ב"ה KISLEV 5771 חנוכה תשע"א

CERTIFIED SOUL NUTRITION

א !Wishing You a Happy Chanukahפריילעכן חנוכה! Dear Reader, s I sit 34,000 feet above sea level, on a returning flight from Johan- QUESTIONS FOR THE ~ 3 Anesburg, South Africa, I can’t help feeling a bit envious…envious of the SHARE YOUR SPIRIT 4 kosher consumer who lives in South Africa. The world of kosher in South KEEPING KOSHER IN... Africa is absolutely astonishing – not just NEW YORK IN THE 1930s & 1940s the amount of kosher food that is readily 6 available, nor the broad variety alone, but By Chanie Brod something far more incredible. ERUV: DEFINING SPACE Johannesburg, South Africa has just one certifying agency, one 8 By Yitzchak Gornish Beis Din, that sets the kashrus standards for the whole community. If a company wants to get its products kosher certified, they must HEALTHY SPIRIT go to the Beis Din of Johannesburg. 13 Chocolate Now, you might say, “Well, that’s just not right. They have a monopoly on the whole market … What if the Beis Din rejects a KOSHER NEWS company due to ulterior motives? Doesn’t such arrangement give 14 Camp L’man Achai Celebrates the Beis Din complete (and perhaps too much) control over the en- Bris of 11 year-old Camper tire market? That would (and should) never be allowed to happen here in the U.S.!” CHANUKAH RECIPE But let us just step back a moment — all the monopoly issues 15 Nawabi Murg Ka Tikka might be true, but on the flip side, all of the kosher products in South Africa are subject to one standard of kashrus, and a pretty WHO’S BEHIND THE ~ good standard at that. Though I’m not here to endorse or judge 16 Interview with how the Beis Din sets or implements its standards, one thing I can Dayan Yitzchak Teller say for certain — the kosher consumer is the big winner. ~ IN ACTION One might wonder, “If we all follow the same , don’t we 18 2010 Mashgichim Conference all have the same kashrus standards?” In reality, here in the U.S. and in Europe, every time a company 134 WAYS ~ KOSHERED fails to comply with a kashrus protocol from an individual kashrus 20 YOUR WORLD IN 2010 agency there is always a second-rate agency waiting to give them a . This has happened endless times here at the ~,when CHASSIDIC INSIGHTS: an ~ certified company decides to lower its standards or violates LOOKING ABOVE NATURE its kosher contract, and the ~ must withdraw its certification. In- 22 Compiled by Dina Fraenkel stead of this company losing the right to produce a kosher prod- SOUL NUTRITION uct, a second-rate hechsher takes over, and the standard of kashrus 23 is lowered. It doesn’t stop there. If the same company chooses even less compliance… an even more liberal hechsher will take over the certification and the standards of kashrus are lowered once again. I’m not suggesting that all the separate agencies form one agency, but just like in the Beis HaMikdash where all the flames of the individual arms of the menorah faced the Ner HaMarovi, it EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: would be wonderful if we all held ourselves to the same one high Rabbi Chaim Fogelman standard that Hashem set forth in His holy Torah and stopped pit- EDITOR: ting agencies against one another. I may be dreaming…but at least Dovi Scheiner I have a dream. ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Dina Fraenkel A Freilichen Chanukah, DESIGN: Rabbi Chaim Fogelman www.SpotlightDesign.com Editor-in-Chief The ~ receives many letters/emails with kosher questions...

Dear Kosher Spirit, remember as a child I when the Jewish knife sharpener would come door to door to sharpen knives Rabbi Hanoka responds: t is permissible to get a kosher around the neighborhood. knife sharpened by a professional Now, my only option is to Iknife-sharpener, even if he also send my knives to a sharpens non-kosher knives. Even though the friction from sharpening professional sharpening causes a lot of heat buildup, the heat service. Is it permissible to is meant to take away something from the knife in order to make it get a knife sharpened by a sharper, so it does not pose a kashrus professional knife-sharpener problem. who also sharpens non- Please note, an identifying sign is recommended to insure that your kosher knives? knife is returned to you. ~

www.OK.org • 3 FEEDBACK

Share Your Spirit Readers share their thoughts about the last issue...

Dear Kosher Spirit, read Rabbi Levy’s article in the Tishrei issue and I can Dear Kosher Spirit, I only praise it, especially the way you addressed the cocoa issue with pride, and a fair and strong attitude. hank you for the amazing Tishrei I also read the interview with Rabbi Lasker and I must Tissue of Kosher Spirit. I am a volun- add a few words to the article. I was with Rabbi Lasker in teer at a prison through Aleph Institute Italy last year and saw his dedicated work, skills and the and I brought a few copies of the mag- professional manner in which he gets things done. Com- azine for the Jewish inmates there. panies look up to him for guidance and direction, the sys- The magazine is so well-rounded and tem of kashering the ~ has in place is great and meets the insightful and the inmates really en- highest standards that many hechsherim will not or cannot joyed reading it between the tefillos. do, the supervision and great detail accountability, the knowledge of the mashgichim, and all about the supervi- Kind Regards, Ephraim sion is perfect. It was a great experience for me to see it first hand and get to know Rabbi Lasker in person. May Hashem give Rabbi Lasker and the ~ leadership Dear Kosher Spirit, many years of avodas hakodesh in providing Klal Yisroel received the beautiful Kosher Spirit in with kosher food. Imy copy of The Jewish Press. I espe- May we all be zoche to a git yur and a shnas geulah. cially liked Chanie Brod’s article, Respectfully, “Keeping Kosher in the U.S. Army.” I am a chaplain for Jewish veterans and Rabbi Benyumin Arye Glick also work with Jewish soldiers. I Executive Rabbinic Coordinator, Kashrus Division would love to distribute copies of this Central Rabbinical Congress of USA & Canada article and reprint it in a few army publications. Kind Regards, We welcome your comments, submissions Michoel, Arlington, VA and letters to the editor.

