Top Ten Questions for May 2013 presented by Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc)
Q: Can one tovel keilim in Lake Michigan?
A: Yes. One should consult with their Rabbi before performing tevillas keilim in a river or small lake, but there is no question that Lake Michigan is suitable.
Q: Do dried mushrooms require a hechsher?
A: No, dried mushrooms do not require a hechsher.
Q: I have seen the letter “k” printed on labels. Is that a reliable hechsher?
A: Being that the letter “k” is not a trademark, it cannot be relied upon as a reliable hechsher without investigating what agency, if any, stands behind that particular “k”.
Q: Does rice paper require a hechsher?
A: Rice paper composed of only rice flour and water does not need a hechsher.
Q: Is the mahi mahi or dolphin fish kosher?
A: Being that common fish names are highly inaccurate in describing a species of fish, the only way to determine if a fish is kosher is to examine the skin for scales that can be removed without ripping the skin. Fillets with no skin patch are only recommended with a reliable hechsher or if sold at kosher certified store. The only exception is salmon which may be purchased with no skin patch.
Q: Does powdered sugar need a hechser?
A: No. In general pure sugar in its various forms does not need a hechsher.
Q: Can one purchase cut up fruit at a grocery store?
A: It would depend on the type of store. In larger chain-type stores there is little concern that knives will be used between the different departments, and purchasing cut fruit would be permitted. Smaller local groceries might use the same knives amongst the different departments and cut fruit would not be recommended from those stores.
Q: Can one use fresh cauliflower?
A: One can use fresh cauliflower after performing a “Chazaka Check” as follows: The cauliflower must be cut into 8 pieces, and washed thoroughly in cold water with either a small amount of a kosher vegetable wash or a soap solution such as dish liquid. The cauliflower is then removed from the water. If there are insects found in the water, the process should be repeated until no insects are found in the water. Then three florets of the cauliflower must be checked and if no bugs are found, the remaining produce may be used without further checking.
Q: Do briquettes require hashgachah? Does it make a difference if they have a specific flavor like apple, cherry, or hickory?
A: Charcoal briquettes contain a wood byproduct (among other ingredients), and the other items listed in the question are essentially 100% wood. The flavor of the food cooked with these items is impacted by the type of wood used, and the manufacturers highlight this by identifying the source of the wood. Thus, the names “mesquite briquettes”, “apple chips”, and “alder pellets” refer to items made from the wood of mesquite, apple or alder trees. In general, these items are made from pure wood (or in the case of briquettes, wood mixed with ingredients that are not kosher-sensitive) and do not require hashgachah. The only exceptions are if the wood is labeled as being pretreated, coated, soaked in wine, produced from barrels which previously held wine, or are labeled as containing some other kosher-sensitive ingredients.
Q: Are scallions (green onions) considered a davar charif (sharp food) similar to regular yellow onions?
A: Yes, scallions are considered a davar charif, and will become fleishig if cut with a fleishig knife.
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Anyone can simply obstain for doing or eating something. Hashem created people and malochim and each has a job. We need to stop trying to pretend we are the malochim. Shulchan aruch tells us the Halacha and there is no reason to be a marter when not absolutely required. There us a Halacha that if you check an apple for wormholes and find none, then bite into the apple and see a worm, you can continue eating the apple including the worm!!! Halacha does not allow us to eat bugs visible to the naked eye. Once you check (no magnifying… Read more »
ASK YOU RAV!!!
there are 2 or more separate orgs. that use the triangle k (don’t ask me how or why!!). None are considered generally reliable. You have to know the masgiach on a case-by-case basis.
is triangle K a qualified hechsher? on lays chips for example…
the only way to be 100% sure that there are no bugs in cauliflower is by doing as follows: 1-cut all the brown that you can see on the florets,(be careful, since it can mean that there is infestation) 2- separate the florets into small ones 3- put them into water that has enough soap that you can feel it when touching the water while rubbing your thumb and index fingers 4- after sitting in the water for 4m, and swishing it a couple of times during h the 4 m, check the water for bugs 5- the bugs can… Read more »
First thank you to #28,
This is clear answers it is amazing, please continue.
And # 6 stop living in a bubble,, we have the same shulchan aruch. stop looking for chumros,,
gevald do you see whats happening outside??
and your looking for chumros??????
B”H for clarity..
Not sure if this affects anything, but powdered sugar has about 3% corn starch and is not 100% sugar.
#6 you sound very insulting – who says they are kulos and do you think for a moment that any hashgocha/beis din doesn’t rely on kulos?
#27 you need to say who you are – CRC has talmidei chachomim with shimush behind it – who do you have behind you?
