ב”ה תשרי תשע”ה TISHREI 5775
Certified Soul Nutrition
ושבתה הארץ שבת לה׳ וציוויתי את ברכתי Dear Reader, 3 Share your spirit s we recommit ourselves to Yiddishkeit in this New Year 4 Questions for the ~ Aand strive to do things better, we sometimes run into challenging Healthy spirit areas. Mitzvos that seem hard to 5 water understand like kashrus and shmitta, which occurs this year, can be especially BEGINNING ANEW challenging. Although mitzvos that we 6 By Dr. Yehudit Lando, Ph.D. don’t thoroughly understand seem to TISHREI RECIPE be harder to observe than those mitzvos 9 SHIVAS HAMINIM SALAD that have a clear reason, if you look into the commentaries, you can find a reason for many of them. Then KEEPING KOSHER IN… again, even the mitzvos we do clearly understand should be done 10 VENICE with the same kabbalos ol as the mitzvos we don’t understand – By Leigh Hershkovich the “chukkim” – since we truly don’t know the “real” reasons for PREPARING FOR SHMITTA any mitzvah; we do them only because they are commandments 12 By Maayan Meir from Hashem. As we start a shmitta year, some people might think that From the desk of shmitta is a really unfair mitzvah. Why are the farmers the only 16 Rabbi Don Yoel Levy ones “penalized” for the entire year, while everyone else can continue working and profit? The truth is, if you look deeply into the Torah, the mitzvah of shmitta is extremely fair. Here is the “HASHGACHA” PROTIS 18 reason: Every other business run by a Jew is open six days a week and closed on Shabbos. On Shabbos, the owner makes no profits and no gains. The only ones who really profit from Shabbos are who’s behind the ~ 20 Interview with farmers, because their produce continues to grow on Shabbos. Six rabbi Ouriel Serfaty years of Shabbosim, combined with all of the Yomim Tovim, equal one full calendar year, so during the seventh year, the farmers let CHASSIDIC INSIGHTS go of their fields and become “even” with everyone else. 22 shmitta: A Letter from the Kashrus is also not always easy to observe. In the USA, more Lubavitcher Rebbe ztz”l and more products clearly display the kosher mark; however, in Europe, kosher logos are not usually printed on product labels and SOUL NUTRITION consumers have to be “in the know” about the kosher rules in the 23 Compiled by Dina Fraenkel places they shop. Read about the floating Jewish community of Venice, Italy and the various kosher establishments available to guests and locals alike in this installment of “Keeping Kosher In…” I wish you a new year of renewed motivation in the mitzvah of kabbalos ol, encompassing all of the mitzvos, and revealed blessings for all of Klal Yisroel. Kosher Spirit Tishrei 5775 K’siva v’chasima tovah, l’shana tovah u’mesukah. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Rabbi Chaim Fogelman Rabbi Chaim Fogelman EDITOR: Editor in Chief Dovi Scheiner ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Dina Fraenkel DESIGN: Spotlight Design Scan the QR code with your smartphone to We welcome your comments, receive a PDF subscription submissions and letters to the editor. to Kosher Spirit Mail: 391 Troy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 Email: [email protected] © 2014. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. feedback
Share Your Spirit Readers share their thoughts...
Dear Kosher Spirit, I read your excellent article about tevilas keilim. I would like to get it in electronic form to email to my family. Please send me the link to the article. Thank you. JP Dear JP, The electronic version can be found at www.kosherspirit.com. –Kosher Spirit”
Dear Kosher Spirit, Dear Kosher Spirit, Good Morning. I love your publication, I read it cover to cover and I was delighted to receive Kosher Spirit’s I even save some of the articles for future references. I was reading Pesach edition with Ami magazine. I’ve about the seder preparations in Kathmandu; it is truly fascinating. stopped buying organic produce so was However, they mentioned “peeling potatoes, boiling carrots and thrilled to learn that it actually doesn’t ROASTING CHICKENS” for the seder. I know that it is the minhag in have more bugs. I had been toying with North America not to eat any roasted meat or chicken at the seder, I the idea of making gnocchi for Pesach was wondering if perhaps the minhag in Kathmandu is different?” which would have flopped had I not AB read the instructions in your magazine. These two items alone were worth the Dear AB, $7 I pay for Ami in Canada! Thanks for noticing. This was a typographical error and should read Regards, “cooking chickens”. DR —Kosher Spirit
Dear Kosher Spirit, Kosher Spirit is an amazing piece of Torah. Thank you for you insights. I was wondering where to find the sources for Rabbi Yosef Dovid Chanowitz’s article concerning ‘Going with Grain’ - Cho- dosh in the Diaspora. Thank you again for your amazing website. Many thanks, Boruch
Dear Boruch, The sources can be found at www.kosherspirit.com. – Kosher Spirit
www.KosherSpirit.com 3 The ~ receives many letters/emails with kosher questions...
Dear Kosher Spirit, When making a smoothie in a blender, what level of checking is required on the fruit and vegetables that ordinarily need to be checked for bugs?
The ~ responds: hen making a smoothie, where any minute Wamount of bugs are liquefied and are botul b’shishim, one is only required to thoroughly wash the produce, not inspect in for bugs. After washing, one is left with only a safek issur. It is not an issue of mevatlin issur l’chatchila because you are left with only a safek issur and are not blending it with the intention to liquefy the bugs, rather to make a liquid drink. You can rely on the fact that you washed the produce well. This only applies when using a professional strength blender that is capable of fully liquefying produce (Vitamix, Blendtec, Ninja, etc.). Some basic home blenders will not be able to fully liquefy the produce and often leave small chunks that were not fully blended.
4 www.OK.org Simchas Beis HaShoeva, the “Water Drawing Festival”, took place during Chol HaMoed Sukkos in the time of the Beis HaMikdash How much do we really know about the water that we drink?
Drinking water in the morning increases the More than 25% production of new blood of bottled water comes from a municipal water supply, the and muscle cells. same place that tap water comes from. In undeveloped nations, women spend Drinking warm water 200 with lemon boosts your immune system, million helps with weight loss hours a day collecting water. and aids digestion.
