Welcome to The Kosher Conversation, a podcast with in-depth conversations about all things kashrus-related, and featuring interviews with kashrus professionals discussing their successes, challenges, and what you need to know to be an educated kosher consumer. Send your questions and comments to [email protected].
Fall 2024
In medieval folklore, alchemists were supposedly able to transform lead into gold. Their craft was the stuff of fantasy. But in contemporary life, through the wonders of kosher food science, we are witness to a veritable world of transformation. An impressive example of chemical transformation that would make an alchemist envious is the production of silica gel.
The Chemical Transformation of Sand
Silica gel is a desiccant. It is a highly versatile industrial product, used to absorb moisture in toothpaste, paint and telephone wires, among a myriad of other uses. Granules of silica gel fill the little white packets marked “do not swallow” in your shoe boxes. Kosher food applications include silica gel in spices as an anti-caking agent or as an absorbent in an oil refinery.
Chemically, the basic raw material for silica gel is sodium silicate. More simply, we know it as sand. When sodium silicate is mixed with sulfuric […]
Fall 2024
True to Hashem’s promise, the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov are today scattered in countries across the globe, upholding the teachings of the Avot and perpetuating our beautiful mesorah, each according to his own traditions.
A Brief History
Until the 1970s, American Jewry – then comprised mainly of Ashkenazim – was largely unfamiliar with the minhagim of Sephardi Jews[1] and the Bnei Edot Hamizrach.[2] That changed after 1976, when Rabbi Herman Neuberger zt”l embarked on a daring mission to travel to Iran and bring a small group of young Iranian bochurim to Baltimore to learn at Ner Israel. Iranian Jewry in those days had few opportunities to study Torah. This took place during the reign of the westernized, secular leader Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Rabbi Neuberger’s plan was that once they earned semicha, the newly ordained rabbis would return to Iran to teach.
Hashem had other plans. […]
The STAR-K site offers helpful information related to the halachos of schach mats, certified schach manufacturers and local establishments that have a sukkah on their premises. Links to these are articles, podcasts and webinars are provided below for your convenience.
Local Establishments
The following are STAR-K certified restaurants and facilities in the Baltimore area that have sukkahs available for their customers:
Accents Grill
Caramels Pizza
Cocoacinos/Pie 18 Cafe
Croustille Cafe
David Chu China Bistro
Goldbergs Bagels
King David Nursing Home
Mama Leah’s Pizza
Mangal Food Truck
Serengeti Steakhouse
Taam Thai Asian Fusion
The Club Grill
Tudor Heights Assisted Living
Yesh Hummus Grill Yossi’s Falafel
Schach-Related Articles, Podcasts and Webinars
Kosher Certified Schach Manufacturers
Guide to STAR-K Certified Schach – HaRav Moshe Heinemann shlit”a (August 2013)
Undercover: The Halachos of Schach – HaRav Moshe Heinemann shlit”a (Fall 2009)
Podcast: Arba Minim with HaRav Mordechai Frankel
Audio Recording of Shiur on Schach Mats by Rabbi Zvi Goldberg
Webinar: Halachos of Sukkah Mats
Webinar: Sukkahs-To-Go and Schach Mats – with Rabbi Zvi […]
The Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 603:1) states that during the Aseres Yimei Teshuva, even those who are generally not stringent about only eating Pas Yisroel should do so, and avoid eating bread items baked by an aino Yehudi, known as pas palter.
Bread (or pas) is defined as baked goods that are made from the five primary grains: wheat, barley, oats, rye and spelt. All other grains are not considered pas. Cooked or fried items are also NOT considered “bread” items[1] for Pas Yisroel purposes.
