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Kosher for Consumers
Useful articles and interesting information about Keeping Kosher and Kosher Supervision.
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The Pesach holiday is a time where we have an opportunity to reflect on our rich heritage and affirm our commitment to the continuity of our many traditions. The geulah from Mitzrayim was the point in our great history when we were freed from bondage to man, and culminated with our becoming a nation with the subsequent acceptance of the Torah at Har Sinai. What has sustained us and preserved us throughout the millennia? Observance of Torah and mitzvos is replete with many intricate details that require us to be highly meticulous in our performance, in order to properly fulfill what is required by religious law. During Pesach, this notion expresses itself through required measurements of the special foods we eat during the holiday. These basic measurements and their careful observance are very much a part of our heritage. Indeed, the Talmud states that halachic measurements are a part of the unique laws that were given to Moshe Rabeinu at Sinai[1].
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SmileyCookie.com Becomes OU Kosher
Beginning today, any Smiley Cookie ordered through http://www.SmileyCookie.com will be OU Kosher certified, according to Adam Golomb, director, e-Commerce, http://www.SmileyCookie.com.
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Lo Basi Ella L’orer - Chametz: Heteira bola or issura bola
The Gemara Avoda Zara (76a) differentiates between kailim used to roast kodshim and those used to roast other issurim. For the former, it is sufficient to kasher with hagalah, because when they had absorbed ta’am it was still heter (heteira bola), while the latter requires libun because when they absorbed ta’am it was already issur (issura bola).
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Sweet Breath Announces Recent OU Certification
TPR Holdings LLC, a New York City-based investor and operator in the consumer products industry, announced today that their newly acquired brand, Sweet Breath®, a leader in the breath freshener and oral care category, attained kosher certification through the Orthodox Union (OU).
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Ask OU Kosher March 2011: Say Cheese
March 2011 By Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer OU Kosher Dairy Expert
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Honibe Pure Honey Now OU Kosher
Honibe™ - Pure Honey Joy™ Now Kosher Certified Through the Orthodox Union; Island Abbey Foods Attains Kosher Certification for Honibe™ Line of Products
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More Tootsie Roll Products (Including Pops) Are Now OU Kosher
Orthodox Union Approves Placement of Kosher Symbol on Iconic Tootsie Roll Industries Brands
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Lo Basi Ella L’orer - Grape Purée and Vinegar
The Gemara (A.Z. 55b) says that wine becomes susceptible to mageh akum only after hamshacha. Before this point mageh akum will not make this wine assur. Hamshacha takes place when some amount of clear juice is separated from the peels and pits. Even if only a tiny amount of juice is separated, all the remaining juice that is still mixed with the peels and pits is now susceptible to mageh akum. This is brought in Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 123:17). Even if we are uncertain as to whether hamshacha took place, Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 123:19) rules that we must be machmir and assur the wine. Therefore, a full barrel of crushed grapes although it appears that hamshacha did not take place, if left in the possession of a non-Jew, becomes assur. We must suspect that some clear juice was removed by the non-Jew, thus invalidating all the remaining wine.
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Lo Basi Ella L’orer - Grape juice concentrate
Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 134:5) paskens that yayin nesech is batel in 6 parts water. Although bitul usually require 60 parts, wine is an exception. Wine that is diluted 6 times loses its status of wine, and is viewed as becoming nifgam. However, this is not true in all situations. The Gemara (Menachos 87a) relates that Rav Yosef had a vineyard which was so flavorful that standard meziga required dilution in 6 parts water. Likewise, grape juice concentrate can require many dilutions just to reconstitute to single strength, and will clearly not be batel in 6 parts water. Because grape juice concentrate is used so widely as an ingredient in both foods and drinks, it raises many questions regarding bitul and kashering kailim.
