Seeing the Forest From the Bees

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

Kashrus Kurrents, Fall 2022

Eretz zavas chalav u’devash was surely music to Moshe Rabbeinu’s ears, and no doubt filled his heart with anticipation of a yeshua.

When the Ribono
Shel Olam commissioning Moshe to assume the leadership of Bnei Yisroel at
the Sneh, He promised that Bnei Yisroel were to be emancipated from
their servitude in Egypt and brought to a wonderful land, an eretz zavas chalav u’devash, a land
flowing with milk and honey. This description surely conjured
up the glorious image of a land abounding in delicious, sweet milk and heavenly
honey, a land of prosperity and, on a deeper level, an exceptional makom
that exuded kedusha v’tahara (sanctity and holiness) and the Ribono Shel
Olam’s special Providence.

The
description eretz zavas chalav u’devash not only serves as a beautiful
metaphor to lavish praise on Eretz Yisroel. The Gemara Bechoros points
out that this possuk is actually the mekor (source) for
permitting milk produced by a kosher mammal, as well as honey made […]

Thoughts For Food and Food For Thought: Kedushas Ha’achilah

By: Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller

Kashrus Kurrents, Fall 2022

During the Yamim Noraim season, it is important to focus on
our potential, who we are now and who we want to be going forward. In that
light, I would like to touch on one aspect of the topic of קדש עצמך במותר לך – sanctifying yourself
through that which is permitted to you.[1] I would like to skim the surface of the topic
of kedushas ha’achilah – eating in a holy, noble manner.

My intent is to offer a few thoughts to help us eat a little
differently in this New Year of 5783. The Yamim Nora’im are an
auspicious time to start doing so, as it is the zman when we tend to be
in a more reflective frame of mind and become more receptive to lofty and
nuanced ideas, especially in areas of personal and spiritual growth.

Aizeh Hu Ashir: Who is
Wealthy?

The Chofetz Chaim offers a hashkafic insight related to the metzora.
The […]

Schach Mat Guidance for 5785

Guide to STAR-K Certified Schach

For a summary of Rav Moshe Heinemann’s guidance regarding kosher schach, click here.

Kosher Certified Schach Manufacturers

For a list of schach manufacturers certified by STAR-K, click here.

The Halachos of Schach

For a more in-depth review of the halachos of schach by Rav Heinemann, click here.

After Sukkos: Proper Schach Storage

For guidelines on proper storage of your schach to avoid insect infestation, click here.

Audio-Visual Guidance

To listen to STAR-K’s Kosher Conversation ‘Sukkos Special‘ podcast with Rabbi Mordechai Frankel , click here.

To watch a STAR-K webinar with host Rabbi Zvi Goldberg in which he and Rabbi Boruch Beyer discuss sukkahs-to-go and schach mats, among other related topics, click here.

[WEBINAR] Kashrus Behind Bars

By: Rabbi Chananya Jacobson

STAR-K Kashrus Administrators, Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and Rabbi Mayer Kurcfeld, discuss issues of kashrus facing those who are incarcerated.

Originally aired 12-27-2017 .

Listen Here

Direct download here.

STAR-K Fish Policy

Updated August 19, 2022

STAR-K
receives many questions about purchasing fresh fish from non-kosher stores or
sources. We hope this brief article will help clarify some of the confusion regarding
this topic.

For a fish to be kosher, the Halacha is that it needs to have fins and scales.[1] Furthermore, there is a rabbinic prohibition[2] to consume fish that has had the simanei kashrus (scales)[3] removed (e.g., a skinless fish fillet) without a Yehudi having confirmed that it was a kosher fish.

Stores with Kosher Supervision

In
stores or companies that are under STAR-K supervision, the fish are filleted
with a mashgiach present, and therefore one may buy any fish fillet without any
further concerns.

