MAZEL TOV! OUR 200Th ISSUE
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SPECIAL EXPANDED EDITION w ww M AZEL TOV! VOL. f / NO. 10 ELUL 5772 - TISHREI 5773 / SEPT.-OCT. 2012 s xc YOMIM NORAIM EDITION THE Daf a K ashrus H OUR 200th ISSUE A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE OU RABBINIC FIELD REPRESENTATIVE מי שיש לו מנה רוצה לעשות מהם מאתים )תורה תמימה קהלת פ' א' פס' י"ג בשם המדרש( “HE who has 100, desires to make of them This special expanded issue contains many It has been a great privilege to edit The 200”. While this axiom relates to finan- articles from gifted writers and kashrus Daf. I am highly gratified that many in- cial wealth, it can be applied to spiritual experts who are either currently or were dividuals have approached me over the matters as well. In particular, as editor of previously employed by the OU. I take years in person or by other means of The Daf, this maamar Chazal resonates this opportunity to thank everyone who communication, to express the pleasure for me in a very meaningful way. We contributed articles to this volume and the and educational value they have had from reading The Daf. began publishing The Daf in June 1992. past 199 issues of The Daf for their insight- In July 2002, I was privileged to edit the ful and educational contributions. Kosher May Hashem grant me the merit to edit 100 th issue of The Daf HaKahsrus. Now ten consumers, RFR’s, RC’s and communal The Daf for many years to come. After all, years later, with great thanks to Hashem rabbis owe a tremendous debt of gratitude he who edits 200 issues of The Daf, looks Yisborach, I have the great zechus to pres- to these writers for 20 years of outstanding forward to 400 as well! ent the 200th issue of The Daf. material. Rabbi Yosef Grossman, Editor ONE OF RAV BELSKY’S well-known contributions to VEKASHER HADAVAR the tzibbur has been his formal involvement in kashrus hash- Psakim from Rav Belsky, Shlita gachah for more than 20 years. As a zechus for Rav Belsky’s health during his recent illness, a daily email was distributed COMPILED BY which included a short kashrus-related psak halacha from RABBI DOVID COHEN Rav Belsky. The series was named vekasher hadavar and a total of 75 psakim were distributed until Rav Belsky was Administrative Rabbinical Coordinator, CRC Chicago Rabbinic Coordinator, OU 1999 - 2006 healthy enough to return home. The contributors ranged from those who sent in just one ruling or interacted with Rav Belsky for one Shabbos, to those who sent in multiple piskei halacha and learnt from Rav Belsky for decades. The following is a sampling of those psakim, with one item from almost all of the contributors: (Editor’s Note: Rav Belsky, Shlita reviewed the submissions presented below and agreed to them being published. Any additions within { } are from Rav Belsky as indicated.) COFFEE Submitted by: Rabbi Sholem Y. Fishbane There are possible halachic justifications for permitting coffee prepared or served in utensils which were possibly washed with non-kosher dishes, but Rav Belsky held that it is not within the spirit of the law to permit such items. Rather, it is our mission as a hashgachah to not recom- mend products which are “not so bad” and rely on heteirim. Rav Belsky himself does not drink coffee {served from the carafes} on an airplane; {instead, he asks the airplane stewardess to fill his cup directly from the coffee machine located in the airplane’s galley which is not washed with non-kosher dishes.} CONVECTION OVEN Submitted by: Rabbi Yosef Wikler Convection ovens shut off when the door is opened. That means that if a Jew originally turned on the oven and a non-Jewish cook opens the door to put the food inside, keeping it open for a few minutes, during that time the oven will cool down. Then when he closes the door after, continued on page 64 Published by the Orthodox Union, Eleven Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Please direct your comments to RABBI YOSEF GROSSMAN, EDITOR at 212-613-8212 or [email protected] It is with great pleasure that the Kashruth Division of the OU presents the Two Hundredth Issue of The Daf HaKashrus. The Daf has served as our essential vehicle of communicating kashruth information and The proper flow of information is the .