The price of bottled water is up to 4,100 kids under age 5 die every day from unclean 10,000 drinking water. times the cost of tap water.
The Environmental Protection If you drink your daily Agency (EPA) requires all recommended 8 glasses of water community water systems in per day from the tap, it will cost America to report drinking water you about 50 cents per year. If you quality to its customers annually. This choose to drink it from water bottles, includes details on where the water it can cost you up to comes from, what contaminants have been found in the water, and the potential health effects. $1,400.
Americans consume 1 billion people have no access to clean 8.6 billion drinking water. gallons of bottled water per year.
www.KosherSpirit.com 5 events of our lives, times when we experienced happiness, bliss, pleasure or pain, shame, embarrassment, and the incli- nation to make the same mis- takes in the same situations and with the same people. Thus, when we talk about a new beginning it’s almost like being in the therapist’s treat- ment room; we investigate the past now, in the present, out of a wish for a better future. One of the questions aris- ing in the process of the new beginning is: “Why is it so diffi- cult to begin anew? Why, every time Elul comes around, do we think, perceive, make plans, but don’t always succeed in imple- menting the new beginning or maintaining the new decision for any length of time?” The reason is that, in every begin- ning, we, as people, start doing something different from what we used to do. Doing some- beginning thing we are used to is much easier. We don’t have to force ourselves because it’s familiar and we know exactly what we are doing. A beginning means anew that we start doing something we didn’t do before, to behave Dr. Yehudit Lando, Ph.D. differently, and that’s why the beginning is hard. he voice of the shofar is calling and the Days of Awe are here, One of the things that are inspiring in each of us a Cheshbon HaNefesh – examining our typical to the beginning of a deeds in the last year and thinking about making amends and new year is the process of mak- beginning anew. What will we do this year that is better, to ing resolutions to change, to really make a new beginning? improve, to stop doing some- The important question is what “new” means. Does it mean thing, to undertake to do some- that everything we’ve done so far is erased, and we start with a thing new, etc. Good decisions clean “new” page? To where has everything I’ve done vanished? derive from the ability to keep T Do my deeds in the past have no more benefit for me, to help our eyes on the goal, the reason, me with my “new” beginning? and the aim of any new begin- On the day we are born, the first page of our life journey is written and the in- ning. The new beginning is an scriptions cannot be deleted like the computer files we send to the Recycle Bin with internal journey of thinking one click. Every day, and every moment, our life story is continuously recorded. A that concludes with a resolu- new beginning is part of the introspective process in which a person takes an honest tion or undertaking. Usually, look at oneself and one’s past. Looking back is necessary in order to go forward. A two things can help us start new beginning is a question of choosing between past and future. The past is what something new: we have already done, both positive and negative, and is accompanied by all the 1.Making a decision to
6 www.OK.org make a change or improve in a cer- process that begins with thinking and meet present and longs for a better tain specific area. We have to be very talking, but the “doing” part can’t be future, a place perhaps less easy, less clear about what the change will be. It neglected. To begin anew is to give familiar, and more demanding. The must be an addition or upgrade, and ourselves a chance to improve, to advantage of beginning again is that at sometimes it means stopping some- be better – a better parent, a better the beginning stage we are connected thing we are already doing. Yid, a better spouse, etc. A Jew has to the essence, to the task, to the goal; 2. In order to succeed we must have the chance to begin anew every day a new beginning is a new chance. a good plan that will make it possible and every minute, but there are also I suggest looking at “how” to begin to implement the new change, making auspicious times to initiate a new again. The time we take to look into the new beginning possible. Without a beginning. The month of Tishrei is our innermost mind is what enables us good, clear cut plan of action our deci- a period of new beginnings and we to start a process aimed towards the sion might not be carried out, or work give each other mutual support in our future – a new beginning. Let’s take only in the short term. efforts. This is a wonderful chance to a look at the process of making deci- It’s worthwhile to remember that a initiate a difficult process that sends sions to begin anew, from the plan- new beginning can’t be all talk. It’s a us to places in our mind where past ning stage to the execution stage.
Planning: How does one plan a new
n Lecha Dodi we say “sof maaseh b’machshava techila”. beginning – a decision to I Each action must be preceded by a careful thought process. That is, without planning there is no execution. improve? There are some How does one plan a new beginning – a decision to im- prove? There are some questions one should ask oneself: questions one should ask What kind of decision/undertaking do I want to make? (To add a chumra, to be a better mother, etc.) Why do I want to make this resolution? (Because I oneself: want to get closer to G-d, because I want a better rela- tionship with my children, etc.) What exactly is the resolution? (I will bring Shabbos in ten minutes earlier; I will read my child a bedtime story while I tell the other child a story, I need the family to three times a week, etc.) cooperate so we can bring Shabbos in early, etc.) How much time and how many resources do I need How will the plan be executed? (I will speak to my to implement this resolution? (I need a week to get orga- husband on Wednesday; we will gather the children this nized, I can start tomorrow morning, I need my husband week and talk about the new arrangements that will en- to cooperate and put one child to bed three times a week able us to bring Shabbos in early, etc.)
Supervising and Controlling:
ow I am at the implementation stage. I have a plan Do I know what I am doing? (Am I angry with the kids on N which I prepared in Stage 1 and now I am implement- Fridays because they don’t do their chores quickly enough? ing it. I carry out my resolution but also look at how I did Is bringing Shabbos in early worth my anger? This week I it and at the consequences of my deeds. didn’t manage to shop for Shabbos on Thursday and lost four Did I succeed in carrying out my resolution? (How hours of preparation for Shabbos on Friday. One child was many Shabbosim did I manage to bring in early this sick and so I didn’t tell my other child a story on Wednesday. month? How many times this week did I tell my child a What do I do in special situations? Etc.) bedtime story?) Does my behavior make sense? (I make everybody at
www.KosherSpirit.com 7 home stressed out before Shabbos, especially during the ficulties my family is happy to bring Shabbos in early. I winter and I must learn to manage better and not pressure need to learn to be better organized and so I will achieve everybody. I argue a lot with my husband because of the my purpose better. Perhaps the decision to tell one child resolution to tell my child bedtime stories – this doesn’t bedtime stories needs to be adapted to the needs of my make sense and I have to find a different strategy.) husband and my other child – I am not sure I am achiev- Am I achieving my goal? (Despite the stress and dif- ing my goal, etc.)