MAIL: 391 Troy Avenue, , NY 11213 E-MAIL: [email protected]

4 • www.OK.org Dear Kosher Spirit, had an amazing experience recently involving the ~ magazine IKosher Spirit, which I thought you would appreciate. One late Thursday afternoon towards the end of the school year, one of the students in Machon Chana approached me. She was going to visit friends who are shluchim and had bought a Shabbos treat for the kids: a bag of organic lollipops with a certain hashgocha. She was very excited that they were organic and had the USDA Organic symbol on the package. She wanted to know if I thought it was a good treat. I told her that it looked like a very healthy and nice treat, but that not everybody uses that hashgocha. Maybe she could find an equivalent with a better hashgocha? “But,” she said, “They’re ORGANIC! LOOK! The in- gredients are all ‘natural’ and ‘kosher’! And it has the USDA Or- ganic symbol!” I explained to her that there is a food coloring which is also ‘natural’ but is not kosher because it comes from an insect, and that the USDA Organic symbol means nothing with respect to the kashrus of the product. The kosher symbol and all that it stands for is what we rely on for the kashrus of a product. She still didn’t get it. So I suggested she just make a phone call to the shluchim, tell them she found a terrific Shabbos treat for the kids, it has a certain hashgocha, and is that good for them. We left it at that, and I didn’t see her again until after Shabbos. I didn’t ask or say anything to her, but it was really weighing on me. She’s a very bright girl who has a great passion for learning and a dedica- tion to growing in her Yiddishkeit. By hashgochah protis, I had been reading a number of back is- sues of Kosher Spirit at the time. Kosher Spirit is packed full of in- formation that really gives the reader an appreciation of just some of the complexities that go into making every and any kind of product kosher, and for the fact that not all hachgochas are equal and hold to the same high standards. So I made a visit to the ~. The receptionist very graciously let me take back-issues of Kosher Spirit to my heart’s desire. I put together a package for my friend of about 8 or 9 issues, and gave them to her with an en- 3rd edition of the popular couraging, “I came across these and thought it would be some- thing you’d really appreciate.” Then I went out of town for three ~ VEGETABLE and a half weeks. Within the first few days of my return, I bumped into her by hashgocha protis. It happened to be my birthday, so I sat down CHECKING with her to give her a brocha. Before I could even broach the topic, she said to me, “You know, I really have to thank you so GUIDE much for the kosher magazines you gave me. I’ve started to read them, and you know, I feel like the whole World of Kosher is Helping you do things right opening up to me. Now I understand what you were talking about!” Available FREE at your local ~ certified We spoke about a variety of kosher topics, and in the end I restaurant or download a PDF @ gave her a brocha, but I think the real blessing she received was found in the Kosher Spirit. www.OK.org

Keep up the good work, with regards, Also available on the App Store for Malka your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch

www.OK.org • 5 KEEPING KOSHER IN... New York in the 1930s & 1940s By Chanie Brod

rom sushi bars to steak houses, pizza joints and her family, to coffee shops, New York today has some- cookies, bread and pastries were Fthing to suit every kosher-observing palette. all home-baked. For New Yorkers, keeping kosher presents a “Many places sold “kosher food”, so difficult challenge; the challenge of deciding to speak, but which restaurant to patron or the challenge kosher was not of choosing between a delicious chocolate clear-cut. Shomer Shabbos stores chip and the allegedly healthier carrot muf- were very scarce. fin at the bakery on the corner. In the 1930s In fact, in my and 1940s, Jewish life in New York presented neighborhood there was no a different kind of challenge. There were no Shomer Shabbos kosher supermarkets, no restaurants and bakery until much bakeries on every corner, and a very small later.” Cookies and variety of mehadrin kosher products. were not the only home- For many people today, a nickel is made goods. “We lived in a house just spare change jingling in a pocket, where my mother made everything,” or lost at the bottom of a purse, but Miss Horowitz recalls. When craving for Miss Thelma Horowitz, a young a quick snack, popping a slice of Jewish girl growing up in the Bronx, a frozen pizza into the oven wasn’t an nickel each way was the daily travel option; neither was opening a can of fare to and from school. Together tuna. “In our house, there was no such with her friends, the young Miss thing as kosher canned food, no such Horowitz would often forego the trol- thing as kosher frozen food. I had ley-ride and walk about three miles never heard of canned tuna fish!” each way to and from school in Today, supermarket shelves are order to save her two nickels. lined with products stamped with This well-saved nickel could kosher symbols, yet the abundant buy a trip to Coney Island, a availability of kosher food is fairly pound of bread, or even a novel. Having one receipt print out quart of milk! with , yogurt, fresh produce, For Miss Horowitz sliced bread, coffee, and dozens of

6 • www.OK.org other kosher products paid for with bottles of pasteurized milk from the With the surge of Jewish immi- the swipe of a card is the way of life store. My grandmother would boil it, grants escaping war-torn Europe in modern New York. The amount and then she’d make cheese and but- came an increase in demand for of flour and sugar bought is restricted ter. It was a long time before I would kosher food and the kosher food only by the amount of space in the walk into a store and choose be- market began to expand. In 1935, kitchen cabinet. Grocery shopping tween low fat, full fat, or fat free Organized Kashrus Laboratories was during Miss Horowitz’s childhood yogurts in plain, vanilla or straw- founded and began certifying a few was different. berry flavor”. kosher products; but it would be “A supermarket?” she laughs as if Poultry wasn’t plucked off the nearly half a century before reaching I had suggested something absurd. shelf in a plastic-wrapped foam con- the more than 500,000 products it Apparently the 1940s was decades tainer, so Mrs. Popack and her family currently certifies. While today some before supermarkets became the would go to a yard full of live chick- 30-50% of products on the shelves common location for a one-stop ens running around. “My mother have a kosher symbol, in the 1940’s shopping trip. “ was from the would select our chicken, and the only very few products were labeled . Dairy was from the dairy shochet would slaughter it in front of “kosher”. store. Bread was from the bakery. us. Then, we went home to soak and “You couldn’t go into a store and Groceries were from the grocery salt the chicken. Our trips to the find dozens of items with a hechsher,” store.” chicken yard were pretty frequent says Miss Horowitz. “There were Growing up in Brownsville, New as we didn’t have a freezer.” she not many choices of processed York, Mrs. Chaya Popack spent stated. snacks and candy bars. You wanted much of her childhood in the grocery Not all of their food came from a snack; you ate a fruit or a home- store. After Mrs. Popack’s father was their grocery, and fresh produce was baked cookie. Although we didn’t told repeatedly not to come to work often bought from the local market. have the selection we have today, on Monday if he doesn’t show up on Pushcarts lined the streets of we never felt we were lacking.” Shabbos, he opened up his own busi- Brownsville and the vendors hocked Ms. Thelma Horowitz went on to ness, a grocery. “We stocked dairy, their wares. Soup greens, fruit, veg- marry Rabbi Berel Levy (ob”m), who oil, sugar, eggs… miscellaneous gro- etables, and beans were among the took the helm of ~ Laboratories in cery items.” she recalls. “The goods goods sold. It was a little rowdy mar- 1967. Today, ~ Laboratories, now didn’t arrive neatly prepackaged and ket and multiple vendors with the known as ~ Kosher Certification, is labeled. We received most foods in same products vied for the cus- under the leadership of her son, wooden bulk containers. Sugar, flour, tomers’ attention. As a child Mrs. Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, sheyichye. The and coffee all needed to be weighed Popack’s mother would send her to ~ currently certifies over 500,000 and wrapped in wax paper. If some- the market for a bunch of soup products on six continents—a far cry one was throwing a party they greens—parsley, celery, and other from the handful of kosher certified couldn’t just buy 10 lbs. of sugar, and vegetables. Three cents would pay products available during Mrs. Levy’s after a late night you couldn’t have 7 for the bunch. childhood! ~ cups of coffee to keep you function- ing the next day. Many foods were Pushcarts lined the streets rationed due to the war effort.” of Brownsville and the vendors A valued and limited resource, hocked their wares...’ sugar was pre-weighed in ½ and 1 lb. sized packages and was kept behind the counter. Meat, chicken and canned foods were also rationed. Based on family size, each family would be allocated a certain amount of stamps valid for different dry goods. “Cholov Yisroel was not easily available, but we were lucky with the dairy,” Mrs. Popack continues. “My grandfather was a for a dairy farm. Once a week he would bring home a bucket of warm milk; it didn’t quite taste the same as the

