Star-K Kosher Certification

Introducing the STAR-K Rabbinic Administrators

Rabbi Moshe Heinemann		Rabbi Heinemann was uprooted from his birthplace in Germany after Kristallnacht, and emigrated first to England and then to the United States. Upon settling in New York City with his family in 1949, he enrolled in Torah Vodaath where he became a student of HaRav HaGaon R' Avrohom Pam zt"l. In 1954 Rabbi Heinemann was one of 58 students learning in the Lakewood Yeshiva. He had a close relationship with his mentor HaRav HaGaon R' Aaron Kotler, zt"l. When Rav Aaron passed away in 1962, Rabbi Heinemann studied with his son HaRav HaGaon R' Shneur Kotler, zt"l. Rabbi Heinemann received his s'micha (Rabbinic ordination) in 1964 from HaRav HaGaon R' Moshe Feinstein zt"l. An invitation to join the Rabbinic staff at Yeshiva Ner Israel brought Rabbi Heinemann to Baltimore in 1967. During his tenure at Ner Israel, he also received s'micha from HaRav HaGaon R' Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman, zt"l. Several years later, Rabbi Heinemann began giving a popular class in Jewish law which continues to this day. Given the breadth and depth of material covered by the Rav, members of the Baltimore community came to recognize and appreciate the greatness in their midst. Rabbi Heinemann's encyclopedic knowledge of the practical application of Jewish law to contemporary issues such as kashrus, medical ethics, and business law, earned him the reputation as a posek (decisor of Jewish Law) throughout the entire country and abroad. Furthermore, Rabbi Heinemann's mastery of both the complex world of modern technology and the intricacies of Jewish law made him an ideal candidate to serve as Rabbinic Administrator of the newly revitalized STAR-K. In 1971, Rabbi Heinemann assumed that position. When Agudath Israel in Baltimore established its own synagogue in 1981, Rabbi Heinemann was chosen to serve the congregation.
Avrom Pollak		Dr. Avrom Pollak, President of the STAR-K, received his Rabbinical ordination from the Mesivta Torah Vodaath in New York, and a PhD. in cell biology from the City University of New York. Approximately 25 years ago he came to Baltimore as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute. He was then appointed Director of the Electron Microscope Laboratory at the University of Maryland Cancer Center. After serving on the STAR-K’s Board of Directors for several years, Dr. Pollak was elected President in 1981. Several years later, after the STAR-K had become one of the major national certification agencies, Dr. Pollak left the Cancer Center to assume full time administrative responsibilities for the STAR-K. Dr. Pollak and his wife have seven children and eleven grandchildren.
Baruch Beyer		Rabbi Baruch Beyer began his Rabbinic education in Jerusalem and then returned to the U.S. to receive his Rabbinical ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD. Rabbi Beyer also holds a Masters in Education degree from the Johns Hopkins University. Before joining the STAR-K, Rabbi Beyer taught High School for five years in suburban Washington, D.C. Rabbi Beyer is particularly knowledgeable about Kashrus on the Web, Industrial Kashrus, and other Kashrus-related topics. Both Rabbi Beyer and his wife are community minded people. Rabbi Beyer helped found a new synagogue in Baltimore and served as its President for two years. Mrs. Beyer was instrumental in establishing a new program to assist new mothers. An admitted news junkie and history buff, Rabbi Beyer’s eclectic interests run the gamut from old homes to Orioles baseball.