Feedback, Examination and Evaluation:
ne of the ways to reflect on my new resolutions and middle of telling the story.) O get feedback on them is to keep a resolution journal, Am I really undergoing a process of change in follow- in which we first write out the plan, and then write about ing my new resolution? (I really succeeded in bringing our progress every day or every week – depending on what Shabbos in early and I think I am nearing meeting all my kind of resolution we made. In the journal you can write in expectations in this area. As for the bedtime story to my detail what you did towards your goal on each date. child I am disappointing myself for not carrying out my For example: 1 Cheshvan – Today is Tuesday. In the eve- own resolution.) ning I planned the menu for Shabbos and made my shop- What have I done well and can adopt as a permanent ping list. Or: 3 Cheshvan – I planned to go shopping for part of my behavior? What am I struggling with and how Shabbos today but the children didn’t feel well and we went can I improve? (Bringing Shabbos in early taught me to be to the doctor instead. The journal helps us examine our more efficient and better organized. I plan my menu and progress in carrying out resolutions. Remember that the shopping on Tuesday, go shopping on Wednesday, cook goal is to turn the new resolution into a part of our routine on Thursday and tidy the house on Friday – and it’s a suc- because during our life, and especially in Elul and Tishrei, cess. I need to work on the anger and stress I show towards we will always want “to being anew” in one area or another. my family on Friday. Perhaps I should be hiring a cleaning Reflecting on this can help us check a few things: Did lady for Friday morning and fixing on 2:00PM as a dead- I succeed in meeting my goals? (In Tishrei I succeeded in line for Shabbos preparation, summer or winter. Now I just bringing in Shabbos early twice. I think I am close to full have to find a cleaning lady.) success. Telling my child a story every evening didn’t work The improvements can be reevaluated at the next at all in Tishrei; we had many guests and I had a lot of work “checkpoint” we choose – next week, for instance, or on Friday nights and Motzaei Shabbos, I fell asleep in the next month.
בס״ד
In conclusion, a new beginning is connected to our will to change and improve. It gives us a chance but it is also a way to look at ourselves and our be- havior, and at who we would like to be in the future. Remember that new beginnings and new resolutions belong to you only. You can make a new beginning, or a new resolution, only for yourself, not for your spouse or children. However, your new beginning and resolutions can definitely have a positive impact on your relationships with the people in your life.
Good luck with the new beginning you’ve chosen! Tishrei Recipe
Shivas HaMinim Salad Note: 5775 is a shmitta year. Please make sure that your ingredients do not come from Eretz Yisroel or were produced in 5774. 15 min
Ingredients 3 cups cooked barley or Israeli couscous (such as Osem Israeli (Pearl) Couscous) 1/4 cup dried figs, chopped or 3 fresh figs, quartered 1/4 cup pitted dates, sliced in Directions rings or chopped Combine barley, figs, dates, grapes 1/4 cup seedless grapes, halved and pomegranate seeds in a large 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds bowl. Place oil, honey, lemon juice 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil and mustard in a small bowl and C2 tablespoons honey whisk to combine. Pour dressing 2 tablespoons lemon juice over barley salad and toss to coat 1 tablespoon country Dijon mustard 1/4 cup wheat and barley nuggets well. Just before serving add cereal cereal (such as Grape-Nuts), optional and toss to evenly distribute. 2 tablespoons parsley leaves, torn Garnish with parsley leaves.
This salad requires the special brocha achrona for the shivas haminim.
9 www.OK.org www.KosherSpirit.com 9 Keeping VenKosher inice
they had food from their journey, they were hungry for something of suste- By Leigh Hershkovich nance. To their surprise, the floating city had much to offer them upon enice, Italy. A city for dreamers and foodies alike. their arrival. “The last thing you ex- One of the most popular tourist destinations in the pect is to find a kosher pizza restau- world, Venice attracts people by the thousands every rant right on the water. It was like a year. The floating city draws people in for its sights, dream!” one tourist explained. Venice its beauty, and its food. Venice is not just a tourist is well equipped when it comes to destination; it is home to a sizable Jewish community. feeding the Jewish locals and tourists. From restaurants to markets, life for the locals, as well Besides for two restaurants (one dairy, as the tourists, is bountiful. One thing’s for sure: in the city of dreams, starving one meat), the local markets are also Visn’t an option. fully stocked with a variety of kosher On a hot summer day in late July, a group of backpackers arrived in Venice options. For American tourists who with their belongings on their backs, and their stomachs rumbling. Though are used to seeing hechsherim on food,
10 www.OK.org it may come as a surprise to them to kets, while dairy products are imported up outdoors, along the water, offering find that food in Venice does not from other cities, such as Rome. Many a unique Shabbos experience for locals come with a hechsher. Baila Bryski, of the markets offer long life Cholov and tourists alike. When it comes to who has been a Chabad shlucha in Yisroel milk, which only needs to be preparing for so many people, they Venice with her husband, Mendel, refrigerated upon opening. For kosher have it down to a science. The meat for four months, explained that many chicken and meat, Rabbi Banin often restaurant, Gam Gam, doubles as cities in Europe offer food manufac- brings a shochet from Israel to shecht the kitchen where they prepare food tured by kosher companies without a on premises. Additionally, Chabad for large events. A tourist who hescher. This makes grocery shopping of Venice has recently started a sa- spent Shabbos in Venice more difficult than in the U.S. where lami line called “Gustafino” which is shared her experience kosher symbols are great for travelers who of Shabbos there: Venice “I’ve never seen
conveniently marked on every kosher are constantly on the go. “The tourists anything like it! I arrived Thursday certified item. who would pass through here used to night, and they were already knee A guide book is offered to aid locals dry their own salami, but now, we have deep in cooking. They always make and visitors alike to make sure their it ready made for them!” Baila explains. extra food because they never have shopping needs abide with kosher laws. Shabbos in Venice is a magical and an exact headcount. They offer the “The options are endless, you just need out of the ordinary experience. As it meal so that anyone can feel comfort- to know what to look for,” she explains. goes with Chabad Houses of all styles able to just show up and dine in style.” When asked what kind of advice she’d around the world, a vast amount of For larger holiday meals, such as the offer to first time visitors when it comes preparation goes into events such Pesach seder, the restaurant kitchen to food, she said: “I’d tell them to take as public Shabbos meals, Yom Tov is kashered, and preparations begin granola and fruits with them when they meals, and holiday events. On a typi- further in advance. “We were never travel from city to city, especially if they cal Shabbos, the Venice community hungry! It was so surprising to find so don’t know how the kashrus rules work welcomes anywhere between fifty to many kosher options in the middle of around Europe.” Basics such as flour one hundred and fifty people. In the Venice,” a tourist explained. “It was and grains can be found in local mar- summer months, long tables are set fantastic!”
