In Times of Difficulty: A Question of Meaning, a Meditation on Kashrut
These are difficult times. Editorial pages, news and financial reporters bemoan the dramatic loss of wealth in the country and around the world. Trillions of dollars of net worth – lost. Homes – foreclosed. Businesses – shut down. Charities – struggling. Unemployment nearing record levels. Even those who have secure employment feel the anxiety. There […]
Insects in Veggies Bugging You?
According to Jewish law, eating a bug is much worse than eating ham. And so it is most important for the kosher homemaker serving vegetables to make certain that those lush greens, so crunchy and healthful, are insect-free. But given the tiny size of the critters, this is no easy task.
OU Presents: “How to Check for Insects”
OU Kosher has released “HOW TO Check for Insects,” the fifth DVD recorded at a series of kashrut seminars presented during the past few years at OU headquarters and in Lakewood, the great New Jersey Ir Ha’Torah, city of Torah, home to the world famous Beth Medrash Govoha and a variety of other yeshivos and kollelim.
AskOUtreach Goes to Yeshiva Ohr Somayach in Monsey for May-June Program
After receiving outstanding results from sending OU Kashrus experts to places they have never gone before, the Orthodox Union’s Harry H. Beren ASK OUTREACH program will continue its travels to Monsey, NY, where it will present a series of shiurim. The program, located at Yeshiva Ohr Somayach, 244 Rte. 306, in the new Bais Shvidler auditorium will begin Sunday, May 10, and will continue to run Sundays until June 7.
Gerber Expands Kosher Baby Food Offerings, Launches Kosher 2nd Foods Fruit and Vegetable Puree
FLORHAM PARK, NJ – Gerber Products, a part of Nestlé Nutrition, is introducing a line of purees that are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU), a highly recognized and valued symbol of kosher certification.
Initial Release Of OU KOSHER’s “How To” Audio/Video Series Generates Much Excitement Worldwide
Requests have been coming in to Orthodox Union from Israel, Mexico, Australia and around the globe for OU Kosher’s new “HOW TO” audio/video series. Based on the OU’s highly acclaimed ASK OU and ASK OUTREACH programs, the series have gone into wide distribution, with a sixth being added to the first five that were recorded. The series consist of numerous Kashrut Seminars that took place in Lakewood, NJ and OU headquarters and offer a step-by-step explanation of various topics that reflect the intricacies of the laws of kashrut. Both the seminars and audio/video series are sponsored by the Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood.
Mechiras Chametz
Mechiras chametz accomplishes two functions. It prevents the owners of the chametz from violating the issurim d’oraisah of ba’al yiraeh uba’al yimatzey and it saves the chametz from becoming chametz she’avar alav hapesach (mid’rabanan). Ideally we try to arrange all sales in the most lichatchila manner so as not only to protect the kashrus of the products but also to prevent the owners from violating issurim.
Mechiras Chametz today is typically arranged by authorizing a Rabbi to act as the legal agent on behalf of the one selling the chametz. This same procedure is utilized in regards to mechiras chametz for companies. However the question arises, who may authorize the sale of chametz on behalf of a Jewish owned company?
Mowed Lawn Aroma
A flavor, like a musical chord, is made of a set of notes. The fullness of a flavor is the result of the interplay between the numerous chemical components that constitute the flavor’s profile.
A flavorist creating a fruity flavor – let’s say, peach flavor for an ice cream –will usually need a “green” or botanical note to round out the flavor. One of the popular chemicals used by flavorists to impart “greenness” is called cis-3-hexenol. A whiff of pure cis-3-hexenol reminds one of a freshly mowed lawn.
Milui V’irui
The Gemara Avoda Zara 33a teaches us that one can kasher a barrel that was used to store non-kosher wine with milui v’irui. This is accomplished by filling the barrel with water, letting it sit for at least 24 hours, emptying the barrel, and then repeating this process two more times. There is no need for the 3 days to be consecutive.
There are two explanations in the Rishonim as to why milui v’irui is effective.
K’bolo kach polto – Some Rishonim1 understand that since the issur was absorbed through kevisha it can be purged with kevisha.
OU Passover Website for 2009, oupassover.org, is up and Running
Since 2006, the Orthodox Union has been calming frazzled nerves and answering questions on everything from cleaning to cooking inspired by one of the most enjoyable – but also the most intricate and complex to prepare for – Jewish holidays, Passover. The OU does this by creating a Passover website that can be found at […]