Zvi Goldberg		Rabbi Zvi Goldberg received his Rabbinic ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore. In 1992 Rabbi Goldberg also received a Masters in Computer Science from the Applied Physics Lab of the Johns Hopkins University. For several years, Rabbi Goldberg served as a pulpit rabbi in San Jose, California. He founded the Orthodox Rabbinical Board and was a board member of the Vaad HaKashrus of Northern California. In addition to devoting much of his time to his congregation and kashrus activities, Rabbi Goldberg was very involved in Jewish outreach. Rabbi Goldberg returned to Baltimore in September 2001 with his wife and children to join the Star-K. As Kashrus Administrator, Rabbi Goldberg acts as liaison with Star-K field representatives regarding the most current data on kosher productions, supervises kosher production of vegetable oil, and responds to halachic inquiries on the Star-K hotline. Rabbi Goldberg has lectured and written articles on a wide range of topics. His lectures have addressed issues such as Cloning and Jewish Law, Spiritual Sanctity of the Kosher Diet, and The Complete Guide to the Kosher Kitchen. Furthermore, he has lectured to Rabbis on the kashrus challenges of outlying communities. In articles for various halachic journals, Jewish newspapers and his congregation's weekly bulletin, Rabbi Goldberg has written about halachic concerns, the Jewish outlook on world events, and the weekly Torah portion.
Shmuel Aron Heinemann		Rabbi Shmuel Aron Heinemann received his Rabbinical ordination from Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey. In 1982 Rabbi Heinemann joined the STAR-K; he supervised the Shechita and meat establishments in the New York/New Jersey area. When the STAR-K opened it’s Lakewood, New Jersey office in 1991, Rabbi Heinemann became the Kashrus Administrator for the greater New York/ New Jersey area. His responsibilities include supervision of dairy and meat productions, bakeries, catering establishments, wine making, and industrial kashrus. Rabbis and kashrus personnel in the greater metropolitan New York area regularly consult Rabbi Heinemann about Kashrus matters.
Dovid Heber		A native of St. Louis, MO., Rabbi Dovid Heber attended High School in Chicago and then Baltimore's Ner Israel Rabbinical College, where he received his Rabbinical ordination. Rabbi Heber also holds a Masters degree in Computer Science from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. In addition to his responsibilities as Kashrus Administrator, Rabbi Heber serves as Director of the Computer department and as the STAR-K Consultant on medical issues. For four years, Rabbi Heber lived in San Diego, where he continued his post-graduate Rabbinical studies and community outreach. He then joined the OU to become the director of their flavors and ingredients department. Rabbi Heber has lectured and written articles on topics including Kashrus for Pesach, The Kashrus of Medications, Nutraceuticals and the Pharmaceutical Industry, and Halachic Considerations with Respect to the International Dateline. Rabbi Heber has been an educator in woman's seminaries, schools and colleges for the past ten years. He has also given classes on one of his favorite subjects, astronomy.
Mayer Kurcfeld		For the past seventeen years, Rabbi Mayer Kurcfeld has been affiliated with the STAR-K, as a Kashrus Administrator. His responsibilities include supervising local establishments including restaurants, caterers, bakeries, butchers, hospitals, and nursing homes. His special interests include Integrating the Nuts and Bolts of Kashrus with Today's Technology, Behind the Scenes in Kashrus, and other selected topics. Rabbi Kurcfeld enjoys having the opportunity to make a contribution to the Baltimore Jewish community. He sees his work as a partnership between the STAR-K and the entrepreneurs he serves. His goal is to help their establishments succeed. As a certified shochet and menakker (an individual trained in the proper removal of prohibited fats and veins during the kashering process), Rabbi Kurcfeld assists Rabbi Moshe Heinemann in the oversight and review of shechita and meat kashering facilities. He is a popular lecturer on kashrus for schools and organizations. In addition, he gives a weekly Yiddish class filled with songs of yesteryear, touching stories and lots of kibbitzing. Known as ‘Mr. Fix-It,” Rabbi Kurcfeld can repair everything from automobiles to household plumbing. Not only does he have excellent mechanical abilities, he is also very gifted musically. Rabbi Kurcfeld’s compositions have filled his household of five girls with beautiful music, especially on the Sabbath and Holidays. Some of these compositions have been recorded on Jewish labels.
Levi Solomon Jacob		Rabbi Levi Solomon Jacob heads the STAR-K's office in India. In addition to holding a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, he studied in yeshivos in Yerusalayim. There he developed strong ties with Rabbonim fromboth Israel and Europe who provided training in kashrus supervision. Though Rabbi Jacob's tireless efforts, Mumbai presently has a shechita, a mikva, and Torah study programs.
