On Wednesday, March 8, 2006, the OK held a massive mashgiach training session at its headquarters in Brooklyn. Led by Restaurant and Catering Rabbinic Coordinator, Rabbi Naftali Marrus, the session focused on familiarizing new mashgichim with OK policies and procedures. The OK conference room was filled beyond capacity, with dozens mashgichim who were ready to learn the ropes of the OK.
Rabbi Chaim Fogleman, the Rabbinic Coordinator who oversees Restaurants and Catering Facilities, began the conference with a D’Var Torah that connected Parshas Tetzaveh and kashrus. He explained that Moshe Rabbeinu has a connection and responsibility for every Jew and that is why Hashem spoke through Moshe. Even Hashem’s instructions to Aharon HaCohen came through Moshe. In a similar way, the OK has a responsibility for the kashrus of every Jew who eats in one of its many certified restaurants. Since the OK is responsible for what every Jew eats in its restaurants, its certification must be up to the highest standard of Cholov Yisroel, Pas Yisroel, Bishul Yisroel and Chassidishe Shechita.
OK Kosher Filled to Capacity for Restaurant Mashgichim Conference
On Wednesday, March 8, 2006, the OK held a massive mashgiach training session at its headquarters in Brooklyn. Led by Restaurant and Catering Rabbinic Coordinator, Rabbi Naftali Marrus, the session focused on familiarizing new mashgichim with OK policies and procedures. The OK conference room was filled beyond capacity, with dozens mashgichim who were ready to learn the ropes of the OK.
Rabbi Chaim Fogleman, the Rabbinic Coordinator who oversees Restaurants and Catering Facilities, began the conference with a D’Var Torah that connected Parshas Tetzaveh and kashrus. He explained that Moshe Rabbeinu has a connection and responsibility for every Jew and that is why Hashem spoke through Moshe. Even Hashem’s instructions to Aharon HaCohen came through Moshe. In a similar way, the OK has a responsibility for the kashrus of every Jew who eats in one of its many certified restaurants. Since the OK is responsible for what every Jew eats in its restaurants, its certification must be up to the highest standard of Cholov Yisroel, Pas Yisroel, Bishul Yisroel and Chassidishe Shechita.
Following Rabbi Fogelman’s remarks, Rabbi Marrus began the session with an overview of OK policies for restaurant and catering mashgichim. He noted the OK’s unique policy of mashgichim calling in to the office when they arrive at work and calling out when they leave, the importance of getting signed written approval from the OK office before using a new product, and OK’s instructions for properly checking vegetables.
Rabbi Yitzchok Hanoka, a Rabbinic Coordinator who specializes in bakeries and Pas/Bishul Yisroel, addressed the participants about the importance of Pas Yisroel and Bishul Yisroel. In keeping with the conference’s focus on job training, Rabbi Hanoka gave practical suggestions and examples of ways to ensure Pas Yisroel and Bishul Yisroel in a commercial setting. He emphasized that the OK does not rely on the mashgiach lighting a pilot light, but actually prefers that the mashgiach light each fire.
Finally, the mashgichim were treated to a special presentation of Close Up TV News’ feature story about the OK and the kosher certification process.
In keeping with its official name, OK Kosher Certification – The Committee for the Advancement of Torah, the OK has endeavored to increase its community education and job training programs on a worldwide level.
Rabbi Levy, Kashrus Administrator of the OK, recently traveled to Hong Kong where he delivered a kashrus lecture to the local Jewish community. Rabbi Levy spoke about two current “hot topics” in kashrus – the importance of reliable hechsherim and checking vegetables for insect infestation. Rabbi Levy also recently gave a community lecture in a local Brooklyn kollel in response to the latest whisky controversy. Rabbi Levy spoke about his personal visits to whisky distilleries in Scotland, and reassured attendees that sherry casks do not pose a kashrus problem for whisky.
awacs
"[I]ts certification must be up to the highest standard of Cholov Yisroel …"
I don’t get this. The OK, AFAIK, gives hechsherim on LOTS of Cholov Stam. Just look at their website.
What’s up with that?
concern
It’s a business like any other. Only they sell fear and religion a lethal mix I might add.
Cholov Yisroel
Rabbi Levy was given specific instructions by the Rebbe to continue certifying Cholov Stam products – so that the Jews who eat Cholov Stam will have a reliable Hechsher certifying those products.
However, this article is about the restaurants where the policy is strictly Cholov Yisroel/Pas Yisroel…
Simple Facts
To Yossi:
1. The OU decision makers make over $250,000 / year (yes I would call that a profiteer)
2. Just as the OU gives out tons of money to tzedaka so does the OK. Anyone can come and ask for Camp Scholorship, Mikva building, and many other campaigns
3. It is widely know already – ALL OK restaurant serve only Cholov Yisroel & Pas Yisroel. The reason for Cholov Yisroel is as "Cholov Yisroel" said – The Rebbe clearly told him to continue certifying it.