www.KosherSpirit.com 11 Preparing for Shmitta
12 www.OK.org By Maayan Meir
S
Shmitta – the Biblical commandment Otzar Beis Din organizations (the pro- to leave the land fallow every seventh duce is turned over to the control of a year – is as relevant as ever in Israel. Beis Din, who in turn distributes the There were times where most people products). There is also a budget of 5 perceived shmitta as a problem, some- million shekels for growers who will thing to find a way around, a mitzvah use the ‘matzaim menutakim’ solution one should try and find leniencies and – they will cultivate plants on surfaces exemptions for, but not any longer. In off the ground, which are exempt from Israel today, where food and bever- shmitta restrictions. age companies look to expend their But it is not only government minis- businesses through export, it is the tries and farmers who have to prepare accepted fact and reality that shmitta for shmitta: the ~, as a kosher organi- will be observed perfectly and strictly, zation, has much work to do, guiding and that no leniencies will do. “It is not its clients so they find themselves in the that the gentile buyers from abroad best possible position once the shmitta care about the origin of the produce,” year begins. says Rabbi Aharon Haskel, Director “Look at the vineyards, for instance,” of ~ Israel, “but the reputable kosher says Rabbi Haskel. “Almost all Israeli agencies in the US and in Europe – and vineyards are kosher supervised. That of course, the ~ around the world – means they can’t use grapes during will not approve any ingredient that is the first three years of growth, when not mehadrin. Seeking leniencies for they are orlah. All the farmers are in shmitta is not our way. And so, com- a rush to get the plantings done before panies who might not care much about the 15th of Av, which is the deadline for the level of their kosher status of their planting before a shmitta year. If you products in Israel have to meet much can’t get the new vines planted by then, higher standard when working with us you will not be able to use them for an for export purposes.” additional year.” The entire country is preparing for Getting the plantings done was espe- shmitta. In June, the Israeli government cially problematic this year due to the approved a 100 million-shekel ($28.8 war with Gaza. “The security recom- million) budget to prepare farmers for mendations are for people to stay close the shmitta year. 45 million shekels are to a shelter or a safe area. But where can expected to be distributed to farmers you go when the sirens sound and you who stop all their activities for the year; are in the vineyard?” asks Rabbi Haskel. they will be given an allowance based But the farmers don’t have the option to on their earnings from previous years. wait for the end of the war. Not plant- Another 11 million shekels will go to ing in time will cause them significant
www.KosherSpirit.com 13 sources of olives, mainly in Getting the Jordan. Since the spring of 2014, ~ mashgichim have been going to Jordan to plantings done check the olive plantations there. Inspecting the foreign sources is important because was especially there are cases of “revolving door” deceptions – Israeli produce would be sold to the problematic this Jordanians or other non-Jews who would then sell it back year due to the war to Israel, at a higher price, claiming it was their own produce. with Gaza. Olive oil companies are not alone in seeking sub- stitutes for local produce. Companies who market leafy vegetables – such as parsley and celery – are on the same damage. So they go out and plant all the same, missiles or mission. They, too, look to Jordan or neighboring non- no missiles. Jews as likely sources. However, the tense situation in the Olive oil companies are also getting ready. Israel is a Middle East means that companies have to be ready with well-known exporter of quality olives, but the local olives a Plan B as well; if things get too political, they will have to will not be used during shmitta for producing mehadrin import the necessary produce from Europe. products. Accordingly, the companies have to find other While some kosher companies in Israel are mostly busy
bserving shmitta properly in recorded in his letters many miracles for planting those seeds and warned today Israel doesn’t pose se- the moshav farmers witnessed while them that they would incur a huge O rious problems or challenges, observing shmitta. loss. But they went ahead nonethe- either to the farmers or to the kosher Perhaps the best-known incident less. And in that ‘Eighth Year’ there consumers. However, the situation of hashgocha protis happened in 1953. were no rains in the beginning of the was much different in the first years “It was just after a shmitta year and winter and all the seeds of all those after the establishment of the State of we didn’t have wheat to sow,” wrote who had plowed the land during Israel. Most of the population was sec- Rabbi Mendelson. “We didn’t want the shmitta and planted immedi- ular, government ministries didn’t see to use wheat seeds from the shmitta ately at the end of shmitta died in fit to assist shmitta-observing farmers year, and the only seeds we could the dry land. But for the Komemiyut and consumers, and the nisayon was find from the sixth year were broken farmers, who started plowing only hard and real. and unfit for planting. The farmers after Sukkos and planted in the first The Komemiyut moshav in Israel came to ask for my advice and I told months of the winter, the rain came is one of the only places in Israel them that since they couldn’t find just on time. Miraculously, the dam- where shmitta has always been other wheat they should ‘maamin aged seeds grew into high quality observed to the letter. Amazingly, bechai haolamin vezorea’ (believe in wheat. despite the difficult situation, the the eternally-living and plant) as the “And that,” concluded Rabbi moshav always managed to survive Talmud Yerushalmi says.” Mendelson, “was a sign that Hashem and even thrive. The moshav’s All the villages around Kome- sends his blessings to those who ob- rabbi, Rabbi Binyamin Mendelson, miyut mocked the religious farmers serve shmitta.”
