Alert: Fruits and vegies from Israel.................

Besides the issue of trumois u'maisrois, the issue of infestation is very serious.
Some of the Israeli Hashgochas write on the package that it must be washed, which most Americans see a kosher emblem they (become illiterate) just open and consume.
The Aida charaidus Yerushalem has a new emblem that states clearly the vegetables must be washed prior to consuming, etc.

The fruits and vegetables with the Hashgocha of Rav Efrati may contain insects that will not come off in washing. Also any frozen fruits or vegies with his hashgocha should not be consumed at this time.

Bingo has the Ki'Halcha infested strawberries-watch video

 BINGO Borough Park store carries the Ki"Halacha infested strawberries.

Alert: Shatnez notice

Update: Vaad Tzedokah-the rest of the story

From an Email

Yudel, It may warrant an article;

1- There is no basis in halacha according Rabbi Dov Kahan head of Bais Din mayshorim in lakewood has given 23 shiurim on hilchos tzedokah in lakewood. 

2- The vaadam may have a justification that it's valid for one year as circumstances do change.  BUT they not have any right to put any limits on how long one may collect in the area. 

3- An  isshur that he's not a ramai is sufficient for the whole USA, why does each one put you through the mill? 

4- And why does each vaad charge a fee of $40.00-$100.00 and you could come twice a year. [Nice income for the vaad]

5- One must hang around for the isshuer 1-3 days. On whose cheshbon?

6- Baltimore / Star-k vaad tzedokah takes a 25% cut from the checks and vouchers. I don't know what others are taking.  

Baltimore may commonly have 10-12 collectors at a time @ 2 weeks. Each one raising $3-5000.00 and the vaad takes 25%. Do the math, $15,000.00 @ 2 weeks for the Star-k vaad  tzedokah [$350,000.00 annually] (besides their charge for @ isshur)

[In Baltimore they instituted the voucher system almost 95%.]  

7- The vaadam check with each other re the collector. So why does each one make them wait for the isshur and another charge?

8- By the chasidim there  is "NO" such a thing as a vaad tzedokah and DON'T need any isshur. 

9- What right for the vaad to decide on a recommended amount?

10- Because of ramaim one is not over on lavim and esais if you don't give any of them tzedokah. With the isshurs in place if one doesn't give he's transgressing lavs and esais. 

10- Where is the brocha of עשר בשביל שתתעשר? By the chasidim, "No isshur no vouchers" everyone is welcome not like sedom.

Defining Chasidishe Shechita

That the shoichet is a superior Yirai Shomayim than other shoichtem?
NO!

That he is a better shoichet than others?
NO!

That he has sharper, smoother knives than others?
NO!

That the shoichet goes to the mikvah prior to the days shechita?
NO! They don't always, yet they shecht.

That the shoichet davens with a minyan 3 times a day?
NO!

That his wife doesn't drive a car?
NO!

That he wears the Chasidish clothing?

NO! Not Always.

He is what Chazal called a Chosid?
NO!

So what defines chasidishe shechita?

Years ago there was a dispute among the Rabonim as to what type of knife to use for shechita?

1) שני צדדים sharpened on both sides of the sharp side of the blade or 2) צד אחד Sharpened on one side only (the other side being straight with the back of the blade.

The chasidim insisted on 2 sides שני צדדים.

That is the style of sharpening common these days by practically all shoichtem.

So in fact all shechita is Chasisidesh shechita regardless of his dress, mikvah, friends, etc.

Chasideshe Shechita?

A few years ago I called up a place where  simcha I was invited to was being made.  When I asked

whose hashgacha the place had,  the reply was "We use only Chassidishe shechita."

I then said to the person who had proudly told me this and was sure it would impress me,

 "Do you know that when Rubashkin was operating they were producing the following kinds of meat all as chasidishe schechita.
 1.  Bais Yosef, 
2.  What we call glatt 
3. ordinary kosher,
4. Hallal and
5. treif,
and it was all Chasidishe shechita,  because the only people schechting there were chassidim."  There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Lakewood- A local physical Rehab Center, It's almost an hour closer to NY-

We just visited a physical Rehab Center [including pulmonary rehab]in Jackson, next to NPGS.

A Jewish Community Rehab center in the Northern part of Lakewood. With the Rt #9 traffic, it's a half hour closer to New York.

Note: Located in the southern part of Lakewood, see  http://yudelstake.blogspot.com/2015/11/in-need-of-kosher-rehab-center.html

The"Glatt" Meat Shortage in the USA high prices v. the solution

Solution:

 The average output of a Shechita in the USA should be as follows:

Glatt- 12-18%        Non-Glatt 25-30%

1-2 additional Boidkim or inspectors required for the non-glatt production. Of course the non-glatt would require additional time & personnel for the deveining (treiboring) and salting.