It is important to note that if a Yehudi is involved in any part of the baking process (e.g., he only turned on the fire or oven or placed the food into the oven), that is enough to render any items subsequently baked to be considered Pas Yisroel. Just preparing the dough is not enough. Additionally, if an item is par-baked and needs further baking to […]
Updated March 2024
GENERAL GUIDELINES
The utensil to be immersed must be completely clean – i.e., free of dirt, dust, rust, stickers, labels or glue. (Practical Tip: WD-40 is very effective in removing adhesive.) One should wet their hands in the mikvah water, hold the vessel in the wet hand and say, “Baruch…asher kid’shanu b’mitzvosav v’tzivanu al tevilas keili” – keilim for multiple utensils – and immerse the vessel(s).
If one forgot to make the bracha, the immersion is valid.
The water of the mikvah must touch the entire vessel, inside and out.
The entire vessel must be under water at one time, but does not have to be submerged for any prolonged period of time.
A vessel’s lid or cover can be immersed separately if it is removable.
If a basket or net is used to hold small utensils, the basket should be immersed in the water, the utensils placed in the basket, and […]
A fascinating compendium of shailos and teshuvos (questions and answers) addressed by Harav Mordechai Frankel shlit”a, Director of the STAR-K Institute of Halacha, over the years. Most of these originally appeared in various issues of Kashrus Kurrents between 2008-2023.
THE MESORAH ON DUCK EGGS – Kashrus Kurrents, Summer 2023
HALACHOS OF PET NEUTERING – February 2021
MEZUZAH GUIDELINES FOR A WALK-IN CLOSET – Kashrus Kurrents, Winter 2019
PETTING AN ANIMAL ON SHABBOS – Kashrus Kurrents, Spring 2018
HALACHA OF ERECTING A FENCE AROUND A ROOF – Kashrus Kurrents, Winter 2018
EATING OR COOKING MEAT AND FISH TOGETHER – Kashrus Kurrents, Fall 2017
HAFRASHAS CHALLAH: WHEN CHALLAH SEPARATION GOES A-RYE – Kashrus Kurrents, Summer 2017
DO POTATOS CHIPS REQUIRE BISHUL YISROEL – Kashrus Kurrents, Fall 2016
WHEN TO RECITE HATOV V’HAMEITIV OVER WINE – Kashrus Kurrents, Spring 2016
SECURITY CAMERAS ON SHABBOS – Kashrus Kurrents, Winter 2015
The STAR-K site provides a variety of informative halacha-related articles and videos pertaining to kosher travel. Refer to the links below for guidance before your next trip.
ARTICLES
The Traveler’s Halachic Guide to Hotels (Including Guidelines for Shabbos and Pesach) – Rabbi Zvi Goldberg (Updated February 2024)
Navigating the Ins and Outs of Renting an Airbnb (Including Guidelines for Shabbos and Pesach) – Rabbi Zvi Goldberg (Winter 2024)
A Traveler’s Guide to Tefilas Haderech – Rabbi Dovid Heber (Summer 2021)
When You Can Drink and Drive: The Halachic Implications of Drinking Coffee on the Road – Rabbi Baruch Beyer (Spring 2019)
Don’t Miss the Boat: Halachic Guidelines of Kosher Cruises – Rabbi Zvi Goldberg (Fall 2018)
Time Flies: A Guide to Time-Related Halachos When Flying – Rabbi Dovid Heber (Fall 2017)
STAR-K Certified Food Options Take Off at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Airports – (Feb 2016 | Sept 2024)
June 6, 2024
The Sabbath Mode in the models listed below was not correctly implemented according to STAR-K specifications. Pressing “+” or “-” to adjust the temperature causes a display change on the screen, which is forbidden on Yom Tov.
One may not adjust the temperature of these ovens on Yom Tov, even when in Sabbath Mode. All other Sabbath Mode functions work properly.
New Model # (Old Model #)
SO3050TM/S/T (SO30TM/S/TH)
SO3050CM/B (SO30CM/B)
SO3050CM/S (SO30CM/S)
DO3050TM/S/T (DOTM/S/TH)
DO3050CM/B (DO30CM/B)
DO3050CM/S (DO30CM/S)
This alert does not impact Professional style “M” Series wall ovens with knob controls.
