Eating in a Canvas Sukkah that Sways in the Wind

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

Kashrus Kurrents Fall 2010

Q: I have been invited to eat out on Succos. The Succah has canvas walls which shake in the wind. Is this a problem?

Starting the New Year Right: A Guide to the Simanim on Rosh HaShana

By: Rabbi Moshe T. Schuchman

Published Fall 2010

Introduction
On Rosh HaShana, everything we do is imbued with extreme significance. We stand in judgment before the Heavenly Court while each of our actions, words, and thoughts are scrutinized. To assist our efforts in currying Divine mercy, we employ various customs transmitted by our ancient mesorah. Among them is the regimen of the simanim, literally signs or omens. These are the foods that we bring to the table at the beginning of the evening meal as auspicious indications of a propitious year to come. What are the origins of this unusual custom? How can we be meticulous in its performance? How do we harness its power to usher in a year of prosperity?

Drinking Responsibly II

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

Published Fall 2010

There has probably never been more oversight in the food manufacturing arena than in the areas of consumer awareness, consumer protection and consumer advocacy. Most notably, this has been evident in nutritional labeling, HAACP, ISO, QAI Organic, allergen disclaimers, and salmonella recalls – the list goes on and on.

Do Bee Don’t Bee- A Halachic Guide to Honey and Bee Derivatives

By: Rabbi Dovid Heber

Published Fall 2010

As we look toward the beginning of the new year, we turn our thoughts to teshuva, and the hope that our tefillos will be answered for a sweet new year. This request has been symbolized for hundreds of years on Rosh Hashana by eating challah and apples dipped in honey.1