       

 Kosher Consumers in the USA are 30-35% glatt, 65-70%  non-glatt.

    

  The current glatt productions it would be very economical to utilize the additional 25-30% of the non-glatt as well.

   

    This would alleviate the meat shortage in a very short period of time of 2-3 weeks.

       This would also cause a glut in the kosher beef, which would bring down the price of beef to the kosher consumer.

     The Orthodox Union aka “OU” till a few years ago also certified non-glatt beef.

  

   It would be advantageous for the Supermarket chains across the USA to besiege the “OU” to step up to the plate and bring the cost of beef to the kosher consumer to a market more in line with other beef.

    The consumer in general is facing economic pressures at this time in being able to afford their basic shopping needs.

     The “OU” can do this on their own and they owe it to the kosher consumer.

Rabbi Yehuda shain

www.Kosherconsumer.org

kashrusy@aol.com

We are in the "Hashgocha-gesheft" not in the recall business.

 We don't issue recalls.
Mistakes happen.

Reb Shimon Schwab, OB"M said, he relies on those that issue recalls for kashrus.

FDA- re: frozen strawberries

The U.S. Food and Drug administration, the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local 

officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses 


linked to frozen strawberries.

Lakewood moisdois hanhala must see this video by yy Jacobson

Know when it's time to step up to the plate and hand over the mantel to more qualified...

kaparos

The "only" kaparos places in Lakewood in full compliance with "all" Halachos & the Kol-Koreh is Mehadrin and Mutcha Schwartz Kaporos.

The other Lakewood Kaporos centers  have some serious concerns.

Kosher consumer take heed? and eat only the KOSHER GARDENS or POSITIVE brands

From an Email:

Kashrus Alert:
Stay away from all fresh broccoli & or non-reliable greenhouse grown. period.

Rav Belsky zt"l was against certifying non greenhouse grown broccoli and didn't allow the OU to certify fresh broccoli as their washing it doesn’t bring it down to miyut hamatzut its muchzak be’tolaim

Rav Belsky told me that consumers should purchase ONLY reliable greenhouse grown.

 Now that he has passed away the OU started certifying fresh broccoli. We as consumers are expecting Kashrus standards to be raised to an acceptable level as time goes on but it seems some hechsherim are intent on bringing standards lower.

NOTE: Terras Gardens brand, is sold in the south Florida market at this time

Protect our children-

Freshly checked [Perfect image brand]-Edible flowers-Orchids Highly infested

ALERT: Canned pineapple in its own juice.

ALERT: All Canned pineapple in its own juice, is infested with various insects.

As is well known, Pineapples do have insects in the crown and in the brown parts of the skin peel.

Some Pineapples were found to have have mealybugs  past the brown area as well, it must be checked by experts in infestation.

Now it was discovered another insect issue with canned pineapple. "Packed-in-its-own-juice". The canned pineapple is raw not cooked, how do they get the "Packed-in-its-own-juice"?

They take the skin / peel, etc with all of the inherent insects and cook it to obtain the pineapple-juice.

Is the somewhat viscous juice filtered? If yes, with what size filter?
We asked some of the heimish certifiers and they refuse to respond.

UPDATE: Alert from Hisahdus Harabinm Di'Lakewood re: ALL BLUEBERRIES ARE INFESTED- FRESH, FROZEN, FILLING, ETC

Alert from Hisachdus Harabonim Di'Lakewood re: Strawberries / Blueberries

ALL Fresh, Frozen, canned, pie-filling Blueberries were found to be highly infested.

NOTE: Lakewood's KCL is not a Kashrus Organization per se, KCL is a political Organization [they fear Hisachdus of Brooklyn-hence no alerts from KCL] The money they take, is "protection-money".
Do not use any product with blueberries, including;
pies

Pie-filling
Cheese cake
Muffins
Gevina yougurts and Lebens

Reb Lipa Klein Crc Hisachdus Brooklyn says;
Hisachdus doesn't make recalls.

A must for every parent to watch

New England Journal of Medicine recent article re: eating raw fish

A 36-year-old previously healthy woman presented with a 2-day history of severe chest pain and epigastric pain associated with nausea and vomiting. Physical examination showed moderate abdominal tenderness, without guarding or rebound in the epigastrium. Laboratory tests, including cardiac enzyme levels, were normal. 