Wolf is aware of the issue and will include a resolution in their next software update.
If you own one of these models, contact the Wolf service department at 800-222-7820 to report the problem. They will arrange a service appointment when the update is ready.
Summer 2024
Historians claim that two hundred and twenty-four slaves were needed to operate the pulleys of the elevator system in the Colosseum of Rome. Thankfully, technology has come a long way since then. Modern elevators run on electricity which has necessitated the development of a Sabbath Mode. In Sabbath Mode, an elevator cab moves continuously up and down the elevator shaft, stopping at every floor. However, as will be explained, not all Sabbath Modes are the same.
Physics 101: How Elevators Work
There are two basic types of elevators in common use today: hydraulic and traction.
Hydraulic-Type Elevators
Hydraulics make use of the principle that liquid moved with low force over a large distance can be converted to movement with high force over a short distance. Take, for instance, a simple hydraulic jack (see Fig. 1). If the piston on the right has a surface area ten times that of the piston on […]
Summer 2024
Slow cookers and hot plates are the workhorses of many kosher kitchens as they enable the Sabbath-observant hostess to serve piping hot dishes to her family and guests to enhance the Shabbos seuda. In recognition of their importance in a Jewish home, it behooves us to review the halachos involving these appliances about which many users might not be aware.
This article will try to clarify the potential issues and how to address them in a practical way.
Slow Cookers
There are two basic types of electric slow cookers: an insert type (often referred to as a Crockpot®), in which a stoneware vessel sits inside a heated base; and a flatbed type, in which a metal pot sits atop a griddle base. Halachic issues involving their use include hatmana, shehiya and chazara. These will be explained below. (There are some more expensive models equipped with variable thermostats which make their usage on […]
Summer 2024
As electricity began to be used as an energy source in the late 1800s and early 1900s, poskim considered how to view electricity from a halachic perspective. The posek hador, Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski zt”l, ruled that electric incandescent lighting is considered fire and, to reinforce this psak, he himself would recite Borei Meorei Haesh on an unfrosted incandescent light bulb. While this psak rapidly gained universal acceptance,[1] it only covered incandescent light bulbs, which are very similar to fire in that they generate both light and heat. What about the many other applications of electric power which do not share these characteristics?
Electricity and Halacha
There are two basic approaches to this issue. The Chazon Ish writes that activating any electric device is boneh (building), since the completion of a circuit involves attaching two parts and bringing the electrical device “to life.”[2]
Other poskim, especially Rav Shlomo […]
Spring 2024
[For a related article on the general laws of hafrashas challah, click here.]
Once upon a time, baking a loaf of bread was simple. Today, when gluten-free blends and processed whole wheat flour are found in many homes, that is no longer the case. Baking with sourdough starters and group baking at “challah bakes” have also become popular. The halachos involved are complex and bear examination.
Let’s begin with a review of the measurements necessary for mitzvos related to regular wheat flour.[1]
Mitzvos Involving Wheat Flour
► Separating Challah (hafrashas challah) Without a Bracha – One should separate challah without a bracha when kneading a dough that contains at least 8 ⅔ cups of wheat flour (on average 2.6 lbs.).[2]
► Separating Challah With a Bracha – There are differences of opinion as to how much flour is needed to recite a bracha. Some individuals do so when kneading at least 12 ¼ cups of flour (slightly more […]
Spring 2024
From time immemorial, no matter where in the far-flung Diaspora, the presence of a Jewish community has always meant that there was shechita in proximity. The position of community shochet was one of a klei kodesh and the shochtim of a community were subject to the supreme jurisdiction of the local rav and/or Beis Din.