I disagre with the rabbi from crc, lake michgan is only kosher for a mikve acording to rabenu tam in shuljan aruch 201, since acording halacha this is a river, al the water is sochel in to the straits mackinac and in to lake huron and the to niagra falls and then to st. lawrence river, and its level depends on rain and snoew melting, the water coms from litel rivers and gos out in this laks and st. lawrence river, so al the water is sochel, so make a efert and go to a regular mikve
I work for Diamond-K Kosher(Lubavitch), and I have actually seen a local chain grocery store cut up watermelon, with the knives from the meat dept.
http://askcrc.org/
http://www.crcweb.org/
Every time I have a kosher question I call or email the ok.
I always get a clear answer …the rabbis at the ok know more about Kashrus then almost anyone.
Great thanks. Please post more like this concise and to the point
I would venture to guess that the fine folks at the CRC are much more knowledgeable that most of the people reading this article, let alone posting their comments. I also think that they would know what is more mehadrin. I say that if they say something in this wonderful article, let it be, and stop looking for reasons to show how much more strict some people are.
Freeze dried mushrooms DO need a hechsher. They can dry other tarfus on the same line
You can pose your kashrus questions to the CRC through twitter and they will answer.
reposting of #7, I messed up the url’s:
General Site:
http://www.crcweb.org/
Looking for fast kashruth answers:
Click the link to go to ASKcRc:
http://ASKcRc.org
They have phone and tablet apps and they also have a twitter account.
phone: 773-465-3900
sometimes the sugar is an ingredient in a manufactured item that does require a hechsher, and the manufacturer needs to show that all of its ingredients are kosher. that’s why they would want it and pay for it.
1. Not everyone knows which things don’t need hechsherim, so the hechsher is a service to the consumer
2. The manufacturer wants the hechsher and is willing to pay for it
3. There are often things that *can* be wrong with these foods, but they’re so uncommon that al pi din you don’t have to worry about them. When there is a hechsher they check even for these uncommon problems, so you can be even surer that it is kosher.
Because there aren’t any treife fish that look similar enough. One should ALWAYS suspect fishmongers of fraud, but you can recognise salmon by its flesh. Other fish look too similar to each other, so it’s easy for them to cheat, AND THEY DO.
frozen cauliflower and broccoli with a bodek or reliable hechsher. I have cleaned fresh cauliflower according to the kashrus guidelines and have opened individual florets and tiny bugs live in there.
salmon: I have been told by a Lubavitcher rav that salmon requires skin-on or hechsher (since there have been numerous cases of fraud in the fish industry)
cauliflower: according to the OK Veggie checking guide, fresh cauliflower should never be used. just remember that even if its way easier to prepare food by following kulos on bug-checking, eating one teeny-tiny bug is just as big of a deal as eating treif animals chas vshalom
Thank you
And I have question about mushrooms. Most dried mushrooms I have seen in the store are the wild mushrooms; as such they can be infested with worms, I don’t understand how they can be used without hechsher. Anybody care to explain, please?
it is generally better to stay away from fresh cauliflower. It is near impossible to find all the tiny bugs
Some say it’s mutar, – yiras shemayim should not do so. This is a heter, that most lubavitchers haven’t adopted.
Unfortunately it’s unknown to most of anash the extent to which our Rabbonim are accessible for the questions from the average layman. I have a list of 10 Rabbonim in different time zones, – based on the time of day or night I would call one of these rabbonim if I had a question like the types listed in the article – usually I’m answered by the 3rd Rabbi I attempt to call. Unfortunately, many of anash, young people especially are uncomfortable with the idea of calling a Rov, or totally unaware such an option exists. This is not to… Read more »
there may be different deyes on any specific question, but when we need answers immediately or can’t reach our Rabbonim cRc is a reliable source. Their site, while not exhaustive, has lists of humdreds of specific products. You can also get emails about fraudulent or mistaken hecheshrim on products from all agencies that have come to their attention. There are also bug-checking videos on the site and for phones. When are our agencies going to become so accessible? If anything is available, PLEASE POST IN COMMENTS. WE WOULD ALL BENEFIT
General Site: http://www.crcweb.org/
Looking for fast kashruth answers:
Click the link to go to ASKcRc – http://ASKcRc.org
There are phone and tablet apps and they are on twitter.
phone: 773-465-3900
To echo previous posters – thank you for posting such useful and practical information.
Perhaps in the future (if not done so here,) one of the well known Lubavitcher Rabbonim could review the appropriateness of some of the kulos listed here for practical application by Anash.
Finnaly, straight forward and simple answers on common questions that need to be answered.
My question is if dried mushroom do not need a hechsher or sugar why are they placing a hechsher on them…?
yes this is great
Please post this type of things more often
Can you buy shoprite brand frozen vegies? or frozen fruit?
and please do it more often!