www.OK.org • 7 Eruv

8 • www.OK.org Defining Space

By Rabbi Yitzchak Gornish

he root of the word eruv is “blend”. This concept describes what occurs whenever one makes an eruv, whether an eruv tavshilin, T which allows cooking on Yom Tov for Shabbos (a blending of “cookings”) or an eruv techumos, which allows “increasing” the permitting walking distance on Shabbos (blending two distinct areas) or the eruv chatzeros which allows for carrying between properties on Shabbos (blending of domains). When the Torah chooses to describe our father Abraham’s great commitment to Torah observance, it uses the example of his adherence to eruv to demonstrate that even Shabbos rabbinic decrees were observed by him.1 The eruv is a rabbinic method to allow an other- wise rabbinic restricted activity on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

www.OK.org • 9 The common form of eruv is eruv chatzeros. This eruv was established by Shlomo HaMelech to increase shalom between .2 To understand how the eruv operates, it is imperative to explain the prohibition against carry- ing on Shabbos. As with all of the 39 prohibitions of Shabbos, carrying was practiced in the desert when the Jew- ish people were constructing the Mishkan. Since we were commanded not to construct the Mishkan on Shab- bos, it is understood that any activity involving the construction was there- fore forbidden on Shabbos.3 In the Jewish desert encampment, there were three designated domains: public, private and Makom P’tur (no- man’s land, a very small elevated area, i.e. the top of a fire hydrant). The Jews were commanded not to carry from a public to private (or the re- Above: The Eruv posts along the coastline in Miami Beach, FL verse) and four cubits (about 6-8 feet) in the public domain. (They were al- cubits (approx. 15-20 feet) wide, have would carry inadvertently or are igno- lowed to carry from public to Makom no obstructions overhead, and it must rant about the laws of Shabbos vs. the P’tur or private to Makom P’tur). The not be a “dead end”. Some add an ad- Shabbos observant public who will created an additional domain, ditional requirement that it is trav- then carry in an eruv that incorporates a carmelis (from the terms meaning elled by 600,000 people on a regular leniencies. There is no set precedent, wet and dry – ie. gray area).4 While daily basis.5 The issue of those condi- because each situation is unique and this domain would be considered tions has been grounds for much con- is subject to the positions of the rab- non-public on a Biblical level, the rab- troversy over the ages because if one binical establishment located there. bis were concerned that it closely re- is considering an area to be a Biblical One should not compare different in- sembled a public domain and hence public domain, actual gates are re- stances since each has its specific dis- prohibited the activities there associ- quired to convert that area to a pri- tinctions. ated with a public domain. In addi- vate domain to allow one to carry on After it is established that a given tion, the rabbis also prohibited Shabbos.6 Whereas, if the area did not area is a carmelis, one sets about erect- carrying from one private domain to meet all the necessary conditions then ing a series of posts (called lechis) in another. The eruv chatzeros would it would be considered a carmelis and the areas that are not fenced off. allow this activity provided that cer- that area would only require an enclo- Under certain circumstances, neutral tain conditions are met. The reason- sure of door frames or “tsuris hape- barriers may also be considered con- ing behind this eruv is to connect the sach” to allow for carrying.7 The tributing to the enclosure. These non-private and private domains into rationale for door frames is that as a posts must be at least 10 tefachim (ap- one large private one. This process is private domain may contain a door- proximately 5 1/3 feet) high, accord- somewhat complex. One can also way, it follows that doorways are ing to the Rambam. These posts may construct a more limited eruv which considered enclosing an area. not be placed further than 10 cubits will only unify actual private do- The discussion of whether an aver- apart, except if the majority of the en- mains, excluding Biblical public and age city street is a public domain or a closure is a solid fence.8 Most eruvim carmelis domains. carmelis has been the source of many rely on the opinion of those who If one were to convert a Biblical disputes regarding creating eruvim in allow greater separation between the public domain, one must first estab- large cities. Both positions rely on posts, as it is very difficult to con- lish what constitutes this domain. original ideas to determine the correct struct an eruv with a post every 10 Here again, several conditions must be classifications. The debate is whether amos. Many communities follow the met, the roadway must be at least 10 to erect the eruv to assist those who Rambam’s requirement that the entire

10 • www.OK.org It is a common misconception that the actual enclosures constitute the eruv...