Here, in the U.S., it was no different. On November 15, 1660, a man named Asser (Asher) Levy acquired a license to serve as the first kosher butcher in the small Dutch-controlled hamlet of Nieuw Amsterdam – now better known as New York City.[1] Ever since, maintaining a reliable supply of kosher beef has been an integral part of Jewish communal life in the U.S. Previous Kashrus Kurrents articles have offered a glimpse into the challenges shechita has faced on these shores and the changes to the way kosher meat is supplied […]
Spring 2024
When my father z”l went to pharmacy school at George Washington University, his course of study had a heavy concentration of chemistry. His background in chemistry proved extremely useful in his forty-year career as an examiner in the U.S. Patent Office. On his workbench, he had shoe boxes with all his pharmacological paraphernalia: Bunsen burners, beakers, and little vials of litmus paper. As a child, I remember my fascination with watching the red litmus paper turn blue when dipped into a base and the blue litmus paper turn red when dipped into an acid. These were literal litmus tests, a term which over time has crept into everyday language to denote a means of determining an outcome.
Although the world of industrial kashrus may not require the deep analysis found in chemistry textbooks, it behooves kashrus administrators and mashgichim to have a working knowledge of chemical compositions and formulations. Solid […]
April 2024
Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and Rabbi Baruch Beyer present timely information about a variety of Pesach-related topics, including a quick review of what’s new, how to manage your food-buying budget, baby food, almond flour, kitniyos, matzah, and much much more.
Check out the wide variety of podcasts that are part of The Kosher Conversation, a STAR-K media production.
March 28, 2024
It has come to our attention that some KitchenAid KRFF577KPS 26.8 Cu. Ft. Standard-Depth French Door Refrigerator with Exterior Ice & Water Dispenser units have a malfunctioning Sabbath Mode. This issue has been identified in recently purchased units.
To determine if you own an affected unit, enter Sabbath Mode and hold down the door switches. If you hear a fan activate or deactivate when the switches are pressed and released, then Sabbath Mode is not working correctly.
KitchenAid is working on a solution to resolve the issue. In the interim, to use on Shabbos or Yom Tov, STAR-K recommends taping down the door switches along with setting Sabbath Mode.
Please email [email protected] if you would like to be notified when a fix is available.
This article first appeared in the January 2024 issue of the Where What When magazine.
To download and print a handy summary of halachos regarding the use of these appliances on Shabbos and Yom Tov, click here.
This article briefly discusses modern kitchen appliances and how STAR-K has developed innovative halachic solutions to meet the needs of the Orthodox Jewish consumer.
Marketing Terms That Can Be Misleading
It is important to define two terms frequently used by appliance companies to market their products which can be confusing and even mislead kosher consumers:
Sabbath Mode – a feature that enables the consumer to operate their oven so that it can be opened one time on Shabbos and to cook on Yom Tov. Sabbath Mode allows the kosher consumer to open the oven door without enabling lights, icons, or sounds. But in terms of cooking, a better term for this feature might be Yom Tov Mode.
Warming Drawer […]
Winter 2024
The Gemara seems to conclude that the prohibition on the consumption of chodosh applies worldwide.[1] However, many shomrei mitzvos outside Eretz Yisrael do not restrict themselves to eating only yoshon grain. Various reasons have been proposed:
► The Rema says that people rely on the fact that for any particular product that are two uncertainties. It is possible that there the food was made from a previous year’s wheat crop and is yoshon. It is also possible that this year’s crop took root before 16 Nissan and is yoshon. As there are two areas of doubt – a sfek sfeika – one can be lenient.[2] Others disagree and maintain that there is only one uncertainty here, whether the grain is chodosh or yoshon, and one should be stringent.[3]
► The Bach says that the prohibition does not apply to grain produced in a field owned […]
Winter 2024
The Torah states[1] that chodosh (new) crops of the five grains may not be eaten until after the second day of Pesach (outside of Israel, not until the third day).[2] Thus, grain harvested in the summer of 2023 would not be allowed until Pesach 2024. On the other hand, yoshon (old) crops, which were harvested in the summer of 2022, became permitted after Pesach 2023. Grain planted at least two weeks or more before Pesach are permitted upon harvest, since they took root before Pesach.[3]
Outside of Israel, there are various customs based on numerous sources as to whether or not one needs to be stringent about using only yoshon products (see Rabbi Mordechai Frankel’s article in this issue). Each person should consult their rav for guidance. In Israel, however, these leniencies do not apply. Therefore, any product from Israel bearing a reliable kosher […]
Winter 2024
The baalei mussar, our guides in ethical character development, have instructed us that in order to develop and refine one’s behavior, one has to control one’s temper.
