China Goes Kosher: Major Media Positions OU as Worldwide Leader
It’s the “largest certification organization in the world,” the “most widely accepted,” “the most respected,” and the “leader in the field.” It’s perceived to be “the standard,” and among key consumer groups, “the safest,” “the cleanest,” “most reliable” and “trustworthy.” It’s the symbol, by a wide margin, that is top-of-mind when the consumer thinks “kosher certification.”
What You Need to Know When Passover Arrives on Saturday Night
Every year, Jews around the world anticipate hearing the pivotal four questions at their seder tables: this year they’ll be asking themselves a fifth one: Why is this Passover different from most others?
This year, Passover arrives immediately following Shabbat – a rare occurrence that creates unique circumstances, directly affecting the typical Passover preparations. (You may remember that this last occurred back in 2005. Take heart, it will not recur until 2021.) The key adjustments may sound daunting at first, but taken step by step, they are definitely doable.
Chametz She’avar Alav HaPesach
The general rule is that any chametz for which a Jew violated the Biblical prohibitions of Bal Yiraeh U’bal Yimatzei becomes forbidden forever as chametz she’avar alav ha-Pesach. This penalty applies whether the transgression was violated knowingly or unknowingly, and even if the Jew was completely unaware of the prohibitions of chametz or the Yom Tov of Pesach .
A Milestone for Kosher Tidbits: OU Series Announces its 100th Program
Just in time for the Torah portion of Shemini, to be read March 29 and which introduces the laws of kosher, OU Kosher will celebrate the production of the 100th and 101st Kosher Tidbits, the comprehensive series of 15-minute broadcasts by OU experts on a wide variety of kosher topics, and heard on http://www.ouradio.org.
The century mark is reached by a program on Shemittah, the sabbatical year in Israel, recorded by Rabbi Moshe Elefant, Chief Operating Officer of OU Kosher; and the 101st on non-kosher kitchens, by Rabbi Eliyahu Ferrell, Rabbinic Consultant.
Q&A Pre-Passover Webcast on OU Website
In anticipation of the Passover holiday and its complexities, the Orthodox Union Kosher Division announced today that it will present a pre-Passover webcast on the OU website, http://www.ou.org/ouradio/webcast, to clarify questions and concerns people are facing in their preparations. It will be held Thursday, March 27, at 3:00 p.m. with log-on time at 2:45 p.m. The webcast is part of OU Kosher’s continued and ever-growing educational outreach to the community, which includes the OU Kosher Coming to Schools and Communities programs and the Kosher Tidbits postings on OU Radio, http://www.ouradio.org.
In Largest Liquor Kosher Certification in U.S., DeKuyper® 60-Flavor Line Liqueurs Receives OU Symbol
The close relationship between OU Kosher and Cincinnati-based Beam Global Spirits and Wine, which goes back to 1992, became even closer in March, 2008 when Beam’s 60-flavor array of DeKuyper® cordials and liqueurs, the best-selling line of those products in the United States, was certified OU Kosher. The 60-product certification was the largest liquor kosher certification ever in the United States.
In late 2006, the OU announced that it was certifying Beam’s Starbucks™ Coffee Liqueur and Starbucks™ Cream Liqueur products; it already was providing the famed OU symbol to Leroux® Liqueurs. All of these products are crafted at the Beam Global Cincinnati facility. According to the OU, that facility produces the largest number of kosher certified spirits in the country.
OU to Honor Osem USA with National Kashrut Leadership Award at 110th Anniversary National Dinner
The Orthodox Union will present its National Kashrut Leadership Award to Osem USA at the OU’s 110th Anniversary National Dinner, Sunday, April 6 at the Grand Hyatt New York. Osem USA President, Izzet Ozdogan, will accept on behalf of the company.
This Is Not Blarney: OU Certifies Glanbia Ingredients Ireland for Production of Kosher Lactose
OU Kosher announced today that its newly certified company, Glanbia Ingredient Ireland, is producing kosher lactose for baby formulas, with the lactose being supplied to major formula manufacturers in the American market. By working with the OU, Glanbia is able to produce a kosher product without the need repeatedly to kosherize its plant and to modify its production procedures.
Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky Visits OU Headquarters
Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, visited OU headquarters in New York this week to give words of chizuk to an audience of OU Kashrut senior rabbis.
Huge Lakewood Gathering Crowns New OU Kosher Initiative
With the ever-growing focus on kosher food and the intricacies of kashrut, the Orthodox Union, the premier institution in kosher certification, recently established the Harry H. Beren ASK OUTREACH Initiative to provide kosher education to yeshiva students in the convenience of their yeshivot, kollelim and semicha programs. Its latest crown in a series of presentations, which also included Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim, and Mesivtah Tiferes Yerusholayim, drew close to 1,000 fascinated members of the Lakewood, NJ, community, making it a standing-room only event. It was held in Khal Zhichron Yaakov synagogue, with the haskomoh of the Beth Medrash Govoha Roshei HaYeshiva and the endorsement of the KCL—Vaad HaKashrut of Lakewood.
