שְׁלֹמֹה הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם כָּתַב בְּסִפְרוֹ (קֹהֶלֶת ז, טז-יז) "אַל תְּהִי צַדִּיק הַרְבֵּה, וְאַל תִּרְשַׁע הַרְבֵּה", וְכֵן אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בְּמַסֶּכֶת סוֹטָה (דַּף כב עַמּוּד ב), "הִזָּהֲרוּ מִן הַצְּבוּעִים שֶׁדּוֹמִים לִפְרוּשִׁים שֶׁעוֹשִים מַעֲשֵׂה זִמְרִי וּמְבַקְּשִׁים שָׂכָר כְּפִנְחָס". וְהִנֵּה לִפְעָמִים הָאָדָם יִרְאֶה לָעֵינַיִם, אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הוּא עוֹסֵק תָּמִיד בִּתְפִלָּה בְּכַוָּנָה וְהוֹלֵךְ בִּתְפִלִּין כָּל הַיּוֹם אַתָּה סוֹבֵר בְּדַעְתְּךָ שֶׁהוּא אִישׁ יָשָׁר וְכָשֵׁר בַּאֲשֶׁר שֶׁתָּמִיד הוּא עוֹמֵד בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם, אֲבָל אֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ מַה שֶּׁהוּא בְּלִבּוֹ.                                                                                      

וּבוֹא וּרְאֵה מַה שֶּׁהֵבִיא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ פְּסִיקְתָא רַבָּתִי: "מַעֲשֶׂה בְּאִישׁ עָשִׁיר אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ סַךְ עָצוּם וָרָב ......וְרָאָה אָדָם אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדֶּר שֶׁהָיָה רֹב הַיּוֹם בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת עוֹסֵק בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ וְעוֹמֵד בְּטַלִּית וּתְפִלִּין וְהָיָה סוֹבֵר בְּדַעְתּוֹ שֶׁהָאִישׁ הַנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל שֶׁעוֹסֵק בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ הוּא אִישׁ כָּשֵׁר וְנֶאֱמָן, וְהִמְתִּין הָאִישׁ הֶעָשִׁיר עַד שֶׁסִּיֵּם תְּפִלָּתוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ: 'בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִמְּךָ,
 קַח מֵאִתִּי הַמָּמוֹן עִם הָאוֹצָר כְּלֵי כֶּסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב תַּחַת יָדְךָ עַד בּוֹאִי אֵלֶיךָ, כִּי בְּדַעְתִּי לִסַּע בְּעַצְמִי לְהָכִין לִי אֵיזֶה עִיר וּבַיִת לֵישֵׁב בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל'. וְהֵשִׁיב לוֹ רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדֶּר: 'טוֹב הַדָּבָר, תֵּן לִי אֶת מָמוֹנְךָ עִם הָאַרְגָּז וַאֲנִי אַצִּיג הַמַּטְמוֹן שֶׁלְּךָ בְּתוֹךְ הַחֶדֶר אֲשֶׁר אוֹצְרוֹתַי שָׁמָּה, וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לְשָׁלוֹם לָאֶרֶץ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה'. וְהִבְטִיחַ לוֹ, כְּשֶׁיַּחֲזֹר לָבוֹא אֵלָיו, אֲזַי יִתֵּן לוֹ הַפִּקָּדוֹן בִּמְלוֹאוֹ, וְכֵן עָשָׂה הֶעָשִׁיר הַנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל וְנָתַן לוֹ הָאַרְגָּז עִם הַמָּעוֹת וְכֵלָיו, כֵּלִים מִכֵּלִים שׁוֹנִים בְּפִקָּדוֹן, וְהָלַךְ הֶעָשִׁיר עִם אִשְׁתּוֹ לְשָׁלוֹם לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבָחַר לֵישֵׁב בִּקְהִלַּת קֹדֶשׁ חֶבְרוֹן. וְחָזַר בְּעַצְמוֹ אַחַר הַמָּמוֹן וּפִקָּדוֹן שֶׁלּוֹ, וְכַאֲשֶׁר בִּקֵּשׁ הֶעָשִׁיר פִּקְדוֹנוֹ מֵהָאִישׁ רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדֶּר, הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל בִּתְפִלִּין וְטַלִּית, אָז כִּחֵשׁ בּוֹ הָאִישׁ וְאָמַר: 'לֹא יְדַעְתִּיךָ וּמֵעוֹלָם לֹא רְאִיתִיךָ בְּעֵינַי', וַיֶּחֱרַד הָאִישׁ הֶעָשִׁיר מְאֹד, וְנָפַל עַל פָּנָיו וּבָכָה וְהִתְחַנֵּן לוֹ, וְהָאִישׁ אָטַם אָזְנוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ וְהֵעֵז פָּנָיו עָלָיו וְקִלֵּל אוֹתוֹ וְאָמַר, שֶׁמֵּעוֹלָם לֹא לָקַח מִמֶּנּוּ שׁוּם פִּקָּדוֹן.