14 www.OK.org finding alternative sources to the ingredients or products years challenge.” they need, others focus on working around the clock to pro- Rabbi Haskel names three other kinds of companies duce as much as possible before the shmitta deadline. that are working frantically to create a large stock of ko- “Take the manufacturers of jams and candied citrus sher l’medhadrin products before shmitta begins. “We peels,” says Rabbi Yeshaya Aush, who supervises many of have spice companies, we have companies which produce the Israeli companies certified by the ~. “Israel is a world natural food coloring from tomatoes (Israel is somewhat leader in producing citrus peels, which is a very popular of a leader in this field), and we have fruit concentrate ingredient in the gourmet world. Citrus peels are used in companies. Much of the orange, lemon and grape con- a variety of quality products, from baked goods to choco- centrates used in the world come from Israel.” late. But, because of shmitta, the companies here will not Whatever a company does to prepare for shmitta, it ap- be able to produce with local fruits for two years. So they pears there is little frustration with the kosher restrictions. are working super hard now, in three shifts, to make the Perhaps because the kosher industry is large enough by best use of the fruits they have. Over the next two years now to have considerable leverage, or perhaps because ko- they will only produce with imported fruits for mehadrin sher agencies know how to explain shmitta issues to their productions.” He says the clients take shmitta extremely clients well, but mostly, because in Israel, even those who seriously, and with no grumblings. “We started our prepa- profess to be irreligious, will admit to a feeling that the rations two years ago, and all production plans were made land is special, even holy. And with a special place come in good time. By now they are used for this once-in-seven- special requirements.
The Mitzvah of Shmitta
hile the Holy Temple stood, observing shmitta was a mitzvah m’dioraisa. “For six years you may plant your fields, prune your vineyards, and harvest your W crops, but the seventh year is a Sabbath of Sabbaths for the land. It is G-d’s Sabbath during which you may not plant your fields, nor prune your vineyards. Do not har- vest crops that grow on their own and do not gather the grapes on your unpruned vines, since it is a year of rest for the land.” - Vayikra 25:3-4 In addition to the four agricultural practices prohibited in the verse above, the Torah also forbids planting trees, whether fruit-bearing or not, and the plowing of all agricultural land. However, unlike the four commands above, violating these two pro- hibitions does not call for a punishment of malkos (lashes). Our Sages have also decreed that all agricultural and garden work may not be done during the shmitta year. All land owned by Jews in the Land of Israel should be left fallow. Today, however, the commonly accepted view is that all aspects of shmitta are considered mitzvos m’derabbanan. What is the purpose of this mitzvah? The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 84) writes that the mitzvah of shmitta serves as a reminder to the Jewish nation that G-d is the Master of the world. He commanded us not only to leave our land unfarmed, but also to let go of the product, which, for this year, belongs to everybody equally, instead of being the exclusive property of the owner. By observing this mitzvah we are reminded that the land bears fruit annually, not simply because it is its nature. G-d is the Master of the land and of the land- owner, and He can order us to leave our fields uncultivated and their produce unsold.
www.KosherSpirit.com 15 Kosher Rabbi Don Yoel Levy ~ Certification CEO/Kashrus Administrator
From the Desk of Rabbi Don Yoel Levy Visit to Ukraine and Russia
ast year I traveled to Ukraine and Rus- and more. Two rabbis work with him in his kosher sia to visit ~ certified facilities and certification efforts. His staff really impressed me meet with local rabbonim who have with their technical and halachic knowledge. their own hechsherim in the area. I was The first facility we visited one of the biggest Lscheduled to fly on Aeroflot to Moscow at 2:20 PM chocolate producers in Ukraine, which is kosher and arrive at 8:30 the next morning. From there, I certified by Ukraine Kosher (UK). They have a was scheduled to take a connecting flight to Rostov mixer, several 5-rollers and conches. at 10:30 AM and arrive there at 12:30 PM. After My next stop was a UHT long life milk facility. visiting the resting place of the Fifth Lubavitcher I did not visit the farm, but I heard a description Rebbe, the Rebbe Rashab, in Rostov, I planned to of the milking process and hashgocha at the actual drive approximately four hours to Donetsk. farms. The pasteurizer is either kashered after 24 Unfortunately, my flight left an hour late and hours down time or kashered twice if there is not I arrived at the check in counter in Moscow at a 24 hour down time. 10:00 AM. I was unable to board my connecting The third factory was a ketchup and mayon- flight so I had to take the next flight, which arrived naise facility. The production there is straight- at 5:30 PM, to a small local airport. forward and I was pleased with the methods of Rabbi Pinchas Vishedski, the rabbi and Chabad kosher supervision. shaliach in Donetsk, Ukraine, was nice enough to The next day I took a “speed” train to Dnieper arrange a driver to pick me up and take me to the at 11:00 AM. A first class ticket on this train costs mikvah, the kever of the Rebbe Rashab and then only $25 USD. The trip was very comfortable and on to Donetsk. As it turned out, the whole first took almost 3 hours. Rabbi Elisha Baram, the head leg of my trip would run very late. Rabbi Chaim of the local kashrus agency in Dnieper, met me at Danziger, the rabbi and Chabad shaliach in Rostov, the train station and took me to my hotel. We met allowed me to use his mikvah, met me at the kever, with Rabbi Shmuel Kaminestky, an old friend, and and took me to his home for supper (which I really had supper together. appreciated). When we finally arrived in Donetsk, The next morning we davened in the shul in it was quite late, but due to the time difference of Dnieper, which has a beautiful mikvah. The shul two hours, it was not as late as it felt! is in a building with seven wings called the Me- The next morning, Rabbi Vishedski picked norah, which also houses a very nice hotel and a me up for davening. Afterwards, he took me to kosher coffee shop. I visited the kitchens and food see samples of all of the kosher products under facilities in the building, which is also home to a his certification, which includes a full range of beautiful simcha hall and fleishig restaurant. products, both dairy (milk, cheese, ice cream, etc.), Later, we went to a chocolate factory where meat, candies, chocolate, ketchup, mayonnaise, they produce chocolate. As a result of my visit and