Skinless Fillet from a Non-Kosher Store or Source

Purchasing
skinless fish either from a store that is not kosher supervised, or that was
not sealed in a package bearing a reliable kosher symbol, is not permissible. STAR-K
does not consider the color of a fish […]

[WEBINAR] Current Kosher Issues – Airline Meals, Quinoa and More

By: Rabbi Chananya Jacobson

In this webinar, originally broadcast Feb. 12, 2020, STAR-K Kashrus Administrators Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and Rabbi Boruch Beyer discuss current issues of kashrus including STAR-K certified kosher airline meals and book lice – bugs in quinoa.

Listen here.

MP3 file available here.

STAR-K Podcasts

Visit the Kosher Conversation at anchor.fm

The Kosher Conversation: A STAR-K Media Production

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].

WHERE TO LISTEN:

From Israel, Peru, and Manchester, Too: STAR-K’s Popular Summer Kashrus Training Programs’ Far Reach

August 2022

19th Annual Kashrus Training Program: STAR-K faculty sitting in front row, from L to R: R’ Zvi Goldberg, R’ Mayer Kurcfeld, R’ Eliyahu Shuman, Dr. Avrom Pollak, Rav Moshe Heinemann shlit”a, R’ Jonah Gewirtz, R’ Mordechai Frankel, R’ Nisson Dov Miller, and R’ Boruch Beyer; faculty standing in back, starting 2nd from L: R’ Dovid Heber, R’ Doniel Feldman, R’ Sholom Tendler, and R’ Avrohom Mushell; standing on far R: R’ Moshe Schuchman

STAR-K Kosher Certification’s
back-to-back 19th Annual Kashrus Training Program (July 25-28) and Food Service
Kashrus Training Seminar (August 1-3) attracted participants from as far away as
Ramla, Israel; Lima, Peru; and, Manchester, UK, to its Baltimore corporate
headquarters. Both certificate programs featured a Q & A session with STAR-K
Rabbinic Administrator Rav Moshe Heinemann shlit”a; and a variety of
lectures by STAR-K Kashrus Administrators; a hands-on vegetable checking
practicum; and tours of STAR-K certified establishments.

For the past two years, Joe Malay
worked as […]

[WEBINAR] Kosher Travel – Israel and USA

By: Rabbi Chananya Jacobson

Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and Rabbi Boruch Beyer hosted a panel that discussed tips for the kosher traveler when visiting Israel as well as the U.S.

• Rabbi Moshe Farkash – Administrator, ZNT Kosher, Jerusalem
• Rabbi Sholom Tendler – Foodservice Administrator, STAR-K

Rabbi Farkash, of ZNT Kosher (www.zntkosher.com) is intimately familiar with the kosher scene in Israel, and regularly advises tourists on navigating that scene, including restaurants and hotel breakfasts.

Rabbi Tendler is STAR-K’s Baltimore administrator of caterers and restaurants and is a frequent traveler all over the U.S. He discussed managing kashrus on the road. He also provided general travel advice for these challenging times.

The audio file can be found here.

[WEBINAR] Yoshon Simplified

By: Rabbi Chananya Jacobson

STAR-K Kashrus Administrators Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and Rabbi Sholom Tendler explain Yoshon.

Charting the Course of Shemita

By: Rabbi Sholom Tendler

Kashrus Kurrents, Summer 2022

Eretz Yisroel is known worldwide for its high-quality produce.
During non-Shemita years, a wide selection of Israeli produce items – among them: carrots, citrus fruits,
herbs, peppers, and radishes – are exported to North American markets. The
typical concern is to ensure that
proper terumos and maasros are taken. During Shemita, terumos
and maasros are not typically applicable[1],
but there is significant concern that the produce may be from Shemita.
If someone purchased Israeli produce from Shemita and paid cash (as
opposed to by check
or credit card), returning it to the store may also potentially violate the
prohibition of doing business with Shemita produce. If this happens by mistake, a rav
should be consulted.[2]

While it can be assumed that all vegetables currently on the
market are from the Shemita year,not all Israeli fruits yet on the market are from
the Shemita year. The Halacha is that the Shemita status of
fruits is determined by when they […]