the separately owned domains into in the enclosure, one is required to one. This is accomplished by provid- procure permission to trespass on his ing bread in the portion of one grogres stake of the property by leasing it.15 (fig-sized amount) for every person It should be noted that while this involved up to 18 grogres (approxi- eruv is primarily beneficial for Shabbos mately 2 loaves) and placing it in one carrying, in fact, even on a Yom Tov of the houses. If there are more than one must limit his carrying to items 18 people involved in the eruv, the 18 required for the holiday.16 An eruv grogres suffices for all. Now, as all helps make all carrying permitted on those in the enclosure own bread in Yom Tov. Care should be taken that one of the properties, they are all one. even with an eruv one does not carry Matzah is preferred since it keeps items need for the following day of longer than bread. After everyone Yom Tov since that is part of the pro- contributes, one person can acquire hibition of preparing on one holiday enclosure must be constructed of the bread in the name of all.11 There for the next. An eruv allows one to doorways less than 10 amos apart and is a dispute regarding who needs to carry on even though in forgo carrying in eruvim that use a sep- contribute bread based on whether theory one cannot partake of the aration greater than 10 amos. The the grouping is a property owner al- communal bread.17 Shulchan Oruch HaRav rules according lowing his property to be used as a 9 to the Rambam’s position. common area, or it is a partnership of Taught string or line connects the all area residents. One question in this Eruv & Kashrus tops of the posts to complete the en- case is whether the bread collection hile at a glance one would not closure. The lines may not sway in a must be kept with the actual property W associate an eruv with kashrus, normal wind. While no physical re- owner, or if it can be stored in a com- they are in fact, closely related. Ad- quirements are made of the post, they munal area, such as the shul.12 mittedly, eruvai techumim would rarely must be able to support the lightest of A blessing is recited while making be utilized (unless one needed to doors. If the line does not pass over the bread portion of the eruv and then spot-check a certain facility on Shab- the top of the post the eruv is invalid. a text which specifies this eruv allows bos which could only be facilitated Ideally the posts should all be the for carrying between the individual with an eruv techumim). But eruv same height since they are supposed houses and yards. If one is making tavshilin is utilized in hotel programs to resemble door frames, however, both an eruv chatzeros and an eruv when Shabbos follows Yom Tov.18 The each individual door frame can be a techumim together, there are opinions event mashgiach must be instructed to separate height. Although the con- that one should amend the brocha to correctly make this eruv and remem- necting line should not dip more than plural, or to spell out the specific eru- ber to implement it. 45 degrees, this won’t invalidate the vim (eruv chatzeros v’eruv techumim).13 The eruv chatzeros play a big part in 10 eruv. While one does not need to con- food service events scheduled on It is a common misconception that sent to be part of the eruv, if one dis- Shabbos. The hechsher must determine the actual enclosures constitute the sents this ruins the eruv. Regarding an if an eruv will be required and the eruv. In actuality, it is a portion of eruv in a town, if one has permission mashgiach must be supplied with suf- designated food that is the eruv, but of the authorities to construct the eruv ficient time, material and manpower the proper enclosure is always neces- it is felt that this overrides require- to construct the eruv. This cannot be sary. ment of individual consent and a pri- done while supervising the kitchens. After the area is properly enclosed, vate person may no longer object.14 In addition, he should request from one is then required to consolidate all When there are non-Jewish resident management the schedule for deliver-

www.OK.org • 11 are supplied with food from the same While at a glance one kitchen and they have pre-paid, the premises can be “leased” from the would not associate an eruv non-Jewish ownership for a dollar and no eruv bread is needed since all with kashrus, they are in of the guests are partners in the food. fact, closely related. However, the second scenario, where the guests are invited to a simcha, then the host is considered to be a guest as well. Even though the host is supply- ing the guest with food, it will require a common eruv. However, a brocha is ies and trash collection since these into Shabbos and can then be eaten. not required over this eruv since some large trucks may inadvertently de- (When an event spans more than one authorities do not require an eruv in stroy the eruv. Instructions must be Shabbos, the bread must be saved this scenario.21 given that if a kosher eruv is knocked until the last Shabbos or prepared As stated, eruv was established to down on Shabbos, it is permitted for a again before the next Shabbos.) increase peace among us. The non-Jew to rebuild it on Shabbos.19 As When the establishment is owned states that three commandments the mashgiach cannot consult with the by a Jew, the prevailing opinion is have a common denominator – kashrus agency on Shabbos, it is imper- that when a landlord has access to his height.22 The height of a sukkah, eruv ative that he be well versed in these apartments or keeps his belongings in or light of the Chanukah menorah halachos. them (definitely the case in hotels cannot be higher than twenty cubits Many times an eruv is required be- where you are not renting a specific since the eye will not notice them cause the hotel does not have suffi- room and the management can above that height. The connecting cient storage/refrigeration space, and change your room at their discretion) thread between these seemingly un- the caterer must utilize his truck dur- then the loaf is not required.20 It is related mitzvos is that they all indicate ing Shabbos for these purposes. An also assumed that a manager has a a boundary of sorts. An eruv is a prop- eruv of 3-4 posts would allow for this bed somewhere on the premises. Re- erty boundary, the schach of the activity by connecting the truck to the gardless if a mashgiach sets aside bread sukkah marks the boundary of where building. Some caterers supply posts for an eruv, he will not make a brocha one may eat during Sukkos, and the with nails on the tops that are sunk on it. Of course, during Chanukah lights are placed at the into self-standing cement pails which events only matzah would be used. boundary of a room (the doorway or and can quickly be placed in the There are two possible scenarios window). In the merit of respecting proper positions. The posts are con- when caterers serve guests in a hotel these boundaries and as we celebrate nected with fishing line which allows on Shabbos. Either the entire hotel is Chanukah, may we merit to be speed- quick construction. booked (i.e. Passover), or only a cer- ily restored to our rightful boundaries ~ mashgichim set aside the loaves tain number of rooms are books for in Eretz Yisroel and rebuild the Beis of bread for the kosher guests, but it the Jewish guests (i.e. a bar mitzvah). HaMikdash with the coming of is only required for an event going In the former, since all of the guests Moshiach now. ~

