Passover Articles

OU Kosher: An Overview of the World’s Most Trusted Kashrut Organization

When you see the OU on a product, it is a testimony to the vitality of the Jewish people,” Rabbi Menachem Genack is fond of quoting his rebbe, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik zt”l, as saying. Rabbi Genack is chief executive of the OU Kosher division of the Orthodox Union. A shopping trip to any American […]

Halacha Round Up

BEDIKAT & BIUR CHAMETZ On the night before Pesach, every Jew is required to conduct a thorough search and destroy all chametz remaining in his/her possession. It is customary to begin this search with a candle and to transition to a flashlight in order to illuminate small areas. Particular attention should be given to those […]

Wishing you a Kosher, Healthful and Happy Holiday

In an era with more kosher for Passover foods than you could shake a potato stick at, we’re often left with sluggish digestive systems, expanding waistlines and deflated willpower. There’s got to be another way! There is. Make this Pesach different from all of the others. Two seasoned nutritionists weigh in on how you don’t […]

Shemittah in the Diaspora

THIS PAST ROSH HASHANA (5775) the land of Israel began celebrating its sabbatical year, the year of shemittah. Upon the original settling of the land of Israel by the Jewish people, a seven year cycle was established. Each seventh year, there is a biblical mitzvah to 1) treat produce of the land with extraordinary care […]

Guidelines for Medication

The OU poskim have summarized the principles one should use when taking medication on Passover.

Non-Food Item Guidelines for Passover – 2017

Passover and non-food items.

Bedikat Chametz

TIME FRAMES WHEN MUST BEDIKAT CHAMETZ BE PERFORMED? Bedikat chametz must be performed on the eve of the fourteenth of Nissan (March 26, 2021) after nightfall, approximately 40 minutes after sunset. Once nightfall has arrived, one may no longer engage in any form of work until the bedika is performed. WHEN DOES ONE RECITE THE BRACHA? The bracha is recited before the actual bedika process […]

Images of the Ages 
Words of the Sages

A conversation with Rabbi David Holzer, whose The Medieval Haggadah Anthology combines two of his own personal passions—the teachings of his mentor, the Rav zt”l, and his lifelong fascination with Hebrew manuscripts.

Kashering Checklist

Here’s a handy guide to “kosherizing” your kitchen for the holiday. LIBUN GAMUR Surface must be heated to a dry temperature of approximately 850° (i.e. self-clean oven) or until it begins to glow. HAGALAH Surface should be completely cleaned with hot water and unused for 24 hours. Surface should be completely clean and dry. The […]

Passover Terms

MATZA Matzah is made of specially supervised flour and water, which must be baked before the dough has had time to rise — within 18 minutes or less. It is the only product based on the five grains (wheat, barley, oat, spelt & rye) which Jews may eat during Passover, and it must be made […]