ASK OU

As the leader in worldwide kosher certification, the Orthodox Union takes additional steps to serve as a leader in educating the public in matters of kosher law.

Over the past several years, OU Kosher, in partnership with the Harry H. Beren Foundation of New Jersey, has developed numerous kashrus educational programs for the benefit of the public known as The Harry H. Beren ASK (Advanced Seminars on Kashrus) OU Kashrus programs.

Rabbi Eli Eleff, OU Kosher Senior Educational Rabbinic Coordinator, serves as Director of OU Kosher Education. For more information on any of the programs listed below, including scheduling a visit for your yeshiva, community, or kollel, contact Rabbi Eleff at 212-613-0602 or koshereducation@ou.org.

Read more about the various ASK OU Programs

OU Kosher Summer Education Program Explores Daily Applications of Kashrus in Depth

Advanced Seminars in Kashrus Taught by World-Class Industry Leaders As rabbinic positions go, Rabbi Aaron Kleinman’s is among the most unique. A commander in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, his role includes overseeing kashrus on various warships — a challenge he recently shared with over 90 men from the U.S., Canada, and Panama, who are […]

OU Kosher’s Newly Expanded Community Programs Educate Kosher Consumers Nationwide

ASK OU’s Kashrus Across America Program Is Tailored to Meet Communities’ Needs and Interests From food and restaurants to hotels and simcha venues, North American kosher consumers have an array of products and establishments at their disposal. While it’s exciting to see the OU symbol on products such as Oreos, Entenmann’s, Green Mountain Coffee and […]

Orthodox Union Holds Immersive Kashrus Experience for Women

Program Offers 40 Participants a Deep Dive into Kashrus at OU’s Headquarters and at Field Visit Sites A few weeks ago, Rivki Lemmer of Brooklyn, N.Y. didn’t know that lab-grown meat existed. Now, after attending a week-long course run through the Orthodox Union (OU), she feels well-versed in the controversies and intricacies around its kashrus […]

ASK OU 2021 Virtual Kashrus Seminar – Day 4: Fish and Q&A

ASK OU 2021 Virtual Kashrus Seminar – Day 3: The Bakery Industry

@ Patis Bakery, Lyndhurst, NJ

ASK OU 2021 Virtual Kashrus Seminar – Day 2: Food Service

@ Wall Street Grill

ASK OU 2021 Virtual Kashrus Seminar – Day 1: Introduction & Wine

The Kashrus of Ice Cream

From the 26th issue of Daf Hakashrus Ice cream used to be considered a kosher-friendly dairy product. Consisting of fresh cream and sugar, with added vanilla beans/cocoa/ strawberries, it was so easily made kosher. Those days are long gone, and contemporary ice cream is one of the most challenging of dairy products out there. Let’s […]

Of Kashrus and COVID-19

My name is Shimon and I do Jewish outreach in a place where Judaism has barely reached. I am not a missionary. I follow the guidelines of my faith and do not seek to bring non-Jews to conversion. My job is restoration—to introduce Judaism to Jews who have never encountered their birthright and heritage. There […]

What If I Find A Dairy Spoon In My Meat Dishwasher?

What do we do when we find a dairy spoon in the meat dishwasher? These mixups happen! Rabbi Elefant explains what to do with the dishwasher, the meat dishes, and the rogue piece of dairy silverware.