וְהָלַךְ הָאִישׁ הֶעָשִׁיר מִמֶּנּוּ בְּפָחֵי נֶפֶשׁ וְהָלַךְ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְנָשָׂא לִבּוֹ אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאָמַר, 'רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה אֲדוֹן הַכֹּל - עָלֶיךָ יֵשׁ לִי הַתַּרְעֹמֶת, כִּי סָבוּר הָיִיתִי שֶׁהָאִישׁ רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדֶּר הוּא צַדִּיק גָּמוּר, בַּאֲשֶׁר שֶׁרָאִיתִי אוֹתוֹ מְעֻטָּף בְּטַלִּית וּתְפִלִּין רֹב הַיּוֹם, וְעוֹמֵד וּמִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה, וְעַכְשָׁו אֲנִי רוֹאֶה שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה הַכֹּל בְּרַמָּאוּת וְאֵין לִבּוֹ שָׁלֵם אִתְּךָ, לָכֵן אֲנִי מוֹסֵר דִּינִי לַשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁתִּנְקֹם אֶת נִקְמָתִי מִמֶּנּוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ הַכֹּל יָדְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה וְהַגְּבוּרָה, אֵין לִי שׁוּם תַּרְעֹמֶת עַל שׁוּם בְּרִיָּה כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ'. וּבָכָה בְּלֵב נִשְׁבָּר וָמַר, וּמִיָּד נִגְלָה אֵלָיו אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא וְאָמַר לוֹ: 'אַל תִּירָא!...........

 אָז אָמַר רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדֶּר כַּאֲשֶׁר נִתְפַּרְסֵם הַדָּבָר שֶׁהוּא רָשָׁע גָּמוּר, הָלַךְ וְהֵמִיר דָּתוֹ הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ, יִמַּח שְׁמָם וְזִכְרָם". וְעַל כֵּן אַל יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם לָעֵינַיִם לִסְמֹךְ עַל הָאָדָם שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֵׂה זִמְרִי וּמְבַקֵּשׁ שָׂכָר כְּפִנְחָס, אֶלָּא יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם מִי שֶׁהוּא צַדִּיק וְעוֹמֵד בְּצִדְקָתוֹ בְּמָמוֹן, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְבַקֵּשׁ מָמוֹן שֶׁל אֲחֵרִים זֶהוּ צַדִּיק גָּמוּר.

הֱוֵי זָהִיר מֵאֲנָשִׁים שֶׁנִּרְאִים כַּחֲסִידִים אֲבָל לִבָּם מָלֵא תּוֹעֵבוֹת

ב. וּבוֹא וּרְאֵה שֶׁהוּא מַרְגְּלָא בְּפוּמָא דְּאִינְשֵׁי: הִזָּהֵר מִן הַצְּבוּעִין וְהִשָּׁמֵר מִן "וְצִדְקָתְךָ", וְשָׁמַעְתִּי מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהָיָה אִישׁ זָקֵן עָשִׁיר גָּדוֹל, וְהָיָה לוֹ רַק בֵּן יָחִיד, בָּחוּר יְפֵה עֵינַיִם וְחָכָם מְאֹד. וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם, וַיִּקְרְבוּ יְמֵי הַזָּקֵן לָמוּת, וְקָרָא לִבְנוֹ הַבָּחוּר וְצִוָּה לוֹ קֹדֶם מוֹתוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, הִנְנִי נוֹחֵל לְךָ מָמוֹן רַב אוֹצָרוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לְךָ כָּל טוּב כָּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ, וַאֲנִי מְצַוֶּה לְךָ, שֶׁתִּשְׁמֹר אֶת עַצְמְךָ מִן הַצְּבוּעִין וּמִן אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁהֵמָּה עוֹסְקִים בַּחֲסִידוּת הַרְבֵּה חוּץ מִטֶּבַע הַבְּרִיּוֹת, כִּי כָּךְ מַרְאִין אֶת עַצְמָם שֶׁהֵן חֲסִידִים אֲבָל שֶׁבַע תּוֹעֵבוֹת הֵן בְּלִבָּם, וְהִזָּהֵר מִן "וְצִדְקָתְךָ", וְאָז יִהְיֶה לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ כָּל טוּב כָּל הַיָּמִים, וּמֵת הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן.