HQ: 391 Troy Ave. | Brooklyn, NY 11213 | t: 718-756-7500 | f: 718-756-7503 | www.ok.org
16 www.OK.org follow up we are now working to certify this plant Rabbi of Russia. The visit brought back memories in order to help them export the chocolate. of that first visit, over twenty years earlier, where I The rabbis in Dnieper told me that they would witnessed Rabbi Lazar’s daily struggle to provide a like to see more kosher products produced locally Jewish infrastructure in Russia. and sold in the stores. Rabbi Baram actually took It is unbelievable to see the difference in these two short decades. He has truly built up a real chassidishe community with When I was here over all the necessary institutions and more. twenty years ago the Moscow has a full educational system, with advanced level studies, including Jewish community was boys’ and girls’ schools, yeshivos, a kollel, and community education. They also struggling with day to have a fully equipped community center including a senior center, clinic, etc. day operations. I remembered the shul from my visit in 1980. At that time it was behind another building and was quite small. me to a local supermarket and showed me ~ Today, it has been rebuilt and expanded into certified wine sold there! I wish my father ob”m a beautiful large shul with a separate dairy and could have seen that after all of the mesiras meat restaurant, mikvah, etc. The school system nefesh he had to visit the USSR during the and the Jewish Museum are now housed within years of persecution. The store also had many the shul complex. Rabbi Lazar has done a truly other products with a hechsher, which is a great phenomenal job in building the community from accomplishment in a region that has a history of the ground up. hostility toward religion and Judaism in particular. Rabbi Lazar and I discussed our longstanding Overall, I was extremely impressed with what cooperation in kosher supervision at length and I I saw in Dnieper. When I was here over twenty met with his staff headed, by Rabbis Yossie Marzel years ago the Jewish community was struggling and Yossie Verzuv. I was impressed with their with day to day operations. Today they have extensive knowledge of both kashrus and general a completely functional Jewish infrastructure, halacha. Their standards were quite impressive. including huge schools, a beautiful shul, mikvah, (It is interesting to note that Rabbi Marzel’s father catering hall, dairy and meat restaurant and the was my roommate in yeshiva in Kfar Chabad famous Menorah building. Twenty years ago, I was when I studied there. Truly a small world.) helping the Jews of Dnieper find kosher products. To date we are working on many projects Today, Dnieper and Donetsk have two shechitas, together and it is a pleasure to work with Rabbi dairy products, baked goods, condiments, etc., and Lazar and his team to continue providing kosher are working with the ~ to increase local kosher products that live up to the ~ motto of “Kosher food production. It is truly a great sight to see and Without Compromise”. a sign of true Jewish renewal in the region. From Ukraine I travelled to Moscow where I was Rabbi Don Yoel Levy privileged to meet with Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Chief Kashrus Administrator
www.KosherSpirit.com 17 18 www.O18 www.OK.orgK.org Why Was the Plan Changed?
hen ~ rabbis travel around the shaliach told Rabbi Haskel that a Jewish family from world, they might find them- England, who came to vacation in Vietnam, had suf- selves coming back with more fered a terrible tragedy – the wife suddenly passed away. than kosher reports and new The shaliach had never been in this kind of situation information – sometimes, they before, nor did he know how to proceed with all of the W also have amazing stories of proper arrangements according to Halacha and the hashgocha protis to recount. local law. Rabbi Aharon Haskel, Director of ~ Israel, had Rabbi Haskel, due to the distance, could not help the such a trip when he recently travelled to the Far East. shaliach himself, but he knew exactly who would be Originally, an Israeli importer wanted him to fly to able to help: the other mashgiach, left behind in Ho China and then to Vietnam to do a kosher inspection Chi Minh. Rabbi Simcha Steinberg is a veteran mem- in a new facility. Upon closer examination, it became ber of the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) and clear that the proposed itinerary did not leave enough of ZAKA (Jewish Rescue and Recovery), and with his time before Shabbos, so the plans changed and Rabbi halachic knowledge and practical experience he could Haskel headed to Vietnam first. guide the shaliach, make the necessary arrangements, Initially, Rabbi Haskel planned to make the trip on and make sure that Kovod HaMeis – the dignity of the his own, but, at the last minute, he decided to bring dead – would be kept. He also stayed with the hart bro- along another mashgiach, Rabbi Simcha Steinberg, who ken family over Shabbos, explained the relevant hala- could visit existing production sites while Rabbi Haskel chos, and helped in any way he could. left to make initial kosher visits in new facilities. It wasn’t in the initial plan to send Rabbi Haskel first The first stop in Vietnam was Ho Chi Minh (formerly to Vietnam. Nor was it expected that he would take Saigon). There Rabbi Haskel left Rabbi Steinberg to take another rabbi with him. But the plans changed at the care of the kosher production work and Rabbi Haskel last minute, just to provide great relief and support to a took a domestic flight to a distant part of Vietnam Jewish family in the midst of their grief. where he was scheduled to visit a new facility. Shortly Kosher work demonstrates how one mitzvah leads to after landing, Rabbi Haskel received an urgent phone another. A mashgiach goes away for the sake of kosher call from Rabbi Menachem Hartman, the Chabad sha- supervision and finds himself doing a bonus mitzvah… liach in Ho Chi Minh. (~ Israel has a warm relation- in this case, a chesed shel emes. Sometimes we get to ship with this Chabad house, as it has with many others. see and realize the Divine Providence and sometimes The ~ also donated the library for this Chabad House, we don’t, but either way we know everything happens in memory of Gavriel and Rivki Holtzberg, HY”D.) The for a reason.