Controlling temper in manufacturing is a means to refine and improve the quality of the product in question. When steel is tempered, the resiliency of the steel is improved through the process of heating and cooling. When chocolate is tempered, through a similar process of heating and cooling (albeit at a much lower temperature), the chocolate acquires a lustrous, luxurious sheen, impervious to changes in color.
Likewise, tempering grain for milling improves the grain so that the final product – wheat flour – is rendered white and fluffy. The source of this final product is the humble wheat kernel.
A wheat kernel or berry is the seed of the wheat plant and is comprised of three edible parts: the nutritious bran wrapped protectively around the […]
September 26, 2023
Please be advised that Designer Series products (models IT, IC, ID, IW) that have the Smart Grid Option enabled for connection to either the Sub-Zero Group Owner’s App or third-party home system do not return to Sabbath Mode after a power outage.
Please refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations at the Sub-Zero website, which notes:
To prevent this, the Smart Grid Option must be disabled.
Disabling the Smart Grid Option prevents the unit from being connected to the Sub-Zero Group Owner’s App or third-party home system.
A Wi-Fi icon or home and power cord icon appears when the unit has the Smart Grid Option enabled.
The unit does not have to be paired to the Sub-Zero Group Owner’s App or a third-party home system for this issue to occur. The Smart Grid Option must be disabled regardless of connected status.
This issue has been resolved in newer models but affects owners of older models. Please refer to […]
Excellent management opportunity for STAR-K mashgichim in Washington, DC.
Two full-time positions available immediately
Candidates who are willing to work part-time will be considered as well
Candidates who opt for full-time positions may qualify for a generous benefit package
To apply, complete our online application and mark it to the attention of either Rabbi Zvi Holland or Rabbi Dovid Stern
Please share this post with any qualified mashgiach who may be interested.
Thank you.
Summer 2013
Q: I am traveling, and there is no keilim mikvah in this area. May I tovel new utensils in a lake or river?
A: Metal, glass and glazed ceramic utensils which are purchased from a non-Jew and are used in the preparation and consumption of food require tevila before use.[1] A person may tovel utensils in “spring water” – water that flows naturally from under the ground. If a river has such water as its source, he can tovel his utensils in the river.[2] The river must contain at least forty se’ah of water, which calculates as 175 gallons of water.[3] An ocean or sea is halachically considered to be “spring water.”[4] Therefore, a person may tovel utensils in an ocean, sea, or river which has such water as its source. However, regarding a river which has “spring water” as its source, […]
Summer 2013
Americans generally do not drink as much tea as the rest of the world. This may have something to do with a certain party they had in Boston a while back. That being the case, you might be surprised to learn that tea is second only to water in worldwide beverage consumption. In fact, some estimates place tea consumption in the billions of cups daily. That’s a lot of tea. However, with recent health benefits being ascribed to tea, its popularity in this country is definitely on the rise. In this article we will explore the world of tea vis-a-vis kashrus and halacha. First, a little background is in order.
BACKGROUND
Tea is a processed leaf. It is grown on a tea tree which, if allowed to grow wild, would reach 30 or more feet in height. On tea plantations, the main trunk of the seedlings is cut to produce a […]
Fall 2023
We are all familiar with the Torah’s directive to rid our homes of chometz in order to prepare for Pesach. The Torah uses two terms when instructing us in the cleaning process: chometz and se’or.