..................וְכַאֲשֶׁר הִגִּיעַ הַחֹשֶׁךְ בַּלַּיְלָה הָלַךְ הֶעָשִׁיר לְבֵיתוֹ וּפָתַח פֶּתַח רִאשׁוֹן בְּבֵיתוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ..... וּמֵרֹב הַצַּעַר שֶׁלּוֹ הָלַךְ וְשָׁכַב בַּשּׁוּק וְיָשֵׁן שָׁם, וּבְאוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה נִגְנַב מֵהַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הָעִיר אוֹצָר אֶחָד. וְלָקַח הַגַּנָּב מֵאִתּוֹ כָּל הָאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת שֶׁל הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְהָיְתָה צְעָקָה גְּדוֹלָה בְּאַרְמוֹן הַמֶּלֶךְ.

.......

 וְאָמַר הַכֹּמֶר לְהַתַּלְיָן שֶׁיְּסַבֵּב אֶת הָאִישׁ סָבִיב לְהַתּוֹלָעִים שֶׁלֹּא יָמִית אֶת הַתּוֹלָעִים מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה הִזְהִירָה "וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו" (תְּהִלִּים קמה, ט).

ז. אָמַר הָאִישׁ בְּלִבּוֹ אַף הַכֹּמֶר מִן הַצְּבוּעִים שֶׁל "וְצִדְקָתְךָ", אָמַר הָאִישׁ לְעַבְדֵּי הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהוּא וְהַכֹּמֶר הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין הַגְּנֵבָה בַּחֲצַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, וּמִיָּד תָּפְשׂוּ הַשּׁוֹמְרִים גַּם לְאוֹתוֹ הַכֹּמֶר. וְצִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ לְחַפֵּשׂ בַּחֲדַר הַכֹּמֶר הַגָּדוֹל וּמָצְאוּ שָׁם כָּל הַגְּנֵבָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ שָׁאַל הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת הָאִישׁ מַה שַּׁיָּכוּת הָיָה לוֹ אֵצֶל הַכֹּמֶר.

אֵין לְאָדָם לִסְמֹךְ עַל רְאוּת עֵינָיו, כִּי אֵין אָדָם יוֹדֵעַ מַה בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ.

ח. עַל כֵּן נִלְמֹד מִזֶּה הַמַּעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁלֹּא יִסְמֹךְ הָאָדָם בַּמֶּה שֶׁיִּרְאֶה בְּעֵינָיו שֶׁהוּא הוֹלֵךְ תָּמִים, כִּי אֵין הָאָדָם יוֹדֵעַ מַה שֶּׁהוּא בְּלִבּוֹ. הַכְּלָל הַזֶּה נְקֹט בְּיָדְךָ מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לֵיהָנוֹת בְּמָמוֹן שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ, וּמִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁאֵין רוֹצֶה בְּמָמוֹן שֶׁל גָּזֵל אוֹ מָמוֹן שֶׁל גְּנֵבָה, וּמַשָּׂאוֹ וּמַתָּנוֹ הוּא בֶּאֱמוּנָה, הוּא אִישׁ צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר בְּוַדַּאי.

אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהָאָדָם רוֹאֶה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ נוֹשֵׁק הַתְּפִלִּין וּמִתְפַּלֵּל וְאֵינוֹ עוֹסֵק בְּמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן בֶּאֱמוּנָה, צָרִיךְ לְהַרְחִיק מִמֶּנּוּ בְּכָל מִינֵי הַרְחָקוֹת כִּי עִקַּר הַיִּרְאָה וְהַצִּדְקוּת הוּא בְּמָמוֹן, וְכָל אָדָם שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד בְּצִדְקָתוֹ עַל מָמוֹן זֶה הוּא צַדִּיק גָּמוּר, וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר, "יְגִּיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל" (תְּהִלִּים קכח ב) - "אַשְׁרֶיךָ" - בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה "וְטוֹב לָךְ" - בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא אָמֵן.

Baby scale Gemach needs more baby scales

If anyone can donate some more digital Baby scales for the Gemach, would be appreciated.

$50.00 per scale.

Kosher consumers union (a 501(c) 3 Organization
1140 Forest Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701

or via paypal kosher consumers union, kashrusy@aol.com

Looking for realisic standards Bar-Mitzvahs, Vort, Kidush, Wedding, Sheva Brochos, Up-sheren, Vacht-nacht, etc.