1 Gemara Yuma, 28b. 7 Gemara Eruvin, 11b. Chaim 366:3. Chaim 477:4. 2 Talmud Yerushalmi, Eruvin 8 Shulchan Oruch, Orach 13 Mishna Brurah, Orach 18 Shulchan Oruch, Orach 7, Halacha 9. Chaim 362:9. Chaim 366:79. Chaim 527. 3 Gemara Shabbos, 96. 9 Shulchan Oruch HaRav, 14 Kovetz Ohr Yisroel vol. 23- 19 Shulchan Oruch, Orach 4 Shulchan Oruch, Orach Orach Chaim 362:19. 33; Divrei Yatziv 2:173:6. Chaim 364:3; B’or Ha- Chaim 346:1-2. 10 Shulchan Oruch, Orach 15 Shulchan Oruch, Orach lacha. 5 Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim 362:11; Sha’ar Chaim 382:1. 20 Igros Moshe, Orach Chaim 345:7. Tziyon 36. 16 Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim, Aleph 141. 6 Shulchan Oruch, Orach 11 Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim 528:1; Mishna Bru- 21 Bikkurei Halacha al Tosefes Chaim 364:2. Chaim 366. rah 1. Shabbos 2:13-17. 12 Shulchan Oruch, Orach 17 Shulchan Oruch, Orach 22 Gemara Shabbos 22:1.

12 • www.OK.org ~ Chocolate

According to the USDA, dark Cacao contains antibacterial 1 chocolate is one of the most antiox- 4 agents that actually fight tooth idant rich foods available (more than decay. five times the amount in blueberries). Antioxidant-rich diets have been A single bar of dark chocolate con- linked to a lowered risk of heart at- 5 tains more than twice as many an- tacks, stroke, cardiovascular disease, tioxidants as a bar of milk chocolate. cancer, high blood pressure, choles- One ounce of milk chocolate con- terol problems, arthritis, asthma, tains about the same amount of caf- Alzheimer’s and more. 6 feine as one cup of decaffeinated One study has shown that the smell coffee. of chocolate may actually relax you 2 A Harvard University study found by increasing theta waves in the that men who ate chocolate lived brain. 7 one year longer than those who Cocoa butter in chocolate contains didn’t. oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat. 3 Dark chocolate has been proven This is the same type of fat found in in studies to lower blood pressure olive oil that may actually raise good 8 and is considered healthy choco- cholesterol (HDL). late. ~

he largest chocolate bar ever made weighed 9,702 Tpounds and was over 16 feet long. It was 10 inches thick and took 3 days to make. The average American eats 88 pounds of chocolate per year, so it would take 110 years for one person to eat this chocolate bar.

www.OK.org • 13 K~SHER NEWS

room for his Mesiras Nefesh. 162 acre campground in Camp L’man Achai He went on to say, “Surely Andes, NY in the Catskill Avraham Avinu is looking Mountains. The camp can Celebrates Bris down at this bris and smil- accommodate over 250 ing as he welcomes you children and with a beauti- into Bris Avraham.” Alex’s ful lake, sports fields and Of 11 Year-Old counselors joined together recreational facilities. The and bought him an iPod to camp features a renowned Camper celebrate the great simcha. Jewish educational pro- The entire simcha was gram, as well as off-site arranged by Rabbi Yitz- trips and on-site extracur- chok Steinmetz, Director ricular activities. “This ecently, the Camp formed the bris and Rabbi of Camp L’Man Achai. camp is the real deal. It can L’man Achai family Don Yoel Levy, Kashrus Fifteen years ago, Camp and it has changed many R celebrated the bris Administrator of ~ Kosher L’Man Achai was created to kids’ lives and opened them of 11 year-old Alexander Certification and long time fill the void in Jewish sum- up to the beauty of Torah Yakov Dovid (Alex). Five benefactor of Camp L’Man mer camping for boys from and mitzvos,” said Rabbi years ago, Alex and his Achai, served as sandek. non-observant or newly Chaim Fogelman. family came to the U.S. After witnessing Alex’s observant families. The Camp L’man Achai strives from Russia. He attends commitment and dedica- camp caters to 7-16 year- to make the camp experi- Chabad’s Released Time tion firsthand, both his fa- old boys and boasts a hand- ence available to any Jew- program at his public ther and grandfather agreed picked staff of superb ish boy who is interested in school and his counselors to have a bris, as well. Fol- counselors from various attending and provides there suggested that Alex lowing the bris, Alex and yeshivos. Camp L’man Achai large scholarship grants to attend Camp L’man Achai. his father both had a Pidyon alumni have successfully ensure this is possible. At camp, Alex learned to HaBen, as they are both gone on to enroll and suc- read Hebrew, grew in his firstborn boys. The ceed in Jewish Day To contact Camp L’man understanding of Yiddishkeit for the Pidyon HaBen was Schools, Talmud Torah’s and Achai, please call (718) and made many new Camp L’man Achai Execu- yeshivos around the world. 436-8255 x107 or email friends. tive Director Rabbi Ten years ago, Camp L’man [email protected] At the end of camp ban- Shmuel Kleinman. Achai purchased its own quet, Alex spoke about his Rabbi Chaim Fogel- immense growth at camp man, a regular performer at and declared his commit- camp L’man Achai and one ment to continue growing of Alex’s favorite Jewish further in Yiddishkeit. Ten singer, sang his favorite days later, he celebrated his song, “Can You Hear the bris with his family and Footsteps of Moshiach”. camp staff who are now his Rabbi Fogelman said good friends. Rabbi Yis- L’Chaim and told Alex that roel Heller, Camp Rabbi he was so brave and the and expert mohel, per- envy of all the rabbis in the

14 • www.OK.org Chanukah Recipe www.OK.org • 15 www.OK.org Glatt on premises. Kosher Kosher Certification. It is Mashgiach Temidi ~ Combine first nine ingridents in a mixer and blend well for five minutes. Pour mixture into a large bowl and add chicken. Mix well. Cover the bowl and refrigerate. Allow to marinate for at least four hours. Thread chicken onto skewers. Preheat oven or grill to a medium high temperature (200 C/400F). Place the skewers on the grill or oven racks with a tray underneath to catch drippings. Roast until the chicken is browned on all sides and tender. Notes: 1. Will taste best when cooked on a grill with charcoal. 2. Squeeze fresh lemon on the chicken to serve. and has a means bits, pieces, or chunks. Chicken tikka is an easy tikka Chicken or chunks. pieces, means bits, is certified kosher by The word tikka The word in special spices and then is marinated chicken cook dish in which to most popular dishes. This is one of India’s grilled on skewers. Chassidishe , Chassidishe Shechita, Pas Yisroel Nawabi Murg Nawabi Ka Tikka Located at 1154 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10065, (212) York, Located 355-4600. at New 1154 1st Avenue, Kosher, Kosher, DAKSHIN DAKSHIN INDIAN BISTRO ½ cup Sour Cream (non-dairy) ½ cup Cream Cheese (non-dairy) 4 tbsps. Ginger paste 4 tbsps. Garlic paste 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons black pepper (crushed) 2 teaspoons red chili powder (crushed) 2 teaspoons dry coriander powder ½ cup lemon juice 1 chicken (breast or thigh) skinless and cut into 2 inch chunks ¼ cup finely chopped fresh coriander leaves (to garnish) MEET OUR STAFF: BEHINDWHO’S BEHIND~ THE ~