4. Yes, certain kashrus organization B"H make money, just like any other business – See Yossi Brook/CHK – It is what is done with the money after you make it. The OK currently employs about 30 frum employees in the shchuna and supports over 200 shluchim and frum yidin around the globe, How many Crown Heights companies can say that.
Truth seeker
To Yossi
first of all they employ close to 60 frum families from our shechuna, 2) hunderts of needy children recieved scholarships for camp, thousands of pepole learn Chassidus Mevuarres which they sponsor in addition to the hunderts of shluchim and mikvas,not to mention the new shul/mens mikvah in the heart of crown heights.
When it comes to resturants they are reliable as you can get they know when to give the hecsher and when to remove it ,catching situations before they become a problem.
Others should learn from them
Reb Yossi
to yossi…
I think that the tone of your voice lets us know that you have a kinah issue on this.
look long and hard at yourself as to why you can not ‘fargin’ a yid parnoso.
There is no Q. that the OK has raised the bar for all kashrus in the world.
Achdus
In the name of achdus, let’s stop the LH going on here. Mishenichnas Adar Marbin B’simcha – just be happy that b/c of the OK you have restaurants with chassidishe shechita/cholov yisroel/pas yisroel etc so you can go out for a nice meal once in a while.
Moishe Avrohom
To Yossi
It is obvious from your name who you are or who you represent.
It is now public knowledge that the OK is a nonprofit orginazation.
Yet in your orginazation (CHK) your daughter (who took her frormer husband to court and not to Bais din ) works.
Rabbi Osdoboas two sons work there.
Rabbi Schwei is not permitted to voice an opinion.
Is that not a family orginazation?
Yehuda Naftoli
The following comment was added to the article in this forum regrding the anti semitic omission of Ari Halberstam’s murder.
<Reb Avrohom wrote:
Why are you so disgusted by the anti-semites?
Just look at the previous article about the OK.
They made a conference and look at all the hate that was spewed at them. With such Jews (friends)who needs Arabs (enemies)?>
in defense of yossi brook
In response to Moshe avrohoms attack on CHK.
What is wrong with a family owned business? All family businesses operate a lot better than publicly owned ones. The best thing that ever happened to CHK was the privatization by Horav Ozdoba Shlita. Now it operates without outside inteference from Vaad Hakohol or any other entity. This makes things much more efficient. Horav Ozdoba Shlita is the best Rav Hamachshir around. If Shwei were allowed to interfere with Kashrus there would only be problems and unnecessary shailos that would hurt revenue. Take the water filter meshigas for example. Under Horav Ozdoba things are much better than under Horav Marlow a"h. Horav Marlow a"h
used to give him a hard time, whenever he checked up on things he had shailos and chumros that slowed things down. Fortunately, Horav Ozdoba shlita understands this and gives him full reign of all the Kashrus issues. If Shochtim have problems he refers them all to him. Hes confident in his experience and yiras shomayim that he knows whats best for Kashrus and he rarely intervenes. Thats the way a hechsher should run, and we should be mechazek Horav Ozdoba and yossi brook as much as possible.
anonymous 3
to in defense of yossi brook:
you wrote:
"Horav Marlow a"h
used to give him a hard time, whenever he checked up on things he had shailos and chumros that slowed things down. Fortunately, Horav Ozdoba shlita understands this and gives him full reign of all the Kashrus issues."
"Thats the way a hechsher should run, and we should be mechazek Horav Ozdoba and yossi brook as much as possible."
do you realize what you’re writing here?!
what you’re saying is that the one who should be making the kashrus decisions is NOT the Rov rather the MONEY GUY, that kashrus considerations are supposed to be pushed aside for monetary concerns!
i would have to say that your "defense" of Rav Ozdoba & Yossi Brook is an extremely strong argument against them.
"Hes confident in his….yiras shomayim"
i’m very tempted to make a comment here but I’ll have some self control…
Nobody
Well, if the CHK is a family owned business, they should stop taking money from the Kehilla to pay the salary of their Rav Hamachshir.
It is a facinating admission as defense of the CHK that they are now more lenient, and that "Horav Ozdaba shlita" basically rubber stamps Yossi Brook.
Some of us prefer to eat from a hechsher that actually monitors what it certifies, even if that "holds up the process."
We want Kosher - not politics
Smack bang its kinds funny how our own Lubavitch hashgachos are all horrible and the velt’s are all kosher. that my friends is total BS – pordon my language! The OU, Star-k and most other hashgachos are hardly kosher l’chatchila. they reley on the most pathetic heterim just to keep the’re certification on the products. Not so with the OK who takes Kashrus into concideration.
Take the Fresh Express salad story for example… on the same Jewish Press page there was an OK kashrus alert stating they can no longer certify the product, there was a add from Fresh Express anouncing Kosher certification by the Star-K. bear in mind that this was after a few weeks that the OK "temporarly removed certification due to major insect infestation".
What happend here???
In my mind eye. The following…
There was a major plague of insects that caused the OK to remove their Hashgacha (albit temporarly). Fresh Express, seeing a major loss in sales (from the Kosher consumer) soon found that there are companies that provide bogus Kosher Certification for a small amount of cash (such as the Star-k).