1- Maximum Number of invited guests? 

Bar Mitzvah, (50)
Vort, (50)
Kidush, (at home-40, Shul only mispalilim)

Wedding, (200 maximum)
Sheva Brochos (40)
Sholom Zochor (30)
Bris (35)

2- How elaborate should be permitted? 

Bar Mitzvah (Shabbos- 2 types of bakery cake, cold drink, no hot foods, no herring) (during week
 very basic meal no choices)

Vort, (only bakery cakes, no hot food, some salads, no sweet table)

Kidush, (2 types of bakery cake, no hot foods, no herring)

Wedding, (smorg, Women salads only, Men, 2 types of cake, potato kugel)

Sheva Brochos-(not catered, non elaborate, no themes)

Sholom Zochor- (Arbis, Basic bakery cake, beer, no hard liquor at all, cold drinks)

Bris - (Bagels/rolls, basic bakery cake, coffee, no lox, no sable, etc. Limited cold drinks, no orange juice)

3- Only Bakery cakes or fancy cakes within ($ 25.00 ) amount

Bar Mitzvah- (only bakery cakes, no fancy cakes at all, 1 Bar-Mitzvah cake)
Vort, (Salads, plain bakery cakes cookies, fruit, up-to 2 Mazel Tov cakes 

Kidush, (only 2 types of bakery cakes, no fancy cakes)

Wedding, (only bakery cakes, 2 fancier cakes, not tier cakes or very fancy wedding cakes)

Sheva Brochos- (bakery cakes, cookies)

Sholom Zochor- (bakery cakes, no cookies)

Bris- Bakery cakes, no donuts, Danishes, etc.)

4- Liquor- 1-2 bottles of up to $15.00 @, or some other limit?

Bar Mitzvah- (2)
Vort, (2)

Kidush, (2)

Wedding, (3)

Sheva Brochos (2)

Sholom Zochor (0)

Bris (1)

5- Vienese Table- Yes / No ?

Bar Mitzvah- NO)
Vort, (No)

Kidush, (No)

Wedding, (NO)

Sheva Brochos (NO)

Sholom Zochor (NO)

Bris (NO)

6 - Elaborate Shmorg, Kidush, etc. with hot food.

Bar Mitzvah (NO)
Vort, (NO)

Kidush, (NO)

Wedding, (NO)

Sheva Brochos (NO)

Sholom Zochor (NO)

Bris (NO)

7- Shmorg / Kidush- Only salads by women side, basic bakery cake by men side.

Bar Mitzvah
Vort,

Kidush,

Wedding,

Sheva Brochos

Sholom Zochor

Bris

8- No party planners.

Bar Mitzvah (NO)

Vort, (NO)

Kidush, (NA)

Wedding, (NO)

Sheva Brochos (NO

Sholom Zochor (NA)

Bris (NO)

9- Should we Allow Kidush clubs or hard liquor  in Shuls or in private homes?

Bar Mitzvah (NO)
Vort, (NO)

Kidush, (NO)

Wedding, (NO)

Sheva Brochos (NO)

Sholom Zochor (NO

Bris (NO)

10- Limit on how many piece band

Bar Mitzvah- (1)
Vort, (0)

Wedding, (1)

Sheva Brochos (0)

11- Flowers- Only a vase per table.

Bar Mitzvah (VASES only)
Vort, (2-3 vases)

Kidush, (0)

Wedding, (vase on women's tables)

Sheva Brochos- (2-3 vases)

Sholom Zochor (0)

12- Loudness of music not to exceed 70 Decibels.

13- The gifts between Choson / Kalah should be toned down

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Of Course the Rabbonim, Shul Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva, Misader Kedushin, etc. will be in a position to enforce the Standards.

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PS A few weeks go a choson asked Reb Dovid Soleveitchik, Shlita if he should push off the chasunah till the virus issue is over?

Reb Dovid responded, when we made chasunahs in the past generations, we only had the immediate family, etc. 25-30 people and the Simcha was a real Simcha. 

Make it a real Simcha, with a few people, and don't push it off, it will be a real Simcha.

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When the Gerrer Rebbeh established a maximum price the Gerrer chasdim may pay for an apartment in Eretz Yisroel, 

A big Gvir came to the Rebbeh and said the Rebbeh knows I'm a very wealthy person and I want to buy expensive apartments for my family.

The Gerrer Rebbeh said if you are that rich?, buy yourself a different Rebbeh.