www.KosherSpirit.com 19 Meet Our Staff: BehiWho’s Behind~ then ~ d Interview with Rabbi Ouriel Serfaty Rabbi Ouriel Serfaty
KS: Where did you grow up? Where did you go to yeshiva? ROS: The education that I received stick to our kosher policy and to our from my dear parents – my father Reb principals. That’s why the~ hechsher ROS: I grew up in Antwerp, Belgium Amrom zt”l and, l’havdil ben chaim is so reputable. and studied in Yeshivas Eitz Chaim, l’chaim, my mother – this is the key to Working at the ~ also gives me and then in the famous Gateshead Ye- any success I have. My parents taught the opportunity to understand shiva in the United Kingdom. me to be punctual, precise and thor- the complex process behind every KS: What did you do after ough in everything I do, something product, and that knowledge gives yeshiva? that is really needed in the world of special emphasis to the importance of kashrus. the mitzvah of kashrus. ROS: Initially, after my wedding, I In addition, growing up in Antwerp The best thing about working in learned in Kollel Mivtsar HaTorah gave me the opportunity to learn to the ~ Israel branch is that we all feel in Elad, Israel, while simultaneously speak a few languages, something that like one big family, always working learning in a kiruv kollel in Tel-Mond, also helps me at my work. together and helping each other, founded by the “Ayelet Hashachar” KS: What is best thing about thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Aharon outreach organization. Then I re- Haskel, Director of ~ Israel. The~ in working at the ~? turned to Antwerp, where I continued general has a very special atmosphere to learn in the Steiteshe Kollel – Kollel ROS: The best thing about working at that makes us feel that we are one Avreichim. the ~ is the knowledge every product team, working to achieve the same KS: What is your current bearing our hashgocha, provides goal. Jewish people around the globe with position at the ~? KS: How would you describe another kosher product produced the ~ today? ROS: I am a Project Manager at the according to the high standards of ~ New Accounts Department of ~ Kosher Certification. It’s well known ROS: The ~ provides a unique service Israel. that Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, head of by virtue of its global presence. With KS: What prepared you the the ~, does not compromise when representatives in many countries, we most for your current position it comes to kashrus. We always try can often send a rabbi who speaks the to work with the client and give the local language – something that really at the ~? best possible service, but we will upgrades the level of kashrus and
20 www.OK.org achieves a maximum of comfort when providing our services to “ facilities worldwide. Another point is that the ~ uses the most modern technology in What Other People Say today’s world, which has enormous benefits to everybody involved in the kosher process: the rabbis, the facilities, the importers and About Rabbi Serfaty the consumers. KS: Can you share an interesting experience that you “ had while working at the ~? “Ouriel comes to us with best recommendations. ROS: I can definitely remember one interesting experience I had, Rabbi Tuvia Weiss, head of the Eida Hachareidis per- where I truly saw how Hashem watches over us while we do His sonally called me to recommend Rabbi Serfaty as an mitzvos. I travelled to a city called Karaman in southern Turkey to asset to the ~. Rabbi Serfaty’s European background supervise a special Kosher for Passover production of purple carrot and fluency in several languages has helped him use juice. Thursday, December 24, 2010 was the last day of the special his unique talents to blend in with our expert staff. His production. reports are clear and a pleasure to read, showing a nice In the early morning the company driver came to pick me up understanding of the facilities and the issues involved.” from the guest house where I stayed. I left my suitcase in the car Rabbi Don Yoel Levy trunk, knowing I would need it later for my flight, and entered the Kashrus Administrator facility. After a long work day, at around 5:30 pm, we rushed to the airport. After an hour and a half we reached the very small airport “Rabbi Serfaty has a combination of qualities that only to discover my suitcase wasn’t there. A different car was used make him unique. First, he is a G-d fearing Jew with to take me to the airport and because it was of the same model, I “a high level of Torah knowledge. This makes him hadn’t noticed it before. I decided that getting home for Shabbos take each single project assigned to him extremely se- riously. Secondly, he is very diligent and reliable and was more important than the suitcase and headed to the terminal, constantly works till he gets the best possible results. but then I saw a notice on the information screen – my flight to Accordingly, he is in charge of many companies that Istanbul had been cancelled. pose complicated kosher challenges. Before entering the terminal I asked the driver to be my Also, Rabbi Serfaty is multilingual. He speaks many translator for the next few hours. We tried to find another way to languages fluently and, therefore, we can send him to get to Istanbul and it was suggested that I take a bus to Ankara (a many parts of the world where companies expect to drive of 3 hours) and fly to Istanbul from there. I agreed, purchased meet a rabbi who speaks their own language and have perfectly clear communication, which is very impor- the ticket, and then remembered that my tefillin were missing. I tant in kashrus. had left them in the suitcase – something I never do – so I had to Last but not least, Rabbi Serfaty’s intelligence and explain why I was cancelling the flight I had just booked a minute knowledge along with his gracious and pleasant per- ago. sonality make him liked and respected wherever he At this point, I almost gave up on arriving home for Shabbos, but goes.” my driver had a sudden idea. He said there was a bus from Kara- man to the Konya bus station, where I could take the midnight bus Rabbi Aharon Haskel Director of ~ Israel to Ankara. He called up the company and they agreed to bring me my suitcase. I have known Rabbi Serfaty for many years. He is a Well, I eventually reached Ankara airport, after getting off the very Chassidishe person and, while he comes from bus in the middle of the main road and taking a taxi and the driver a Sepharic background, he speaks a perfect Yid- didn’t understand a word of English which caused a serious mix-up “ dish. Rabbi Serfaty also speaks four other languages: regarding his fee. The first thing I saw in Ankara airport was plenty Hebrew, English, French and German. He is a yiras of notices in red letters – almost all flights were cancelled. But it shomayim and talmid chocham who is a great Proj- was 4:09 am and I saw that a flight to Istanbul would be leaving ect Manager as a result of his thorough investigative at 4:25! I ran to the ticket office and explained my story as briefly skills, attention to detail and the 150% effort he puts as I could. My flight from Konya was cancelled – would they put into his work.” me on the next flight to Istanbul and Tel Aviv? Miraculously, they agreed and I arrived home for Shabbos! Rabbi Binyomin Neufeld Stories such as this are behind many, many kosher products ~ Israel which consumers enjoy!