Interview with Dayan Yitzchak Teller Dayan Yitzchak Teller

KS: Where did you grow up? Where did you go They come by barge to be stored in the ports of Rot- to yeshiva? terdam and Antwerp and my job is to monitor kosher RYT: I grew up in B’nei B’rak in Eretz Yisroel and compliance in these areas. attended the Belzer yeshivos throughout my years in KS: What prepared you the most for your school. current position at the ~? KS: What did you do after yeshiva? When did RYT: My 13 years of kollel, where my studies were you get married? concentrated in halacha, as well as the hands-on ex- RYT: After yeshiva, I got married in 1986. My wife is perience of visiting factories with Rabbi Levy pre- from Antwerp, Belgium, so we moved to Antwerp pared me most for my current position. In addition, where I studied halacha in the Belzer kollel for 13 years it’s written in Chovos HaLevavos that one should work and gained practical experience in rabbonus under var- in something close to his heart. I am naturally drawn ious rabbonim, including Rav Tuvia Weiss shlita. I to halacha and kashrus is a field that I feel is close to knew Rabbi Levy for many years and he often stayed my heart. with me when he came to Belgium on business, so I KS: What is the best thing about working at the started to occasionally visit facilities with Rabbi Levy ~? and I saw halacha come alive in practical kashrus. In RYT: The best thing about working in the ~ is that 1994, I started working as a mashgiach for the ~ and the ~ is very organized. I am personally a naturally continued up the ladder to my current position. organized person, so I appreciate the system and pro- KS: What is your current position at the ~? tocol in place to ensure the highest level of kashrus RYT: I am currently an Executive Field Representative supervision. I feel that the ~ has the most superior for ~ Europe. My responsibilities involve monitoring database and sophisticated system of data manage- all of the kosher transport and storage in Europe. ment and mashgiach reports. Many liquids from Asia and all over the world come KS: How would you describe the ~ today? through Europe for transport and storage, including RYT: I would describe the ~ as the leading authority oils, oleochemicals, fatty acids, and fatty alcohols. in kashrus. The experienced rabbis at the ~ are at the

16 • www.OK.org “...one of the foremost experts in the kosher oil industry”

– Rabbi Don Yoel Levy,

Kashrus Administrator, ~ Kosher Certification What Other People Say “ About Dayan Yitzchak Teller

abbi Teller started working for the ~ many years Rago at a complicated oil plant in the Netherlands. His grasp of the facility was superior and led to Rabbi Teller becoming one of the foremost experts in the kosher oil industry. Rabbi Teller’s methodical examination of every detail very carefully makes his forefront of kosher supervision and the reports a pleasure to read. Rabbi Teller’s approach, protocol for supervision and data man- coupled with the fact that he is a prominent talmid agement is the best in the world. chochom and Dayan in the Antwerp Belz community, KS: Is there anything else you makes him the prime candidate to be the expert in would like to share with us? kashrus that he is. These are the attributes we look for in our personnel at the RYT: Many times I come to a factory ~. and the personnel think I can give them Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, a hechsher on the spot, with no inspec- Kashrus Administrator, ~ Kosher Certification tion or changes necessary. Either the factory personnel have no idea about abbi Teller and I have been working together for kashrus, or they were previously certi- Rover 15 years. He is a very kind and pleasant fied by a second-rate agency that gave person and it is a pleasure to work with him. Rabbi a “rubber stamp” certification with lit- Teller is a great scholar with a deep understanding of tle effort needed. I am always shocked halacha. He has the greatest combination of by how little many people know about characteristics that a kashrus agency can ask for, kashrus when it has become so main- which really brings the ~ to a higher level. stream in both the industrial and con- sumer world. A lot of my job revolves Rabbi Shimon Lasker, around teaching the facility personnel Rabbinic Coordinator, ~ Europe about kashrus and helping them have respect for the seriousness and impor- abbi Teller is a great person to work with. He is very kind, thorough and is a tance of abiding by kosher protocol R talmid chacham who is very well versed in and having a high-level kosher certifi- halacha . cation. Rabbi Leizer Teitelbaum, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator, Rabbi Yitzchak Teller is also a Dayan ~ Kosher Certification in the Belzer Kehilla in Antwerp.

www.OK.org • 17 in Action! At the 2010 ~ Mashgichim Conference

Rabbi Chaim Fogelman, Conference Chairman Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, Featured Rabbi – Rabbi Yakov Perlov, Rabbi Ahron Haskel

Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, Kashrus Administrator

Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka, Featured Mashgiach – Rabbi Yosef D. Chanowitz, Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka

Featured Company, Sabra Dipping Co. , Rabbi Mendy Weiss (Mashgiach), Kalman Goodman (Manager) , Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, Meiky Tollman(Exec. VP) Photos by Chaim Perl Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka www.chaimperl.com 18 • www.OK.org Featured Mashgiach Featured Mashgiach – Rabbi Shmuel Goldstein Rabbi Yosef D. Chanowitz

Rabbi Zushe Blech, Guest Speaker

Rabbi Yitzchak Gornish Rabbinic Coordinator

Featured Rabbi Rabbi Yakov Perlov, Israel Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, Featured Mashgiach – Rabbi Shmuel Goldstein, Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka

Rabbi Ahron Haskel, Director, ~ Israel

Rabbi Eli Lando – Chief Customer Relations Officer Mr. Meiky Tollman(Exec. VP of Sabra Dipping Co.) reading a copy of Kosher Spirit www.OK.org • 19 new companies 134 WAYS ~ Koshered your world in 2010!

