The STAR-K OTC Medicine List: Important Supplemental Information

By: Rabbi Dovid Heber

Updated November 2024

►APPROVED OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS is a USA-only list reviewed by STAR-K for year-round use. IT IS NOT A PASSOVER LIST.

►Products are approved only when sold in the United States and in the indicated form (e.g. caplets, children’s). For products sold outside the USA, contact the local kashrus agency.

►The list is a small sample of frequently used over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Prescription medications are generally not included.

►If a medication is not listed, it may still be kosher. One should consult a rav.

►Certifying agencies are indicated next to products that have kosher certification.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: It is imperative that each individual understands that under no circumstances should one refrain from taking a prescribed medication or withhold such a medication from children without discussing the matter with a competent rav and/or physician.

STAR-K Certified Companies

For a list of companies that produce kosher certified vitamins, nutritional supplements and over-the-counter products […]

Part-Time Mashgiach in Silver Spring

11 | 05 | 2024

ONGOING NEED

STAR-K is seeking a qualified candidate to work about 20 hours/week, Wednesday-Thursday, as a mashgiach at Shalom Kosher, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Good pay.

Complete our online application form to apply and mark it to the attention of Rabbi Zvi Holland. Be sure to include your resume with your application.

For more information, contact [email protected].

From Dregs to Riches

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

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 […]

West Meets East: The Beauty of Sephardi Minhagim

By: Rabbi Emanuel Goldfeiz

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. […]

A Higher Calling: Maintaining Kedushas Kehuna on Land, Air and Sea

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

Fall 2024

The Torah tells us that Ahron and his sons were appointed by Hashem to serve as the first kohanim. The status of kehuna passes from father to son, in that a son of a male kohen is also a kohen. The kohanim were ordained to serve in the Beis Hamikdash and commanded to fulfill specific mitzvos.[1]

Among these is the obligation for male kohanim to preserve their kedusha and to prohibit becoming tamei meis – that is, becoming defiled through contact or exposure to a dead body.[2] Even though we no longer have a Beis Hamikdash, kohanim in our time are still required to observe all the halachos of tumas meis, both in and outside of Eretz Yisroel.[3] A kohen is restricted from becoming tamei even from an akum meis (the body of a deceased aino Yehudi).[4] At times of significant need, […]

STAR-K SUKKOS-RELATED ARTICLES & VIDEOS for 5785/2024

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 […]

Pas Yisroel Guidelines 5785

Download PDF of Charts

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, […]

Tevilas Keilim: Guidelines & Chart

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

Updated February 2026

For a more in-depth treatment of this topic, please refer to The Mitzvah of Tevilas Keilim by Rav Moshe Heinemann shlit”a.

Tevilas Keilim – Basic Guidelines

Utensil to be immersed must be completely clean and free of dirt, dust, rust, stickers, labels or glue. (Practical Tip: WD-40 is very effective in removing adhesive.)

One wets his hands in the mikvah water, holds the vessel in the wet hand and says, “Baruch…asher kideshanu b’mitzvosav v’tzivanu al tevilas keili” (substitute keilim for keili if toveling multiple utensils) and immerses the vessel(s).

If one forgot to recite the bracha, the immersion is valid.

The water of the mikvah must touch the entire vessel, both inside and out.

The entire vessel must be under water at one time, but it does not have to be submerged for any prolonged period of time.

It is advisable that after toveling an electric appliance that requires tevila, the appliance be thoroughly […]

INSIGHTS FROM THE INSTITUTE

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

SEPARATING CHALLAH WHEN GIVING […]

STAR-K Kosher Traveling Guidance – Articles and Videos

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

Going Away for Pesach? Guidelines for Hotel and Airbnb Guests – Rabbi Zvi Goldberg (January 2025)

STAR-K Certified Food Options at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Airports – (Sept 2024)

The Traveler’s Halachic Guide to Hotels – Rabbi Zvi Goldberg (Updated February 2024)

Navigating the Ins and Outs of Renting an Airbnb – 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)

A Traveler’s Guide […]

Wolf Certified “M” Series Wall Ovens

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.

Going Up: All About Shabbos Elevators

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

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 […]

Warming Up: Do’s and Don’ts of Slow Cookers and Hot Plates on Shabbos

By: Rabbi Yaakov Heinemann

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 […]

Keeping Your Cool: Using a Refrigerator on Shabbos

By: Rabbi Chananya Jacobson

Summer 2024 | Updated February 2025

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 […]

For Good Measure: Baking with Gluten-Free Blends, Whole Wheat Flour, Sourdough and at Challah Bakes

By: Rabbi Dovid Heber

Spring 2024 | Updated April 2026

[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 […]

Producción de Carne Kasher: Shechita Flies South

By: Rabbi Zvi Holland

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 […]

Acids in Digestion

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

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 […]

STAR-K Webinar: Pre-Pesach Conversation 2024

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.

KitchenAid Refrigerator Alert

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.

All About Sabbath Mode Appliances and Warming Drawers: STAR-K Answers Your Questions

By: Rabbi Chananya Jacobson

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 […]

Yoshon: To Keep or Not to Keep

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

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 […]

What’s “New” in Chodosh

By: Rabbi Sholom Tendler

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 […]

Controlling Your Temper

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

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 […]

Sub-Zero Legacy Designer Series (IT, IC, ID, IW) Appliance Purchased Between 2017-Present: Important Guidance for Consumers

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 […]

Toveling Utensils in a Lake or River

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

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, […]

The Kashrus of Tea—With No Strings Attached!

By: Rabbi Baruch Beyer

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 […]

The Knead to Know: The Rise of Sourdough

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

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 […]

Shemita After Shemita: It’s Not Over Yet!

By: Rabbi Ahron Haskel

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 […]

When It’s “Not Kosher” to Eat Kosher: The Halachos of the Fast Days

By: Rabbi Dovid Heber

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 […]

Starbucks, Dunkin’ & Other Coffee Shops: Getting Your Caffeine Boost In-Town and On-the-Road

By: Rabbi Baruch Beyer

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 […]