An electrocardiogram and a radiograph of the chest were normal. The patient reported that she had consumed uncooked salmon approximately 2 hours before the chest pain developed. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed diffuse thickening of the gastric wall. Gastroscopy revealed multiple anisakis larvae penetrating into the mucosa in the esophagogastric junction, fundus, upper body, middle body, and antrum of the stomach. 

Eleven larvae were removed with the use of endoscopic forceps (see video), after which the patient’s symptoms resolved. Anisakiasis is a parasitic infection of the gastrointestinal tract in humans that is caused by the consumption of raw or inadequately cooked seafood containing third-stage larvae of the nematode Anisakis simplex or related species.

From an email re: Orange Juice filters

Rav Shein, The reason not to use the 230 mesh filter for orange juice is because according to many puskim you don't have to filter bichlal if you use a 230 mesh.

The 230 mesh removes so much from the oroanje juice that it loses it's juice taste.

I even think reb shlomo miller says the same ting.


[The Aida Bdatz Yerushalem juice filter is "80" mesh.] ys

The Churban of our children-Who's at fault?

BS”D

My dearest Chaim,

As I fasted today, I sat and reflected on what our fast is all about. Why was our beautiful home in Yerushalayim destroyed? Why did the presence of Hashem leave us? What did we do to drive ourselves into this long bitter golus?

I always knew the answer, but I don't think I understood it as well as I do right now. It was destroyed because we were judgmental of those who did not ACT the way we wanted them to act. We were embarrassed of those who did not DRESS the way that we wanted them to dress. We looked down at those that did not TALK the way we wanted them to talk. And our misplaced ego caused us to think that we are better than they are. This is what caused us to destroy ourselves completely. Without having an ayin tovah, a favorable and understanding eye on those around us, we are not deserving of having the divine presence of Hashem live among us. We threw ourselves out with our self-righteous mindset.

Which group of us caused the destruction? The ones "on the derech" or the ones "off  the derech"?

On this I sit and cry... my eyes fill with tears... the epiphany just hit me like a ton of bricks: It was not the ones wearing the jeans (as an example) that caused the destruction, rather, it was the ones not wearing jeans that then looked down upon those who wore the jeans! WE are the ones who destroyed the beis Hamikdosh and we have not yet corrected our sin! In fact, with Torah and mitzvos being so strong... we have perhaps even strengthened our sin... we have taken it to a higher level.

I look at myself... am I not part of the group who uses our beautiful religion to look down at others? And if so, am I not the one responsible for our current exile? What good is my fasting and sitting on a floor if I cannot face the truth that "I" am currently responsible for this tragedy?!

I now fully realize that it is not you and your friends who are preventing Moshiach from coming... it is me and my friends!

I wrote my own kinniss: Woe is to me for I have repeated and repeated the original sin that caused the churban! Woe is to me for I have stabbed my own flesh and blood! Woe is to me for I took the holy Torah that is supposed to be sweet and peaceful "dirachehuh darchei NOAM vichal nesivosehuh SHALOM" and I used it to form a dagger which I then used to stab you - and others - over and over again!!

And so after a long day of fasting and contemplation, I look back at the way that I treated you and for this I now sit and cry. My dear sweet beloved Chaim !! How can I ever take back the pain that I caused you? How can I ever repay you for the smiles and hugs that you so deserved... but didn't get from me because I was too busy justifying to myself why it is OK for me to look down at you... to judge you harshly... and to actively destroy the Bais Hamikdosh? How can I give you back the lost years?

My dear Chaim, a long long time ago, I looked into the future and dreamed about the day that you would grow up, mature, learn right from wrong, wake up from your selfishness and finally come ask me for forgiveness. but after alot of inner searching... "I" grew up, and "I" matured, and "I" learned right from wrong, and now "I" finally woke up from MY selfish, haughty, egotistical, judgmental attitude! And now on this painful day I turn to you and I ask you - no, I BEG you - for forgiveness!!

I accept upon myself to shower you with love and affection, with hugs and kisses, and to do everything in my power to always be there for you through thick and thin! I pledge to work so so hard to make up for all of the pain that I caused you. I pledge to never look down at you, your friends, or on ANY JEW ever again. I am DONE with the negative attitude! I am DONE with being the judge and jury to another Yid! I am DONE with thinking that I am BETTER than ANY other Jew in Klal Yisrael. I am DONE being a part of the problem... and I pledge that as of right this moment... I will become a part of the SOLUTION!!

My Chaim, please open your heart to me... please open your arms to me... hug me, hold my hand and let us build the Beis Hamikdosh together...

What do you say? Your loving Totty

Hisachdus Harabonim di'Lakewood vi'haglilos

Hisachdus Harabonim is currently kosher certifying food processing facilities, products, etc at Commercial and Industrial products.