A KNEADED TWIST BARON INTERNATIONAL CIXI DAFENG VEGETABLES FOOD BASKET CO. BROOKLYN, NY USA TRADING LTD CO., LTD. GIZA, GREATER CAIRO, EGYPT Challah OR YEHUDA, ISRAEL (CIXI) NINGBO, ZHEJIANG Fruit (frozen) Frozen foods, potato products CHINA A.R. SPA FOOD RETAIL AND Vegetables (frozen) ANGRI SALERNO, ITALY BASIL NY PRODUCTION CS GMBH Tomato products BROOKLYN, NY USA COLONIAL COOKIES ELSTERAUE OT ALTTROGLITZ, Restaurant GERMANY A.Y.M. OFFICE SERVICE KITCHENER, ON CANADA Starches AGENCIES LTD. BESTMALZ AG Baked goods RISHON LEZION, ISRAEL HEIDELBERG, GERMANY CONSERVERA PENTZKE S.A. FOSHAN CITY NANHAI Cereals Malt SANTIAGO, CHILE DISTRICT QIRUN FOOD CO., LTD ACCUTECH FILMS, INC. BIOCAPS ENTERPRISE, INC Fruit concentrates FOSHAN, GUANGDONG, CHINA COLDWATER, OH USA EL MONTE, CA USA CROWN FOOD DISTRIBUTORS Sugars Packaging Capsules NORTH BERGEN, NJ USA FROZEN PULPS DE MEXICO, ACTION NUTRITION BISSALEH Nuts & seeds S.A. DE C.V. LOS ANGELES, CA USA SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA DAKSHIN KOSHER IRAPUATO, GUANAJUATO, Dietary supplements Restaurant NEW YORK, NY USA MEXICO ACTION NUTRITION BRAD’S ORGANIC Restaurant Juice & juice concentrates HAVERSTRAW, NY USA LOS ANGELES, CA USA DELICE CO., LTD. FUJIAN FULONG FROZEN Soup & soup mixes Vitamins, supplements & SEONGNAM-CITY, KYUNGGI-DO FOODS CO., LTD nutritionals BUBBE HINDA’S BREADS KOREA LONGHAI, FUJIAN, CHINA AL RITE FRUIT & SYRUPS BROOKLYN, NY USA Snack foods Vegetables (frozen) INC. Baked goods, breads, & DUCON LIMITED FUTURE PRELUDE SDN BHD MIAMI, FL USA rolls, candy & chocolates DUBAI, UAE PELABUHAN KLANG, SELANGOR Bases & syrups, cocktail mixes, CAP AGROPECUÁRIA E Aluminum foil MALAYSIA juice & juice concentrates INDUSTRIAL LTDA EIGHTEEN RESTAURANT Glycerine, oil & shortenings ANGEL CAMACHO SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL NEW YORK, NY USA GEL’PAM ARGENTINA S.A. Nuts & seeds Restaurant FRANCE SAN MARTIN, MENDOZA CAPRICORN SEAFOOD Herbs ARGENTINA ELK RIDGE ALMONDS, INC. BROOKLYN, NY USA Pickled products & olives MADERA, CA USA GHANA NUTS LIMITED Fresh fish Snack foods TECHIMAN, BRONG AHAFO ANHUI DANGSHAN TONGTAI CARAGUM INTERNATIONAL REGION, GHANA FOODS CO., LTD EUROPA RESTAURANT & MARSEILLE, FRANCE Nut butters, oil & shortenings SUZHOU, ANHUI PROVINCE GRILL Caragum CHINA MIAMI, FL USA GLOBAL GOODS Fruit (canned), vegetables CASCADE CHEESE CO Restaurant HIGHLAND, UT USA (canned) CASCADE, WI USA FEICHENG TIANHE Agave Dairy products ANMAR INTERNATIONAL FOODSTUFF CO., LTD GOURMET NUT LTD CHEMSYNERGY FIECHENG, SHANDONG BROOKLYN, NY USA BRIDGEPORT, CT USA MEERBUSCH, GERMANY CHINA Candy & chocolates, nuts & Vitamins, supplements & Chemicals Vegetables (frozen) seeds nutritionals CIBO VITA, INC FLAVRZ BEVERAGE HADAROM FOOD ATLANTIS LTD. SADDLE BROOK, NJ USA CORPORATION INDUSTRIES DNEPROPETROVSK, UKRAINE Candy & chocolates, GLOUCESTER, MA USA RISHON LEZION, ISRAEL Wine nuts & seeds Beverages Fruit (fresh packaged)

20 • www.OK.org HAINAN ALLIED PACIFIC MEDITERRANEA SIMPLY FRESH WINE’S SECRET BIOTECH CO., LTD BIOTECNOLOGIE SRL BROOKLYN, NY USA TIRAT YEHUDA 110, ISRAEL CHENGMAI COUNTY, HAINAN TERMOLI (CB), ITALY Fish products Wine CHINA Acids & acidulants, cultures & SONS OF BAHEEG KAWAR WINONA FOODS, INC. Fish products rennets INDUSTRIAL LTD GREEN BAY, WI USA HARBOES BRYGGERI A/S MEITAV KOSHER FOOD LTD. NAZARETZ ILLIT, ISRAEL Oil & shortenings SKAELSKOER, DENMARK SZEGED, HUNGARY Alcoholic beverages Malt extract Dairy products WORLD PAC INTERNATIONAL SOTECH, INC. AG/ SPMMAG I.M. DANDAR S.R.L. MICHAEL LERER TUSCALOOSA, AL USA SCHAANWALD, LIECHTENSTEIN CHISINAU, MOLDOVA NESS -ZIONA, ISRAEL Chemicals Plastic products Snack foods Wine barrels STEINER CHEESE YC FOOD DISTRIBUTION LLC INNOVATIVE FLEXPAK MIDLAND FARMS INC. #36- BALTIC, OH USA NANUET, NY USA SPRINGVILLE, UT USA 1661 Cheese Nori MENANDS, NY USA Dietary supplements SUNSHINE’S PRIDE DAIRY Cheese BINZHOU ANDRE JUICE COL INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC WINCHESTER, VA USA LTD. CO. LTD. MORAD WINES LTD Whey CHINA YOKNEAM, ISRAEL HAIMEN, JIANGSU, CHINA SWISS HERITAGE CHEESE Juice & juice concentrates Plastic products Wine (PLANT #55-215) COMEMP - COMPANHI A DOS MOUNTAIN BREAD, MONTICELLO, WI USA CHEESE INC. TEMPEROS, LDA AUSTRALIA Dairy products BROOKLYN, NY USA PORTUGAL RESERVOIR, VIC. AUSTRALIA Cheese TA’AMAN FOOD MARKETING Vinegar Bread LTD JIUJIANG HOLLY FOODS CO., DESLY INTERNATIONAL CO. 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Visit www.ok.org for a complete list of certified companies and their products. www.OK.org • 21 CHASSIDIC INSIGHTS LOOKING Above Nature Compiled by Dina Fraenkel