www.KosherSpirit.com 21 Chassidic Insights
“no preeminence in man over animal”. Shmitta But there is also the area of “earthly A Timely Letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe ztz”l rest” — of breaking away from the mundane leading into “Sabbath unto This letter was written a full yovel (49 years) ago and is still relevant today. G d” — turning to holiness and G dli- Compiled by Dina Fraenkel ness, through setting aside times for prayer, Torah study, and the fulfill- By the Grace of G d shmitta, is significant and instructive in ment of Mitzvos. In the days of Selichoth 5725 that it teaches the proper approach to Here, too, the teaching of shmitta Brooklyn, NY life. It is expressed as follows: is that it is necessary to begin the When one “comes into a land” and day with the idea and approach that, To the Sons and Daughters of Our desires to establish his way of life, although it may be necessary later People Israel Everywhere, G d bless which involves “working the soil,” it in the day to engage in “mundane” you all! is necessary to bear in mind that the activities, the essence and purpose first and foremost, as an idea and as of these things are — to attain a Greeting and Blessing: a goal, is “Sabbath unto G d”; not the “Sabbath unto G d.” In this way, “earthly” and material, but the spiri- even the mundane aspects will attain We are at the threshold of a Shmitta tual and sacred. This approach will refinement and real content, while Year (the seventh and sanctified “Sab- ensure one against being submerged the aspects of holiness and G dliness batical” year in the cycle of years) — by the material and mundane aspects will be intensified and elevated to a the year 5726; may it be a good one of life. Moreover, bearing constantly higher order. This is the way to attain for all of us, amidst our people Israel. in mind the above idea and goal, will a complete and harmonious life. One of the central teachings of transform the six drab working years; * * * Shmitta is conveyed in the order of the they will lose much of their drabness Standing on the threshold of verses and words by which the Torah and become more refined and mean- the shmitta Year, we pray that the defines the institution of shmitta, ingful. Furthermore, the change and Almighty help each and every one, namely: “When you will come into the elevation of the six years will raise to man and woman, to begin the year land. . . the earth shall rest a Sabbath a higher plane also the seventh year; with the above-mentioned approach: unto G d. Six years shalt thou plant from a “Shabbos unto G d” to a “Shab- That not the material, but the spiritual thy field,” etc. (Lev. 25:2-3). bos Shabboson [Shabbat of Shabbats]” is the essence and goal in life; that the The order of the text seems to be unto G d (v.4), with a dedication and “earthly,” the material has a raison reversed, for the six work years pre- solemnity of a higher order. d’etre only if it is permeated with the cede the Sabbatical rest year, and not * * * idea of “the earth shall rest a Sabbath vice versa. Hence, the text should have Similarly, in the daily life there are unto G d” — which is when the first mentioned the six years of plant- those aspects which have to do with material serves and fulfills the higher ing, and then decree the resting. material preoccupation (to earn a aspirations of holiness and G dliness. However, order in Torah is also livelihood, etc.) and “common” neces- It is only then that all the days in the Torah (“instruction”). The arrangement sities, such as eating and drinking, etc. year, and all the activities of each day, in the text mentioned above, relating to — all those aspects wherein there is will reflect the “preeminence of man
22 www.OK.org Soul NutRition over animal,” and give evidence that man was created in the Divine “image and likeness,” living accordingly; while those moments and periods which are characterized as “Shabbos” will in turn rise to the sublime heights of “Shabbos Shabboson.” Then will surely also be fulfilled the Divine blessing that goes with shmitta — “And I will command My blessing upon you” (v.21) — in a supernatural way. Rosh Hashanah is The Day to make the firm and lasting resolution to im- plement the above approach. It is the day when the first man was created in the Divine image and likeness; the day when he gained mastery over all of nature and elevated all creation to the recognition of the Sovereignty of the Creator with the call, “Come, let us worship, and bow down, and kneel before G d our Maker” (Ps. 95:6); The day when we pray for the Why don’t we make a brocha on realization of G d’s Kingdom on earth, “Reign, in Thy Glory, upon all the teshuva like we do on other mitzvos? world... and let everyone who has a breath in his nostrils declare, ‘G d, the ome say we don’t make as well, because, according to G d of Israel, is King, and His Kingdom a brocha because it is Chassidus and Kabbalah, teshu- rules everything!’” Snot possible to do the whole vah is not necessarily done for With the blessing of Kesivo mitzvah alone; our teshuvah is a sin, teshuvah is returning to Vachasimo Toivo only complete if it is accepted Hashem and elevating oneself For a Happy and Pleasant year by Hashem. It is similar to the to a higher and higher level. Blessed with the joy of children, life reason we don’t make a brocha Still others say the reason we and ample sustenance, on giving tzedakah; one cannot don’t make a brocha on teshuvah give tzedakah alone there must is because real teshuvah needs to signed: –Menachem Schneerson be a receiver as well. take please in the heart and we But isn’t Hashem always wait- don’t make a brocha on things ing and ready to accept our tes- that are contingent on the heart.
Letter reprinted from "Letters by the Lubavitcher huvah? Isn’t it true that Hashem For example, we only make a Rebbe," by permission of Kehot Publication Society. accepts our teshuvah without a brocha on the destruction of doubt? Isn’t that the reason we chometz, not on the nullification, make a brocha with Hashem’s which is an internal feeling, not name when we say “melech mo- an action. chail v’sola’ach” (the King who Teshuvah is a mitzvah like forgives and pardons)? all others – it needs to be done Therefore, others say we with happiness. That is why, don’t make a brocha on teshuvah in many shuls, the chazzan because it’s a mitzvah haboah and the congregation sing the b’avaira (a mitzvah that came Ashamnu (confessions) out because of a sin), like retuning loud, to proclaim our joy in a stolen object which is also a the mitzvah of teshuvah and mitzvah without a brocha. There the eternal ability of a Jew to is a problem with this answer return to Hashem.
www.KosherSpirit.com 23 The most powerful Kosher tools... now in the palm of your hand.
AVA F ILAB OR iO LE A S AN NDRO D DEV ID ICES!
OAD DOWNL FREE APPS!
The ~ Kosher Food Guide provides the most up to date database of products certified kosher by ~ Kosher Certification. Search by company or by category and have the latest info at your fingertips.
2 cutting-edge Kosher Apps now available as a free download on Google Play or the App Store
KOSHER For the latest in Kosher news: follow us on Twitter ~ CERTIFICATION @KosherAlerts Kosher Spirit, 391 Troy Avenue • Brooklyn, NY 11213 follow us on Facebook facebook.com/okkosher 718-756-7500 • [email protected] • www.ok.org