Passover Articles
OU KOSHER’S Rabbi Moshe Elefant Joins Talkline With Zev Brenner Live Each Night Leading Up To Passover
Rabbi Moshe Elefant may be most closely identified as Chief Operating Officer of OU Kosher and the magid shiur of the Orthodox Union’s AllDaf Daf Yomi webcast (whose thousands of daily learners make his lectures the most popular Daf in the world). For listeners of the Talkline With Zev Brenner radio program, America’s premier Jewish show, Rabbi Elefant’s name has […]
Make Pesach in Five Days
Yes, It CAN Be Done! Make Pesach in 5 Days. NCSY’s Meira Spivak’s New Book Tells Us How. For many of us preparing for Pesach involves a lot of work and worry. This book is intended to take away the worry and simplify the work. Some start worrying about Pesach months in advance: nightmares, cold […]
The Technology Behind OU Kosher
The Talmud teaches us that when Hashem sends us crises, He prepares the antidote in advance. As the global coronavirus set in last March, OU Kosher had little lead time to transition its large headquarters operation at 11 Broadway in Manhattan to a completely remote work environment. In what might be described as miraculous, the […]
Spice & Flavor Make Food Products Entice
Ingredient statements on product labels list all components from largest to smallest. Spices and flavors are normally listed toward the end and are relatively nondescript. While they are smallest in volume, spices and flavors are often the most crucial components, providing the distinct flavor profile of the products that we recognize and enjoy. Spices and […]
Shemittah in the Diaspora
This coming Rosh Hashana (5782) the land of Israel will be celebrating its sabbatical year, the year of shemittah. When the Jewish people originally settled the land of Israel, a seven-year cycle was established. Each seventh year, there is a biblical mitzvah to 1) treat produce of the land with extraordinary care, because it is […]
Baby/ Infant Formulas
The following baby formula can be assumed to be free of chametz. Many are made from kitniyot ingredients. Kitniyot does not apply to infants. Please take care to prepare baby formula and wash bottles and other utensils in an area outside the kitchen. Please note that these products are only acceptable when bearing the OU or OU-D symbol. […]
Thou Shalt Steal- The Afikoman
FOR JEWISH CHILDREN, “stealing” the afikoman and its subsequent ransom has been a Seder highlight for many generations. What is the basis for this seemingly odd custom? Do we wish to teach our children to act (even if only on this night) contrary to one of the most basic ethical principles? And then, as if […]
K’zayit. Just an Olive?
“I had to eat sooo much matzah!” That’s a response I often get from people when I inquire about their Seder night experience. Just as many mitzvot have distinct specifications in order to be performed correctly, eating matzah on Pesach has a prescribed time and minimum size requirement. Another obligation of eating matzah, though, is […]
Showering on Yom Tov-Is It Permitted?
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 260:1) directs us to bathe each Friday in preparation for Shabbat. This year, those of us living outside of Eretz Yisrael will welcome Shabbat after a full 48 hours of yom tov. Most of us (if not all) would be inclined, if so permitted, to shower in honor of Shabbat. What […]
OU-P 2020
The OU continues to give certification to Passover Quinoa. Quinoa will be available with an OU- P from Goldbaum, Pereg, and La Bonne. La Bonne will also have OU-P chia seeds. Pereg will also be selling quinoa flour. The OU will also continue certifying OU Kitniyot retail items as it did last year. Flaum’s will […]
