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Kosher for Consumers
Useful articles and interesting information about Keeping Kosher and Kosher Supervision.
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Glossary of Kosher Terms for Companies
Some non-English kosher terms that you may come across along with their explanations.
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A list of products certified as Pas Yisroel by the OU.
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OU Kitniyot Kosher for Passover Supervision
Previously the OU has not issued Hashgacha for retail Kitniyos products for Pesach, despite requests to do so. This was avoided over the concern that different Pesach symbols might confuse consumers. The OU has this year, on a limited basis, authorized the attached certification to appear on Kitniyos products: OU Kitniyot With an explanatory message: "Acceptable for those who consume kitniyot on Passover." The symbol is presented in such manner so as to avoid any confusion and the packages will not indicate Kosher for Passover except as indicated. This decision was taken at the urging of our Poskim, to benefit many Kitniyos consumers who relied on various assumptions (rather than actual Hashgacha) for Kitniyos Pesach products.
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The Tempering of Grains and its Chometz and Hafrashas Challah Implications
The milling of grains has been going on for millennia, and in all that time, the process has not changed dramatically. Milling is still done by simply grinding kernels, albeit with rollers instead of stones. Sifting is still done with sifters, although by automated machines instead of by hand. There is another part of milling known as tempering. Tempering refers to spraying grain kernels with water before they are milled. This makes the bran tougher and less brittle. If the wheat kernel has not been tempered, the bran may shatter and leave brown flecks (“ash”) in the flour when the kernel is milled. This is undesirable in regular white flour. Tempering strengthens the bran so that it is removed from the endosperm easily and does not cause brown flecks in the flour.
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Both a kli sheini and a kli rishon shelo al ha'aish are pots of hot water that will gradually cool down. Since it is difficult to distinguish between them, we require Tosafos's help to properly understand the distinction. Although they look almost identical, a kli sheini has difanos mikareros (walls that cool down the product) while a kli rishon shelo al ha'aish has difanos michamemos (walls that maintain the heat of the product). An extended irui is none of the above, for the simple reason that the walls of this pot will not cool down. So long as the irui continues, there is a heat source that is preventing the kli from cooling. For this reason it is most similar to a kli rishon al ha'aish.
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SHAKING UP YOUR PASSOVER MENU, OR HAVE SOME FUN IN THE PESACH KITCHEN – IT’S NOT JUST MATZAH
On Passover, we’re all looking for those new and different appetizers and entrees that aren’t the same old same old recycled boring ones. This year, shake up your Pesach menus with the following extra special and fun recipes by Eileen Goltz.
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ORTHODOX UNION ANNOUNCES NEW KOSHER FOR PASSOVER ITEMS FOR 2010
The number of kosher for Passover products increases every year. The Orthodox Union’s Daf Hakashrus, OU Kosher’s magazine, annually prints an updated list that includes new Kosher for Passover items. Following are several major highlights of that list.
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OU PASSOVER GUIDE, THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ALL YOUR PASSOVER QUESTIONS,NOW AVAILABLE FOR PASSOVER 2010
Those charged with cleaning the house for Passover, shopping for seders and eight days of bread-less meals and snacks, and cooking and baking those meals would be a lot more frantic and frazzled if not for the annual OU Guide to Passover. A special issue of Jewish Action, the family magazine of the Orthodox Union, this year’s Guide, for 5770/2010, is now available to help facilitate Passover preparation and observance.
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The laws regarding kashering glass are especially confusing, because the opinions range from one extreme to the other מקצה לקצה. • Rashba (Teshuva 1:233), Ran (Pesachim 9a) - glass is smooth, hard and does not absorb (or absorbs very little) and therefore does not need to be kashered. דשיעי וקשים ובליעתם מעוטה מכל הכלים • Ra’ah (Brought by Ritva Pesachim 30b) – Glass is boleya and is polet like metal, but may not be kashered with hagalah because we are concerned that it might crack, משום דחייס שמא פקעה. • Mordechai – Glass has the status of cheres, הואיל ותחלת ברייתו מן החול.
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OU PRESS PUBLISHES HAGGADAH COMMENTARY BY RABBI NORMAN LAMM
Imagine being able to invite one of the most eloquent and insightful rabbis in the world to be a guest at your Passover seder. His presence would transform the event, adding words of wisdom that inform and inspire all who are there. With OU Press’ publication this year of The Royal Table: A Passover Haggadah by Rabbi Norman Lamm, everyone can have the distinguished Chancellor and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva University at their home.