A Consumer’s Guide to Shevi’is Produce

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

Kashrus Kurrents, Summer 2022

The
Torah commands us to refrain from working the land of Eretz Yisroel during Shemita.
The possuk states that a person may work the land of Eretz Yisroel for
six consecutive years but must allow it to lie fallow during the Shevi’is
(seventh) year.[1]
This seventh year is known as Shemita.[2] The mitzvah applies to both
men and women.[3]
Even though time-bound positive commandments generally do not apply to women,
this mitzvah is an
exception and is equally incumbent upon them.[4]

The
Torah also commands us to sanctify every fiftieth year as Yovel.[5] However,
the Yovel year does not occur nowadays. This is due to the fact that Yovel
is sanctified only when the majority of Jews live in Eretz Yisroel.[6] By
the time of the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash, the majority of Jews
had been exiled from Eretz Yisroel and Yovel no longer occurred. Although
Jews returned to Eretz Yisroel at […]

A Profile of Courage and Inspiration: A Trip To a Yerushalmi Otzar Beis Din

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

Kashrus Kurrents, Summer 2022

Anyone
who has had the opportunity to visit Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh, as
I recently did, will tell you that a must-see experience is a trip to the Geula
neighborhood on Erev Shabbos.

Rechov
Malchai Yisroel could very well be dubbed the commercial heart of the Chareidi community.
The stores pulsate with energy and electricity, while the streets teem with
traffic tie-ups, both on and off the sidewalks. It could be termed a
businessman’s dream or nightmare, depending on one’s ability to handle the
sheer crush of consumers. The side streets, on the other hand, are a labyrinth
of quiet residential apartments. One such quiet street is Rechov Yonah.

For six
out of seven years, the Stern family’s mirpeset (balcony) on Rechov
Yonah looks like any other mirpeset, but this year is not like the
others. During this year, shnas haShemita, the Stern’s mirpeset undergoes
an amazing transformation. Welcome to the Otzar of Bnei Brak – Jerusalem
Branch!

In brief,
the Otzar […]

The Otzar Beis Din: Shemita’s Treasure Trove

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff, Rav & Rosh Kollel in Neve Yaakov, Jerusalem | Guest Contributor

Kashrus Kurrents, Summer 2022

An Otzar Beis Din is literally ‘a storehouse operated
by Beis Din.’ Why would Beis Din operate a warehouse? Before
explaining more fully the true purpose of an Otzar Beis Din, which is a halachically
approved method of distributing Shemita produce, we must first review
the halachos of Shemita. These rules fall under two general
categories:

(1) Laws of the Land

The Torah teaches that every seventh year is Shemita,
and we are prohibited from working the land of Eretz Yisroel. One may not plow,
plant, prune, or harvest one’s grapevines as an owner, or perform most other
agricultural work. Furthermore, one may not allow one’s land to be worked
during Shemita, even by an aino Yehudi.[1] One
may perform activities whose purpose is to prevent loss, such as watering
plants and trees so that they do not die.[2]

The landowner may not treat […]

The Intriguing World of Jewish Time

By: Rabbi Zvi Goldberg

Listen here.

Listen to host Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and his guest, Jewish time expert Rabbi Dovid Heber discuss Jewish time (10/6/21). They answer your questions in addition to discussing:

• a ‘behind the scenes’ review of Rabbi Heber’s new book, The Intriguing World of Jewish Time

• how time affects kashrus certification

• the “World Calendar” and how it would have affected Jewish life

• why a girl cannot become bas mitzva in Adar 1

The Jewish calendar is complex, but Rabbi Heber makes the topic clear and easy to understand. In addition to his newly published work which includes 150 questions and answers on Jewish time, he previously authored Sefer Shaarei Zmanim.

STAR-K Webinar Audio: Medical Devices Certified for Shabbos

By: Rabbi Zvi Goldberg

Medical Devices Certified For Shabbos

The Audio for this episode can be found here.

