Yoshon Updates – as of September 6, 2018

By: Admin

Yoshon season has officially started. Many people get confused about what the terms Yoshon and Chodosh are. Here we present a brief explanation of each, followed by some product information.

For the STAR-K Yoshon Quick Reference Guide click here

For a Yoshon/Pas Yisroel List of Local Establishments, click here

The Torah (Vayikra 23:14) states that the new(i.e., Chodosh) crop of the five grains may not be eaten until after the second day of Passover (i.e., in Israel; in the Diaspora, not until after the thirdday). This means that the grain harvested this summer would not be allowed until after Passover of next year (i.e., 2019/5779). The term Yoshon (literally, old) refers to crops harvested last summer that became permitted after the following Passover. Thus, the 2017 crop of grains, harvested in the summer of 2017, became permitted after this past Passover (i.e., 2018/5778). Grain planted at least two weeks (see Dagul Mervava Y.D. […]

Guide to Chodosh Information

By: Admin

“A Guide to Chodosh”, published by Rabbi Joseph Herman, presents a comprehensive treatment of chodosh. Since much of the information changes between issues, it is imperative to consult the most recent guide.Copies of this Guide are available by subscription. This issue is the first of three for this year. Subscription rates for three issues are as follows: U.S. $20.00, Canada $22.00 USD, overseas, including Israel and Europe $27.00 USD. Make out your check to “Chodosh Project” and mail it to Project Chodosh Subscriptions, P. O. Box 150088, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Please note that Rabbi Herman receives no remuneration for his services and for the countless hours required to obtain information about hundreds of different products. One can also receive much pertinent information and updates by sending an e-mail to chodosh-subscribe@jif.org.il , or by calling the Chodosh Hot Line at 718-305-5133

Preparing for Yoshon: Practically Speaking, A Housewife’s Perspective on Keeping Yoshon

By: Admin

When my husband first told me that he would like to start keeping yoshon I asked, “What’s that?” When I found out, my immediate reaction was panic and a feeling of being overwhelmed. To my surprise, it was far less complicated than it sounded. Nowadays, with local bakeries baking yoshon every day and the pizza shop selling yoshon pizza, it’s a breeze to keep the mitzva.

Preparing for Chodosh

By: Rabbi Moshe Heinemann

The same Torah which does not permit us to eat the meat of an animal that does not have split hooves or chew its cud, also does not permit us to eat from new grain harvest until the barley omer sacrifice was brought in the Bais Hamikdash on the second day of Pesach.

Yoshon and Chodosh Something Old and Something New

By: Dr. Avrom Pollak

The story is told about how in the mid 1970’s the proprietor of a kosher bakery in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood was asked if his products were Yoshon. Not realizing that this Hebrew word, which literally means ‘old’, actually refers to grain which had been planted before Passover, proudly, albeit naively, answered, ” I can assure you that everything in my bakery is 100 percent fresh.” Today, as we approach the millennium yoshon and chodosh have graduated and become household words which have rightfully taken their place among the more popular terms such as Glatt Kosher, Cholov Yisroel, and Pas Yisroel.