The OU Kosher Coming program, which will encompass broad segments of the New York State Capital District region, will take place on Wednesday, March 5, featuring Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, OU Kosher Vice President of Communications and Marketing and Rabbi Yisroel Bendelstein, OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator who specializes in the baking industry and is a frequent lecturer at OU Kosher Coming programs.
During their visit to the Capital District community, the OU rabbis will visit the area’s Maimonides Orthodox Day School and meet with its elementary, boys high school and Bnos Chaya Girls High School students. They will meet and analyze Vaad HaKashrut facilities in Albany and Schenectady and discuss kashrut in health and communal settings as well as the issue of Shabbat preparations.
The rabbis will interact with area rabbis and the Vaad’s lay leadership at a community dinner which will take place at Congregation Beth Abraham Jacob in Albany, where Rabbi Moshe Bomzer, area OU Rabbinic Field Representative, serves as spiritual leader.
The Vaad HaKashrut has historically worked cooperatively with the Orthodox Union to provide kosher certification in the community. At the dinner, Rabbi Safran has consented to have available and sign his recently published book Sometimes You Are What You Wear – An Argument for Tzniut-Modesty. Rabbi Bomzer, who is spearheading the events together with OU Kosher, commented that “Kashrut and Kehillah (community) are an unbeatable combination. This is the OU and this is why we are ecstatic that Rabbis Safran and Bendelstein will be joining us for a power-packed day of kashrut touching our lives from young to old, from private home to public and industrial arenas. This is a day we have waited for.”
Area organizations and community leaders cooperating and involved in the day’s events are: Maimonides Hebrew Day School – Rabbi Yisroel Rubin, Dean and Rabbi Yossi Rubin, Student Coordinator; Bnos Chaya Girls High School – Mrs. Rochel Rubin, Principal; Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, Albany – Rabbi Moshe Bomzer and Congregation Beth Israel, Schenectady – Rabbi Moshe Mirsky, both OU affiliated synagogues; Congregation Shomrei Torah; Chabad of the Capital District and the Vaad HaKashrut of the Capital District, Mrs. Hope Berger Nathan, President.
In addition to visiting and teaching at the area schools and synagogues, Rabbi Safran has been invited to deliver the day’s invocation at the State Legislature. He will also join Rabbi Bomzer in a visit to the renowned OU certified vitamin fortification company Fortitech in Schenectady.