Avrohom D. Mushell		Rabbi Avrohom D. Mushell came to Baltimore and the STAR-K from Melbourne, Australia where he lived with his wife and nine children for twelve years. While in Melbourne, Rabbi Mushell learned in a post-graduate setting and served as editor and author of a weekly Jewish publication. Prior to receiving his Rabbinical ordination from the Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland, OH., Rabbi Mushell attended school in Chicago, IL. Following his ordination, he continued his post Rabbinical studies in Chicago and Denver, CO. Rabbi Mushell has devoted much time to studying the halachic issues of Kashrus. Given his knowledge in this area, Rabbi Mushell is consulted regularly. One of Rabbi Mushell’s favorite pasttimes is gardening. While living in Australia, he was successful in growing three essrog trees, a pomegranate tree and a peach tree. An essrog, in the citron family, is used in the celebration for the fall harvest festival of Sukkoth. Essrog trees are considered especially difficult to grow. In addition to tending a large vegetable garden, he cared for his grape vines and passion fruits. Since moving to Baltimore, he has turned his attention to remodeling his family’s new home.
Tzvi Rosen		Rabbi Tzvi Rosen has been affiliated with the STAR-K for nine years and serves as Editor of Kashrus Kurrents, STAR-K’s quarterly journal. Rabbi Rosen has become knowledgeable about subjects such as Industrial Kashruth, including the Dairy, Cheese, and Canning Industries. Supervising the kosher production of products from the Mediterranean Region such as olive oils and dried fruits is one of Rabbi Rosen’s major responsibilities In addition, Rabbi Rosen has conducted in-service training seminars for Rabbis of small and mid-sized communities. Prior to joining the STAR-K, Rabbi Rosen served as the Executive Director of the Vaad Hoeir, the kashruth organization of the United Orthodox Jewish Community of St. Louis, MO. While in St. Louis, he also led a local congregation. Rabbi Rosen received his Rabbinical ordination from the Rabbinical Seminary of America in New York, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Queens College, New York. In New Orleans, LA. he continued his Rabbinic studies and then became a congregational Rabbi in Birmingham, AL. for seven years. Rabbi Rosen and his wife, Director of the Judaic Studies Department in the largest local day school for girls, have six children. They are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren.
Eliyahu Shuman		For twenty-five years Rabbi Eliyahu Shuman has served the STAR-K as Director of Supervision. As its veteran Kashrus Administrator, inspecting factories around the globe, he has had hands-on involvement with the evolution of the world of kosher. Today, Rabbi Shuman supervises STAR-K’s countless flavor companies, whose numbers have grown from a handful of flavors to thousands. Furthermore, he oversees the kosher production of fish, and canned fruits. Throughout his career, Rabbi Shuman has created strong connections throughout the kosher world. His integrity, ability to ensure trust, as well as his knowledge of kashrus, have contributed to the ongoing expansion of the STAR-K. Not only does he have a close working relationship with STAR-K companies, Rabbi Shuman networks with kashrus organizations throughout the world. These organizations recognize Rabbi Shuman’s vast kashrus expertise and appreciate the rapport he establishes easily with all who meet him. Rabbi Shuman received his Rabbinical ordination from the Rabbi Elchonon Theological Seminary and a Masters in Education degree from Yeshiva University in New York. In 1972 he and his wife settled in Baltimore where they raised their five daughters. They are the proud grandparents of 16 grandchildren.
David Stein		Rabbi David Stein is American born and moved to Israel in the late 1970�s. Trained in mathematics and extensive post-graduate Judaic studies, he is well qualified as the Kashrus Coordinator of our Israel office. His longstanding involvement in community matters, including his leadership roles as a pulpit rabbi and a chief rabbi for the Rabanut Rechovot, testifies to Rabbi Stein�s dedication and personable demeanor.