Good to Go With Shabbatto!

By: Rabbi Mordechai Frankel

Spring 2022

People look forward to Shabbos as a day to daven in shul and enjoy
the company of other Shomer Shabbos members of the community. Unfortunately,
there are people with mobility issues who are housebound on Shabbos and, for
them, Shabbos is a lonely day. But thanks to newly developed technology by
Movinglife, an Israeli firm, the housebound now are afforded a new opportunity
to rejoin the tzibbur and to enhance their enjoyment of Shabbos. We are
very excited to announce STAR-K certification of the Shabbatto folding scooter,
a new personal mobility device with a Shabbat Mode option.

The road to certification began with Movinglife contacting STAR-K
to discuss their project. After approaching STAR-K to seek certification, the
Movinglife management team met with Rav Moshe Heinemann shlit”a, STAR-K’s
posek and Rabbinic Administrator, at his home. This initial meeting
lasted a good few hours, during which Rav Heinemann explained in detail what he
would permit and what he would forbid for Shabbos use.

Movinglife […]

Going Down Smooth: A Kosher Primer to Halachic Blending

By: Rabbi Sholom Tendler

Spring 2022

There are few things as synonymous
with summer as a fresh, cold fruit smoothie, a classic hot weather staple for
many. During the summer months, the STAR-K hotline gets inundated with calls
from consumers requesting guidance to ensure their smoothies are as kosher as
they are delicious. While plain fruits and vegetables are often inherently kosher,
several of them do have a major kashrus nemesis: bugs! Those perfect looking
strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries frequently host several
common insects, like thrips, aphids and mites.

Another item that has been gaining
popularity are juiced vegetables. Kale, cilantro and spinach are among the more
popular vegetables that are juiced and then enjoyed as a drink. These, too, can
present a significant challenge to ensure that they are insect free.

The following is a short guide to
assist you in preparing your favorite kosher juiced or blended beverage.

No Checking Required

There are many delicious fruits and
vegetables that do not present any issue of infestation […]

It Depends Where They Stem From

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

Kashrus Kurrents, Spring 2022

There
is a basic principle in Halacha: kol hayotzei m’tamei tamei, kol hayotzei
m’tahor tahor. The crux of that principle is that a product derived from a
non-kosher animal will be deemed not kosher (e.g., pig milk or ostrich eggs),
while a product derived from a kosher animal will be kosher (e.g., chicken eggs
and goat milk). This definition needs more investigation when it comes to stem
cells.

Before
we proceed with this discussion, let’s first step back to the Beginning, to the
Source of all that ‘stems.’

In the Beginning … There Was Change

Change
is sometimes beneficial, at times detrimental, frequently challenging, and often
intriguing. If we take a closer look, change is actually the underlying
force behind brias ha’olam (creation).

The
Ramban offers a riveting insight into unlocking the secret of brias ha’olam
when he draws us close and says, “and now, let me tell you the secret of
creation. The Ribono shel Olam created the world yesh mi’ayin – ex
nihilo […]

Wireless Security: A Mezuzah Primer

By: Rabbi Moshe Heinemann

Kashrus Kurrents, Spring 2022

Many people install alarm systems in their
homes to provide a sense of security. These systems, which may be wireless or
hard-wired, are dependent on a number of factors to operate properly: all contacts
need to be intact and connected to one another; all batteries in wireless
systems must be fully charged; the codes need to be properly set; and the entire
unit must be in good working order. All it takes is one faulty connection to
negate the whole system.

While installing man-made security systems on
our property is a reasonable act of hishtadlus, our true feeling of
security comes from the recognition that we have a Protector in heaven. The
Torah provides us with a spiritual security system: the
mezuzah attached to our doorpost. The Ribono
Shel Olam watches over our homes if we do His will, and our mezuzah is a direct
link to the ultimate ‘Central Station.’

Our
homes are protected, however, only if the mezuzah […]

STAR-K Webinar Audio: Chocolate Production in Peru

By: Rabbi Zvi Goldberg

Peru Visit – Chocolate Production

The Audio for this episode can be found here.