עומד על הפרק elucidating important issues that are core of a successful kashruth organization. אינו דומה שונה In the One Hundredth Issue of The Daf, I referred to the Gemara in Chagiga . This is יש לו מנה רוצה מאתים but Chazal also tell us , פרקו מאה פעמים לשונה פרקו מאה ואחד not only referring to material and monetary possessions, but to one’s spiritual treasure as well. After reaching this two hundredth milestone, we aspire for further growth in disseminating Torah information and enhancing Kashruth standards. All of this is due to the insight, inspiration and talent of Rabbi Yosef Grossman who is more than the editor, but the father of The Daf. מחיל אל חיל May he and the Kashruth Division go Sincerely yours, Menachem Genack Rabbinic Administrator, CEO 54 | THE DAF HAKASHRUS thorized production of a product with their symbol. Without your CREATING THE BEST input it will most likely be “bah leeday michshol.” POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP If you visit a plant which also produces items with a different hech- sher and you discover a problem with their product, the other agency WITH KASHRUS should be notified. Check with the main office how this should be AGENCIES WORLDWIDE dealt with. If in this plant you also serve as the mashgiach for this other agency, it is vital that you frequently check up on their products RABBI DOVID HEBER as well and file reports with them. Kashrus Administrator, Star-K Kosher Certification COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER AGENCIES Rabbinic Coordinator, Orthodox Union 1991-1993 Kashrus offices are quite busy. Therefore, if you discover a problem with another agency’s product and report it without a response, con- I AM periodically asked about the relationship between different firm with them directly who the report should go to and then email it Kashrus agencies. The answer is – Excellent - two days don’t go directly to that person. Sending a problem report to another agency’s by without my communicating with a member of another Kashrus “general email inbox” and then claiming, “I reported it to them and agency. I am sure many Kashrus administrators can make the same they did not respond - they probably don’t care anyway,” is not an statement. Indeed there are differences that periodically arise, but appropriate way to follow up on an important discovery. generally Kashrus agencies work very closely to ensure the highest Kashrus standards for Kosher consumers. DUAL HASHGACHA PROTOCOL There are numerous instances which call for Kashrus agencies to Familiarize yourself with the protocols of a plant that is certified by communicate with each other. The following is a discussion of how more than one agency. When relevant, know who the other mash- to utilize the relationships with other agencies in order to benefit giach is and discuss issues in the plant that help you both get the the work kashrus administrators and mashgichim do on a daily basis. job done. One should never “bad mouth” another agency in front of company personnel. Besides being lashon harah and possibly INGREDIENT CLARIFICATION rechilus, it is a huge chillul Hashem. Furthermore, in the long run How often do you walk into a plant and find an ingredient without Kashrus usually suffers. V’hamayvin yavin. the symbol on the container as required by another Kashrus agency? There is also a protocol when conducting an initial inspection of a Furthermore, an ingredient that requires a mashgiach’s signature plant that has an existing hechsher. This can get tricky and is beyond may not have one. You may wish to determine from the other agency the scope of this article. Discuss this with the main office of your as to why the symbol or signature was left off. Did the product agency. If you are visiting a contract manufacturer who will now also lose its hechsher? Was this a non-kosher run? If either of the above be producing for your company it is professional courtesy to inform are true, this ingredient obviously may not be used and may need the other hechsher that you are visiting “their plant.” It is also advis- to be locked up, removed from the plant or destroyed. However, able to speak with the current mashgiach for an overview and any tips perhaps the omission was an oversight and indeed with an exchange from someone who probably knows the plant inside and out and can of lot numbers with the other agency you can advise you on any “behind the scenes” issues confirm that the ingredient is indeed 100% with production or personnel. Check with the kosher. The mashgiach must report such issues ONE SHOULD NEVER main office to set this up. Finally, the other to the office and not allow the plant to use the “BAD MOUTH” ANOTHER agency may wish to send in their mashgiach ingredient until it is clarified. Office personnel to accompany you and answer any questions must follow up with the other Kashrus agency. AGENCY IN FRONT OF COMPANY PERSONNEL. or concerns during your visit. This is especially If the ingredient is delicate or production is true if the factory is complex. In the long run, being held up and office personnel cannot be this last step often saves time in setting up the reached, the mashgiach may need to contact plant as questions are answered on the spot instead of “the back and the other Kashrus agency directly as soon as possible.