Another thing to support this theory is imeadietly after the Star-K started certifing it there was a "Ban" on pre-washed veggies form a bunch of "heimishe" hashgochos. (what Kashrus magazien called "lettace-gate").
What happened here? again to me it seems that some other respected agencies "busted" the Star-k. But due to their working relationships and Hate for Lubavitch agreed the Star-k will "temporarly remove certification" and everything will be banned.
Get the picture? use of a recogniced Kosher trademark for cash without being kosher!!!
So what’s better to drink Sqeezer under the OU or snapple under the OK?
Would Lubavitch unite and provide us, the consumer with KOSHER products, not poicies based on politics!!! this is a demand!!!
It eats me up when we start saying how everyone else is better than our own… Lubavitch has the highest standards! higher than most others. Just because we don’t see the dirty politics of the OU or other agencies since they are not on our doorstep, doesn’t mean they are all better. The OK, CHK etc. may be in a dirty fight invovled in politics etc. but when push-comes-to-shove, they are Kosher… I wish the others would be as careful!!!
You have some Chutzpah, Beg Mechila.
To "in defense of yossi brook wrote:"
You have some nerve. You are a Mechutzaf who should not be allowed in any shul. You are a serious low life. When it comes to Rabbi ozdoba you refer to him him with the proper respect and call him "Horav" but when it comes to Rabbi Schwei you just call him by his last name. Not to mention the chutzpah you have to speak of the Abir Shebiabirim Horav Marlow ZT"L. You should go to his Kever and beg Mechila.
You obviously have major issues and need some very deep therapy in order to dig into your past and find whats bothering you. I wish you much success. Therapy is long and dificult journey. Hatzlacha.
It seems from your post that you are very familiar with CHK, could it be that you are related to someone there that you know so much? I can only guess your last name!!!!!
Dovid Sholom
It seems from Yossi Brooks defender that Yossi himself is really the rav hamachshir and a partner in the business. I always naively felt it was the Hechsher of the Badatz. I could of enjoyed Raskins herring all this time had I known this before.
ignorant of CHK politics, B H
To "in defense of Yossi Brook"
Referring to Rav Schwei, shlita as Schwei is extremely disrespectful. He is a Rav on the Beis Din just like Rav Osdoba, shlita is. is it not possible to *gasp* give respect to BOTH of them at the same time?
I could go on and say that in my personal experiences with Rav Schwei he has shown himself to be a caring and wonderful Rav but that’s not necessary. He’s on our beis din. Show some respect!
Formerly a CH resident
To all those pro and con comments.
You all need to get a life. In reality every single Hashgocha has its issues OU, OK, CHK, STAR K etc. Historically every single one has had some major screw up. OK – oil vinager fiasco. CHK – yogurt issue. STAR K treif cruise issue etc. Bottom line is that all ofus not in the hashgacha buisness rely on these rabbis to go out there and certify the food we eat. Yes without a doubt the mud slinging between all the hashgacha groups is pathetic. However, the very mudslinging is what creates the competition which eventually leads to higher standards.
If only we can all get along and realize even these Rabonim are made up of flesh and blood. These very same rabonim who they themselves at times are deeply involved in the politics are not the problem of the people buying their products or the products of other hechsheirim. It is time that the groups especially the Lubavitcher ones get together and work out their issues. Because in reality at the end of the day they are the laughing stock of the whole hashgacha business and no one else.
Take it from someone who moved out of crown heights. When you are out of town the achdus is much greater. Regretfully however, in crown heights where the Rebbe stated "Kan tziva hashem es habrocha" the fighting continues which will only bring "Chas v’shalom "Klalos"
Answer to Formerly a CH resident
Please note that while you are correct that everyone has their problems there is one basic difference.
The mistake that occurred at OK over twenty yeares ago caused the OK to completely restructure in order to avoid these mishaps.
The CHK never admits to a mistake and unfortunately there are many of them.
The most famous recent one was there mess up at Ahava. Instead of admitting ande correcting it they denied it.
What was the result? They lost complete control at Ahava and now the Hisachdus is in complete control.
With the starter culutres they wrote a "teshuva" that it is mutar and they lost control at the starter plant.
There are many other mishaps at the CHK but they are covered up.
For example at a Bar Mitzva under the CHK EVERY table was served non-muvushal wine by goyishe waiters. The "mashgiach" came out in the middle of the Bar Mitzva and took off half empty bottles from every table!
This was not the first time this hall had non-mevushal wine. TheCHK was warned and did nothing about it.
Many affairs under the CHK serve strawberries that do not have the green tops cut off. Every proper hechsher requires this as they have worms there.
The CHK serves asparagus that do not have the tips cut off. These are full of shratzim.
The list goes on but the time has come to stop fighting and start to upgrade the kashrus in the shechuna to the standard the kahal thinks they are getting.
Maybe if peace were made with Rabbi Schwei and Rarabbi Osdoba, then the Rabbonim could put their common efforts into improving kashrus rather than fighting with each other. This way the kahal would profit and it would be La Yehudim haysa ora vesimcha!