STAR-K Webinar Audio: Passover Products 2022

By: Rabbi Zvi Goldberg

Passover Products 2022

Audio for this webinar can be found here.

Pre-Purchase Advice – for Dishwashers

STAR-K does not certify dishwashers. Dishwashers may not be used on Shabbos and Yom Tov. The recommendations provided below are meant only as guidelines for consumers who wish to purchase a dishwasher that can be opened and loaded on Shabbos and Yom Tov without a worry that doing so will violate any aspects of shmiras Shabbos.

NOTE: Some dishwasher manufacturers include a “Sabbath Mode” or “Kosher Consumer-Friendly Mode” in their devices. While this mode does not allow the device to be used on Shabbos or Yom Tov, it will disable other controls and allow it to be opened and loaded on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

Opening the Dishwasher Door

Should not activate any tones or digital readouts (e.g., ‘door ajar’ icons, settings).

Should not trigger an interior light.

Should not trigger a change in door icons. (e.g., Some dishwashers display the word Clean at the end of a cycle. Opening the door to unload […]

A Brief Intro to “Kosher for Passover” and the Pesach Holiday

By: Rabbi Dovid Heber

January 2025

Passover is a joyous eight-day holiday celebrated in early spring. The name Pesach is derived from the Hebrew “to pass over,” since G-d “passed over” the homes of the Jews during the tenth plague on the Egyptians.

Passover commemorates the redemption of the enslaved Israelites from Egypt and the forging of the new Jewish nation. It has a distinctive set of laws and customs, the highlight being the Seder, a festive meal on the first two nights (only one in Israel) that includes many symbolic foods – matzah, bitter herbs, charoses – and four cups of wine. This family-centered holiday is widely observed, albeit with a diversity of beloved traditions passed down from generation to generation. Passover’s popularity is reflected in the kosher marketplace where, by some accounts, 40% of sales revolves around this holiday.

Passover involves a unique set of kosher laws, chief among them the prohibition to eat any […]

The 10 Commandments for the Prudent Passover Consumer

I. Thou Shalt Read Product Labels Carefully

Make sure a reliable Kosher for Passover certification appears on the package. Don’t assume the product is kosher for Passover just because it is in the Passover section of the supermarket.

II. Thou Shalt Beware of Look-Alikes

Often Kosher for Passover and non-Kosher for Passover products have identical packaging except for the “P” symbol.

III. Thou Shalt Know That Not All Matzohs are Kosher for Passover

Stores often do not remove chometzdik matzos from the shelves even after the store is stocked with Kosher for Passover products!

IV. Thou Shalt Know Thine Personal Kashrus Level

Not all kashrus certifications are created equal. A knowledgeable kosher consumer reduces the chance of buying Kosher for Passover products that may not qualify for a consumer’s personal kosher or Passover kosher standards.

V. Thou Shalt Look Before You Cook!

Even with the best intentions a non-Kosher for Passover […]

Global Brands Team Up with STAR-K in Israel

By: Avrom Pollak

Recognizing
the high demand for popular brand name food imports with a Mehadrin hashgacha
in Israel was the impetus three years ago for opening our STAR-K Israel office.
We felt uniquely qualified to begin working with Israel’s largest food
distributors due to our reputation of always maintaining a high degree of
professionalism, our food technology expertise, and worldwide presence in the
global marketplace.

STAR-K
was fortunate in teaming up with Rabbi Ahron Haskel who, with his many years of
experience, accepted our offer to become director of STAR-K Israel[1].
Along with his keen understanding of the intricacies of the Israeli food market
and the high regard that both kashrus professionals and food distributors have
for Rav Haskel, he was the perfect choice for this newest STAR-K venture.
Distributors such as Israel Beer Breweries Ltd (IBBL)/Coca-Cola, Osem/Nestlé, Strauss,
and Tnuva were equally pleased with the new opportunities to import Mehadrin
products for the Israeli public.