Ask any talmid or talmida: “What is chometz,” and you will get a very erudite response. Ask the next question: “What is se’or,” and seven out of ten will shrug and say, “I dunno,” while the other three might venture, “Sourdough?” When you follow up and ask them to define sourdough, most – if not all – will say, “I dunno!”
Today, more and more homes are seeing sourdough boules find their way into their bread baskets. With its “rise” in popularity, it is only natural that we look into this new trend and ask, “Ma nishtana sourdough bread from its conventional counterpart? Are there halachic and practical differences?”
Wheat and Bread Making Fundamentals
Let’s begin by reviewing […]
Fall 2023
There are those who think that whatever comes from Israel is kosher and who are not aware of the many issues associated with goods that are produced in Israel, be they concerns of orla, terumos, maasros – or Shemita. And they believe that once the Shemita year ends, Shemita issues are a thing of the past.
The Shemita year ended more than a year ago. To many of us, it already seems like a distant memory, a topic that we will next revisit in roughly five years, when we prepare for Shemita of 5789. But the truth is that Shemita of 5782 is still very relevant. It is important to remember this because our brethren in Chutz La’aretz are less aware of mitzvos hatluyos ba’aretz.[1] Since produce in the Diaspora are not subject to these laws, there is less awareness of Shemita repercussions.
We are currently in a period […]
Fall 2023
With the impending arrival of Tzom Gedalya and Yom Kippur, now is a good time for a halachic review of the six ta’aneisim that are incorporated into the Jewish calendar.[1] In addition to the aforementioned, we fast on Asara B’Teves, Ta’anis Esther, Shiva Asar B’Tamuz and Tisha B’Av. The halachos apply to males from the age of thirteen and females from the age of twelve.[2]
Timing Is Everything: When the Fasts Begin and End
Yom Kippur[3] and Tisha B’Av[4] begin at sunset. If one wants to eat after the seudas hamafsekes, one should state before the end of the seudah that he wants to do so. Having this in mind before Birchas Hamazon is also enough.
The other fasts begin at alos hashachar (dawn).[5] On those days, if one wants to arise[6] before dawn and eat, he should go to […]
STAR-K is urgently seeking a full-time mashgiach for the Fresko commissary in Hackensack, NJ.
Available immediately
$35 to $40 per hour plus benefits
Near Teaneck, NJ; Passaic, NJ; and Monsey, NY
To apply, complete our online application and mark it to the attention of Rabbi Shmuel Heinemann
Please share this post with any qualified mashgiach who may be interested.
Thank you.
Excellent opportunity for a STAR-K mashgiach in Southern California.
Position is for the duration of the school “year,” which is only a 9-month term
No summers, no Shabbosos, no Yamim Tovim
Position begins late August 2023
Annual salary is $70K-$75K + benefits, commensurate with experience
To apply, complete our online application and mark it to the attention of Rabbi Mayer Kurcfeld
Please forward this email to anyone you think may be interested.
Thank you.
Summer 2023
The STAR-K Hotline receives no end of calls from coffee heads who dote on their daily cup of joe, whether from a local Starbucks or a Dunkin’ on the road. Recent changes in Starbucks’ company policy vis-à-vis kosher have further elevated the confusion for the kosher coffee connoisseur. Let’s dive in to clear out some of the haze.
Unflavored roasted coffee beans, whole and ground, are considered kosher without a hechsher. Bearing this in mind, buying a cup of unflavored regular or decaf coffee should not present any kashrus issues. Some coffee vendors, however, sell kosher and non-kosher items, like bacon and ham-filled sandwiches. The keilim used for coffee and the treif items are at times washed together, causing blios (absorbed tastes) from the treif utensil to enter the coffee equipment.
For example, at Starbucks, it’s been established that the brew basket that holds the coffee grounds while the coffee is […]
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