Chanukah miracle. Hashem made this miracle occur completely outside the bounds of nature. The Jewish people overcame incredible odds, as it says tion of the future tragic experiences of in V’Al HaNissim: “…the mighty into the Jewish people in Mitzrayim.3 the hands of the weak, many into the Why did Yaakov and his sons have hands of the few.” such different views about the scope Yaakov Avinu’s far-reaching view of the event of returning to Mitzrayim of events teaches us that anything a with Binyamin? There is a basic dif- Jew is involved in, no matter how ference between Yaakov and his sons. small it seems, no matter how mun- n Parshas Mikeitz, which is read Yaakov was one of the three Avos, a dane, one should not think of the act on Chanukah, we read the story founder of B’nei Yisroel. He was on as a purely natural act. It should al- Iof Yaakov’s sons’ journey to such a high spiritual level that he saw ways involve a strong knowledge that Mitzrayim with their youngest brother every event in his life as a sign and one’s actions have a lasting physical Binyamin. There is a famine in the precursor to events that would befall and spiritual impact on the world and land of Goshen and Yaakov’s sons go the Jewish people at a later time. His a prayer that one’s action should con- to beseech their brother Yosef — sons, the founders of the 12 Shvatim, tribute to the greater good. whom they previously sold into were not on the same spiritual level We know that we must live our Egyptian bondage and has now risen as their father and, therefore, were lives within the laws of nature, as the to power – for food. When the broth- only able to see the events as they re- Torah teaches, “G-d your Lord will ers requested their father’s permission lated to themselves. Yaakov’s sons bless you in all you do.”4 But we must to return to Mitzrayim with Binyamin, saw the events as part of the course also remember that our connection to he reluctantly responded: “May G-d of nature, as a natural consequence to nature is merely external, because we Almighty grant that the man have their actions regarding their brother are truly bound to Hashem, who is far pity on you and release your other Yosef, while Yaakov Avinu, with his above nature. brother and Binyamin.”1 heightened level of spirituality, saw May the knowledge of the everlast- Yaakov had a much higher level of the event as it transcended nature and ing effects, both physical and spiri- fear than his sons about his children’s took on supernatural significance. tual, of our actions compel to fill our return to Mitzrayim. While they knew The view of Yaakov Avinu relates to lives with Torah and mitzvos and has- that they deserved punishment for the miracles of Chanukah as well. ten the imminent coming of the com- their previous actions and had a neg- Even though the events of Chanukah plete and final redemption with ative feeling about the upcoming were miraculous, one could view Moshaich now. events, the sons viewed the situation them as occurring within the scope of as a personal tribulation.2 On the nature, since the victory of the Jewish 1. Bereishis 43:14. other hand, their father Yaakov people over the Syrian-Greeks in- 2. Bereishis 42:21. viewed the situation as a continuation volved an actual physical war. This 3. Rashi’s Commentary on Bereishis 42:2. of his own tribulations and an indica- view misses the real truth of the 4. Devarim 15:18.

22 • www.OK.org SOUL NUTRITION

KOSHER BY THE NUMBERS 11.2 million Americans regularly buy kosher food.

Chanukah Sparks • There are two ways that the bracha is recited while light- 60% ing the Chanukah menorah: “L’hadlik ner shel Chanukah” the amount that the traditional and “L’hadlik ner Chanukah.” When we say “L’hadlik ner kosher food market has increased Chanukah” the Roshei Teivos are Lamed-Nun-Chof which are in the past 5 years. also the Roshei Teivos for “Notzer Chesed L‘alofim” – “G-d preserves kindness for thousands of generations. Lamed- Nun-Chof are also the Roshei Teivos for “Nafshanu Chiksah L’Hashem” – “Our souls yearn for G-d.” These phrases are $200 the essence of the message of Chanukah. the amount some high end – From the Ben Ish Chai kosher wines sell for today. !משיח נאו has the same letters as חשמונאי • $ Kosher food shoppers spend an average of $1000 more every year • “Maccabee” means “strong” in Greek and is an acronym $$ than ordinary consumers. for “Mi Chamocha Ba’eilim Hashem.” $

World’s Largest In 5765, a fourth grade yeshiva class in Kosher Menorah: Chicago built a menorah from 10,770 Popsicle sticks. It was approximately 7 The largest kosher menorah is feet tall! The following year, the same erected each year in New York City. It teacher had his class build a dreidel from is 32-feet high and weighs 4,000 14,000 Popsicle sticks. It was pounds. It was specially designed by approximately 5 feet tall. Last year, the class world renowned artist Yaakov Agam and in- built a menorah made entirely of donated toys. spired by the RaMBaM’s illustration of the meno- There were 3,770 toys and all were given to children rah in the Beis Hamikdash. in need.

Walking on Coals: Members of the US “Fire Walkers” walk on live coals with a temperature of 1,493 degrees F.

Biggest Doughnut: In 2003, Angel Bakery prepared the biggest in the world. It was 5 feet across and weighed 331 pounds. The doughnut was fried in a pot containing 87 gallons of oil and contained 437,000 calories!

Source: Sefer HaSe’em v’HaNifla’ot, Feldheim Publishing Co. www.OK.org • 23 The most powerful tool in the kitchen... now in the palm of your hand.

“I eat BUGFREE thanks to my iPhone.”

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KOSHER ~ CERTIFICATION Kosher Spirit, 391 Troy Avenue • Brooklyn, NY 11213 • 718-756-7500 • [email protected] • www.ok.org 24 • www.OK.org