Something to Drink To!

STAR-K
has also been very active in providing the […]

From the STAR-K BMG Chabura: First Aide – Addressing the Halachic Challenges of Domestic and Special Needs Aides in the Home

By: Rabbi Yaakov Heinemann

Kashrus Kurrents, Winter 2022

Many
families find themselves caring for aging parents or a special needs child and require
additional assistance. Hiring a live-in, an aide, or full-time cleaning help who
is an aino Yehudi can create many real halachic concerns. Here
are some of the issues we address in this article:

Basar Shenis’aleim
Min Ha’ayin: Meat which has been left out of the watch of a Yehudi.Yichud Keilim and Bishul
Akum: Kosher utensils which have been left unattended with an aino
Yehudi and their change in status when used by an aino Yehudi.Stam Yeinum: Wine which may
have been handled by an aino Yehudi in a way that would forbid a Yehudi
from drinking it.Yichud: If a Jewish
man or woman is left alone with a person of the opposite gender.

Basar Shenis’aleim Min Ha’ayin

The Gemara addresses a concern called basar shenis’aleim min ha’ayin about a bird that may have switched a piece of kosher meat which was not being watched […]

Sushi: The Birth of a Yiddishe Meichel

By: Rabbi Tzvi Rosen

Kashrus Kurrents, Winter 2022

Our numerous sojourns through Galus not
only defined and influenced the minhagim emerging from those foreign
lands, but also infused our cuisine with bursts of ethnic diversity – pierogi and cholopshkes from
Poland, couscous and harira from Morocco, goulash and strudel from Austro-Hungary,
and gravlax from Scandinavia. Our seudos feature dips from around the
world – schug from Yemen, hummus from the Levant, guacamole from Mexico,
and matbucha from Morocco. As our migration advanced to the shores of the goldene
medina, kosher restaurants sprang up that offered consumers a bevy of
ethnic choices, from Chinese won ton soup and Italian calzones to Persian
kebabs and Lebanese shawarma.

The latest entry to that diverse menu is the
proliferation of sushi – a traditional dish from Japan – that has been wildly
embraced by Jewish communities everywhere and is now nearly as popular as apple
pie (or potato kugel). It has found a place of prominence in virtually every
kosher restaurant, wedding […]

Preparing & Kashering the Pesach Kitchen

By: Rabbi Moshe Heinemann

Reviewed January 2025

Download PDF of Article Here

As the Yom Tov of Pesach nears, and the diligent balabusta begins to tackle the challenge of preparing the kitchen for Pesach, undoubtedly the light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to shine. Although moving into a separate Pesach home sounds very inviting, such luxuries are often not affordable and definitely not in the Pesach spirit. Among the basic mitzvos of the chag is the mitzvah of tashbisu se’or mibateichem, ridding one’s home and possessions of chometz. However, if we are to use kitchen equipment, utensils, or articles that can be found in our kitchen year-round, it may be insufficient to just clean them thoroughly. One is forbidden to use these items unless they have been especially prepared for Pesach. This preparation process is known as kashering.

The Torah instructs us that the proper kashering method used to […]

Kashering for Pesach According to Sephardi Minhagim

By: Rabbi Emanuel Goldfeiz

View / Download PDF of Article Here

מקצת הלכות הגעלת והכשרת הכלים לפסח לפי מנהגי ספרדים

Utensils that are used during the year with chometz are forbidden to be used during Pesach without kashering them according to Halacha. From the time it is prohibited to eat chometz on Erev Pesach, it is forbidden to use the utensils without kashering them according to Halacha. The proper kashering method used to rid a vessel of chometz is dependent upon the original method of food preparation through which chometz was absorbed into the vessel.1We do not recite a bracha when kashering an item since it is a negative commandment not to consume the taste of non-kosher food.2Sephardic custom is that the method of kashering depends upon the most common usage of the vessel. Therefore, it is sufficient to pour boiling hot water […]

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