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 […]
Back Again This Year, Rav Belsky and Rav Schachter Answer Passover Questions on March 24th
So why indeed is this night different from all other nights? That, of course, is the prototypical question regarding Passover, but given the complexity of the holiday and its preparations and observance, there are countless other questions that even the most sophisticated and learned Jews might have.
OU Kosher to Recommend Organic Certification Agency to OU Clients
As part of its practice of providing a full range of services to its certified companies, OU Kosher has announced that it will recommend Organic National & International Certifiers (ON & IC) of Lincolnwood, IL to its client companies who are seeking certification that their products are not only kosher, but organic as well.
Kashrut in the Workplace
OU Kosher presented a webcast, “Kashrut in the Workplace,” featuring OU Senior Halachic Consultants Rabbi Yisroel Belsky and Rabbi Hershel Schachter. The event was moderated by Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator and Vice President of Communications and Marketing at OU Kosher. The webcast can be seen by visiting http://www.ou.org/index.php/ouradio/webcast.
Canned Salmon FAQ’s
A series of questions and answers about the Kosher status of canned salmon.
Major ASK OUtreach-Lakewood Success Launches OU KOSHER “How To” DVD Series
Back in the year 2000, OU Kosher presented a series of kashrut seminars in Lakewood, the great New Jersey center of Torah – known in fact as Ir Ha’Torah, the city of Torah and home to Beth Medrash Govoha and a variety of other institutions and kollelim. On average, some 80 people showed up to […]