V-Coffee on Shabbos A new way of manufacturing instant coffee is becoming popular. Coffee produced in this manner is touted as tasting better and being healthier. The process for producing “V-Coffee” does not involve any pre-cooking, but rather, air-roasting and grinding. It is roasted by a process similar to making air popped popcorn. Due to … Continued
Meat, Meat Equipment, Dairy, Dairy Equipment, Parve … Do I have to wait before Dairy, etc.? Eating “out” is very much a part of contemporary society. What are the chef’s secrets that I need to know? If you eat at a Dairy/Meat establishment you must assume that anything fried has been made in oil that … Continued
But What Could be Wrong with… It is often puzzling why the reputable Kashrus agencies require supervision for products that appear to be “natural”. The following excerpt from the Wall Street Journal of September 14, 2017 makes it quite clear. This does not mean that every product on the market needs supervision. For example, … Continued
Parve: Black and White, or Perhaps Shades of Gray? We tend to look at Parve as binary, yes or no, however Parve actually has a number of gradations. If all ingredients and utensils are Parve – the food is 100% Parve. If all ingredients are Parve, but the production facility is either meat or … Continued
Most people are aware that Romaine lettuce (which many people use for Marror) must be insect free. It may be purchased pre-washed and checked, or you may clean and wash it yourself. Romaine lettuce hearts are relatively clean and not difficult to render insect-free. I will include my suggestions for cleaning a few common … Continued
Please be careful to verify that any product (that needs certification) is certified by an agency which you trust. Unfortunately, unscrupulous vendors have been selling products – including meat – with subpar supervisions imitating the markings of reputable Kashrus agencies. These vendors change the symbols enough so that they don’t run afoul of the law, … Continued
One of the counterintuitive ordinances of the “metzora” (“leper”) is that one who is afflicted from head to toe, completely white, is considered pure, while on the day that a small amount of normal flesh is found on his body he becomes impure. Is it possible for us to find any message in this curious … Continued
Parshas VaYishlach – Ways of Peace One of our most important needs is Shalom, peace. The culmination of the Tefilla of Shmohah Esrei is either “Sim Shalom” or “Shalom Rav”, and we end both the Tefilla of “Elokai Netzor” and Kaddish with the entreaty of “Oseh Shalom”. Even the Brocha given by the Kohanim, called … Continued
The mitzvos (commandments) of kashrus are “chukim” (decrees). Our observance of these mitzvos, without definite knowledge of their reasons, demonstrates our obedience to the commands of G-d. As the prophet Shmuel told King Shaul, heeding the word of HaShem (G-d) is even more precious than bringing a choice offering (Samuel I Chapter 15). With this … Continued
Since the reasons for the mitzvos are not immediately apparent, they are called chukim (decrees). Not only do the chukim attest to our loyalty to HaShem but, even more-so they bear witness to the great love B’nai Yisroel (the Jewish People) have for HaShem (G-d), for we follow HaShem’s commands with joy, whether we understand … Continued
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