ww ww VOLUME z y / NO. 6 ADAR SHENI 5768 / MARCH 2008 SPECIAL PRE-PESACH ISSUE s xc THEDaf HaKashrus A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE OU RABBINIC FIELD REPRESENTATIVE DAF NOTES: The publication of the article entitled “A Master List Kedem continues to bottle of Temperatures” in the last issue of The Daf HaKashrus produced a record WHAT’S grape juice under its own response from RFR’s around the globe. There were many requests for further NEW FOR ’08? name as well as under the clarification of a number of the topics that it discussed. We publish below excerpts Savion, Gefen and Lip- or a synopsis from some of the communications The Daf received along with Rabbi BY RABBI SHMUEL SINGER schutz labels. All these Gersten’s response to each issue. We encourage future queries and clarifications items have always been of this nature. This is one of the primary purposes for which The Daf HaKashrus and will continue to be Mevushal. Kedem has one not Mevushal was created. grape juice. This is bottled in 1.5 liter glass bottles and clearly labeled Non-Mevushal. In addition, Rokeach will have its own UPgrape juice. This will appear under the Rokeach label, as well MASTER LIST OF TEMPERATURES as the Mishpacha labels. Manischewitz will once again have an Issues and Responses U P grape juice under its own label. This grape juice is made from concentrate. Kedem will offer a variety of UP Sparkling BY RABBI ELI GERSTEN 120 ˚ F = 48.8˚ C Grape Juices. Manischewitz has also introduced Sparkling RC Recorder of OU Psak and Policy Concord and Niagara grape juice. All these grape juices are Mevushal. In addition, Rokeach will again produce a variety of ISSUE U P cooking wines. Kedem and Rokeach will also produce a vari- May I suggest that in the future when discussing temperatures ety of UP cooking wines. Kedem has introduced Pomegranate etc. in kosher protocols or The Daf Hakashrus there is mention and Sparkling Pomogrape Juices with the UP certification as new as well of the celsius which is the temperature used here in items this year. Europe and not only farenheit. The OU has certified the Manischewitz matzah bakery in the United States for the past years. For a long time this was the only Rabbi Gersten Responds OU matzah bakery in the world. It continues to be the only one I would like to restate the temperatures in both Farenheit and in the United States. Other UP brands such as Horowitz Celcius. The conversion formula from Farenheit to Celcius is Margareten and Goodman’s are all baked at Manischewitz. The (Farenheit - 32º) divided by 1.8 = Celcius. For example 120º F - bakery has relocated and is fully functioning after a slow start. All 32º = 88 divided by 1.8 = 48.8º C. continued on next page continued on next page HUGE LAKEWOOD GATHERING Crown of New OU Kashruth Initiative With the ever-growing focus on kosher food and the intricacies of kashrut, the Orthodox Union, recently established the Harry H. Beren ASK OUTREACH Initiative to provide kosher educa- tion to yeshiva students in the convenience of their yeshivot, kol- lelim and semicha programs. Its latest crown in a series of pre- sentations, which also included Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim, and Mesivtah Tiferes Yerusholayim, drew close to 1,000 fascinated members of the Lakewood, NJ community, making it a standing-room only event. It was held in Khal Zichron Yaakov synagogue, with the haskomoh of the Beth Medrash Govoha Roshei HaYeshiva and the endorsement of the KCL—Vaad HaKashrut of Lakewood. ASK OUTREACH and many other ASK OU programs are spon- sored by the Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood, which has just renewed its grant to the OU for another year. “The Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood has been (L-R) Rabbi Shimon Mendlowitz, Rabbi Yosef Grossman and Rav Yisroel Belsky inspect the rib section. continued on page 28 THE DAF HAKASHRUS is a publication of the UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF AMERICA, Eleven Broadway, New York, NY 10004 25 LIST Yad Soledes Bo - Minimum: 120º F = 48.8º C WHAT’S NEW regular Manischewitz items will again be available. The OU has also agreed continued from previous page Libun kal backside of equipment: 160º F = 71.1º C continued from previous page to place the UP on Aviv, Osem, For wine or grape juice to be considered mevushal: Yehuda and Rishon matzah products coming from Israel. The 175º F = 79.4º C items are supervised by local Rabbanim and are satisfactorily made The minimum required to maintain Bishul or Pas Yisrael: with OU Pesach guidelines. They are certified by the OU when 176º F = 80º C the UP appears on them. In addition, we have this year certified Yanovsky matzah baked in Argentina. This matzah is widely dis- Minimum baking temperature which demands libun gamur: tributed in Latin America. This company manufactures various 200º F = 93.3º C types of matzah. All matzah is always an eighteen minute product. Hagalah and pegimah: 212º F = 100º C Rabbi Feigelstock of Buenos Aires serves as the OU rav Libun kal performed without a direct flame: hamachshir at this factory. 