We also arrange Kosher supervision at food service establishments, and at affairs.

We also issue kosher alerts for the kosher Consumer.

We do kosher Inspections for compliance.

בס"ד

Rabbinical Board

וועד הרבנים

הרב לעווין

הרב לוריא

הרב שווארץ

הרב צדקא

הרב קליין

הרב גוטמן

הרב מילר

הרב שאר

הרב הירש

הרב גראס

הרב רוזנפלד

הרב פרץ

הרב ליואויץ

משה ברסלר- מנהל

OU Alert V Heimish Barley Alert.

OU KOSHER ALERT – UNGER’S PEARLED BARLEY         August 15, 2016  Brands: Unger's Products: Pearled Barley 

Company: Quality Frozen Foods 

Issue:

Unger’s Pearled Barley, in particular lot #26917 and #62318, has been found to be infested and should not be used without checking the product thoroughly. Measures are being taken to prevent the rampant infestation of the barley.

The OU's Alert is very clear- "have been found to be infested"  Measures are being taken to prevent the rampant infestation of the barley.

On the other hand- The Heimish Hashgocha for the English speaking Tzibur they write "signs of infestation"  For the Yiddishe speaking Tzibur they write ." It is infested" . Why is that? Is the  English speaking Tzibur any less makpid on infestation, than the yiddish speaking Tzibur?  At least the OU was clear in their alert to everyone, and they are taking measures to prevent.........

2nd UPDATE: ALERT: by Hisachdus Harabonim di'Lakewood- All NORI wraps used for Sushi are infested

UPDATE: THERE ARE "SOY-WRAPS" & "RICE-WRAPS" AVAILABLE!
Sushi is also made without any wrap at all!

ALERT:  All Nori Wraps (used for Sushi) are infested

[The "copepods" in the nori are of various colors, & not the same as the ones in water which are "translucent". ]
The infestation was verified by Rav Moshe Vaye,
the Aida and R' Revach
התמונה שם  זה ממוצר עם הגחה חדשה שהגיע השנה לארץ ישראל,

הבעיות מקיפות את כל ההכשרים. שניאור רווח

Even the ones with hashgochas have the "copepds" and other small insects and other non kosher !

Lakewood בעלי שמחה avail yourselves (at no charge) to a service from the Hisachdus Harabonim Di"Lakwood

When making a catered Simcha, we will review the menu for you and advise what if any recommendations based on your kashrus standards.

The בעלי שמחה will decide which if any recommendations to utilize.

Send to Fax 1-888-887-7570

Please include your Fax # or Email

Alert: from Skver- Double ringed onions were found to be very infested, especially from these companies

Morada (packed by H. Foppiano. Linden, CA.

Desert Gold (Packed by South Basin. Umatilla, OR.

DATES may be from Eretz Yisroel and from Shmitah.

Dates usually have a one year date on them. Check the source (if from Eretz Israel). check
the date, as it may be from Shmitah

Chodosh season begins early

CHODOSH BULLETIN-12 JUL 16

Those who want to purchase Yoshon items to store over the Chodosh season should do so now, as soon as possible.

The progress of the 3 crops, spring wheat, oats and barley is ahead of normal. According to the latest weekly bulletin from the US Department of Agriculture, the harvest of the Chodosh oats has just barely started. The spring wheat and barley harvest may start within 1 week. 

Our tentative recommended cutoff dates for packaged foods is Jul 20 for oats and July 27 for wheat and barley products (not malt, which is much later). These are packaging dates. It should take several weeks beyond that for the Chodosh packages to reach the local groceries. However, freshly baked goods in bakeries, such as bread, challah, bagels may be Chodosh (tentative) starting Jul 27 in the mid West and Aug 3 elsewhere in the US.

Even though pesach was late on the solar calendar this year, still almost all of the 3 crops of interest were planted after pesach and are Chodosh. The early harvest this year is due to weather conditions in the growing areas.

The next revised update on this topic is due BE”H one week from now.

The "solution" to the lack of trained mashgichim for infestation

A properly trained Mashgiach is required to have good eyesight ($20 bill test), patience, serious, yiras-shu'mayim", etc. Of course he is to be compensated more that a regular mashgiach.

In each area there is to trained qualified infestation mashgichim that will go around to the various establishments "just checking their leafy vegetables & herbs", as coordinated by the Kosher certifier.

The regular in-house mashgiach will be trained just for leaf miners and pearled barley, etc.

In an area that has currently 50-75 plus mashgichim for food service, 5-10 trained mashgichim for infestation should be trained.

BTW- In Eretz Yisroel they have roaming mashgichim for "nikur", Terumos-maasrois, infestation, etc.