2 hours at 375º F = 190.5º C Manischewitz has whole wheat matzah meal and whole wheat 1.5 hours at 450º F = 232.2º C matzah farfel. These items are made from Manischewitz UP 1 hour at 550º F = 287.7º C whole wheat matzah. Manischewitz will again have a type of Libun gamur for a thin item matzah ashirah known as grape matzah, in addition to traditional or if applied for extended amount of time: 900º F = 482.2º C egg matzah. The grape matzah is made from flour and grape juice and may only be used when egg matzah is permitted, i.e. for One writer points out that “an easy converter for Farenheit Sefardim or those Ashkenazim who cannot eat regular matzah. It to Celcius and vice versa can be found on is so marked on the box. Manischewitz will continue to sell UP www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm.” machine shmurah matzah under both the Manischewitz and Goodman’s labels. In addition, U P hand shmurah matzah will be ISSUE available from Gefen and Tiferes. Kedem will be selling Savion What does beshas hadchak mean? Does it mean that there is not machine shmurah matzah. In addition they will be selling, as they enough steam power in the plant – does it mean the plant is did last year, Savion matzah sticks. This is matzah baked in stick afraid to make it any higher etc. etc? form under the Savion label. Manischewitz makes a product Rabbi Gersten Responds known as matzah crackers. Both of these are ordinary matzah prod- There was much confusion generated by the section which stat- ucts and not matzah ashirah. The various Israeli OU matzah com- ed that equipment must be kashered at 212º F (100º C). This is panies will all be selling machine shmurah matzah as well. based on a psak from Rav Moshe Feinstein Zt”l (Igeros Moshe Coca Cola will again be available with an UP for Pesach. Aside Y.D. 2:31). Many mashgichim are familiar with situations in from the New York metropolitan area, Coke will be available in which it is impossible to satisfy this requirement. Bishas hadchak, Boston, Baltimore-Washington, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, the OU permits near boiling temperatures. Rabbi Belsky has Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. This year, in New York, Coca written up directives for which circumstances are to be consid- Cola items will be made with an UP in 2 liter bottles and in cans. ered shas hadchak and warrant the use of these below boiling Other locations will have more limited Coke items made in dif- temperatures. This has been reprinted below. ferent sizes. All these items, of course, require the UP symbol. Most of the bottling plants servicing these markets will designate the Passover Coke items with a distinctive yellow cap in addition to the UP symbol on the cap or shoulder of the bottle. This year the UP will appear on various Cholov Yisroel dairy products. These include milk from Ahava with the Best Moo label as well as a full line of Ahava dairy products. Dairy Delight will be selling Cholov Yisroel sour cream and yogurt under the Norman’s label. In addition, Norman’s will also sell Cholov Yisroel ready to eat puddings with the UP label. Norman’s has developed a new UP line of Cholov Yisroel low carb yogurt and yogurt drinks. Cholov Yisroel UP hard cheese will appear this year under both the Norman’s label and the Kirkeby label. The Kirkeby cheeses are imported from Europe and also carry the London Beth Din hechsher. Cabot Creamery will be introducing UP cheddar cheese. This item is not Cholov Yisroel. Mishpacha will also have a new Passover non-dairy UP topping. There will be two UP brands of packaged cakes available this year. These will be Reisman and Lily’s Bakeshop. Both are baked in a special Passover bakery and do not contain matzah meal. In addition the Willmark line of industrial bakery products has been purchased by VIP and many of these items are appearing with the UP label this year. Manischewitz has kept the Season name on UP fish items which include tuna, sardines, salmon and anchovies. Season has intro- continued on next page continued on next page 26 Please direct your comments regarding THE DAF HAKASHRUS to RABBI YOSEF GROSSMAN, editor at 212-613-8212, fax: 212-613-0621, or e-mail: [email protected] LIST off any issur that remains in the tiny cracks and crevices.