tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.comments2023-04-11T09:32:00.529-04:00International Kosher CouncilRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062138379289977368noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-74237002124400013142018-04-15T22:05:52.190-04:002018-04-15T22:05:52.190-04:00So basically, youre serving bugs.So basically, youre serving bugs.ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188983363071426554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-53253353824059475772016-05-19T11:52:58.382-04:002016-05-19T11:52:58.382-04:00I did ask my Rabbi. I did my homework. And I inter...I did ask my Rabbi. I did my homework. And I interviewed Rabbi Zev Schwarcz on the phone. He is definitely unconventional. To this date the only Orthodox Rabbi I have ever met willing to certify an establishment owned by Jews that is opened on Shabbos. I would never eat there. The store in question I was researching was "sweet freedom" in Philly. My non-jewish co worker specifically bought cupcakes there so I could participate in the office party. In this case my Rabbi's approval for eating the cupcake is simply because the store is literally: gluten free, vegan, dairy free, egg free, soy free, corn free, peanut free, and refined free. So theoretically they don't even need hashgacha - there are no ingredients! Which is good news because the hashgacha they have only has a Rabbi visiting the store once a month, sometimes less often than that. I confirmed that with the store and with Rabbi Schwarcz. I personally have no "desire to be contentious rather than a desire to really know what the Law is" although I do agree that yet this does "happens to be a big problem in the Jewish world today." I am pretty familiar with Jewish Law as well as standard customs. This agencies standards are definitely far off from any other mainstream organization such as the OU, Chaf-K, and so on. So although IKC advertises "over 20 years experience with Kashrus supervision with major kosher certifying agencies" they definitely have broken away from the standards those organizations adhere to. I ate the cupcakes but only because of the "eiva" considerations involved at my office. I would never bring my family there lichatchila. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-36204602425400214812016-05-19T08:11:42.844-04:002016-05-19T08:11:42.844-04:00My daughter invited us for a Shabbat meal and my g...My daughter invited us for a Shabbat meal and my girlfriend wanted to bring some Vegan desert pastries from a restaurant certified by the International Kosher Council, Since my girlfriend knows my daughter keeps a kosher home she sent the restaurant link to my daughter for approval. My daughter had never heard of this certification and said she would ask her Rabbi! I suggest to all you haters to do the same rather than trying to publicly discredit Rabbi Zen with your fanatical mumbo jumbo. Our kosher laws are simple people make them complicated and furthermore regarding bugs it is not in any restaurants interest to have them present in their restaurant or food and a Mashgiach cannot assure the absence of bugs he can only do his best at finding them before you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-21620849064792089872015-07-29T17:05:48.588-04:002015-07-29T17:05:48.588-04:00If an individual buys ice cream at one of your sto...If an individual buys ice cream at one of your stores, and the same ice cream scoop is used for all ice cream, what about the few exceptions? What if an individual wants to eat the ice cream on his own kosher dishes> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-50752209212495059922015-07-23T10:20:31.453-04:002015-07-23T10:20:31.453-04:00A vegetarian/vegan place under IKC supervision ope...A vegetarian/vegan place under IKC supervision opened recently in Rego Park, NY. Yelp and similar sites have rave reviews about the food. However, I see on the menu that there are many broccoli dishes served. Does a mashgiach supervise cleaning the broccoli, which definitely is an arduous task (as I've been told by a mashgiach at a kosher Chinese place on LI). And is the status of rice regarding bishul akum the same as that of beans? I don’t know who owns this establishment, so we won’t go into those particulars here. Bottom line, I want to know if its kashrus is reliable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-8921819105446645892014-12-28T11:27:31.576-05:002014-12-28T11:27:31.576-05:00Is this bakery still certified?Is this bakery still certified?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08906746084868120080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-85540655105531953452014-08-01T15:31:50.223-04:002014-08-01T15:31:50.223-04:00what is the situation of mashgiach on shabbat? is ...what is the situation of mashgiach on shabbat? is there one at your vegetarian places?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-29351122240136648862014-06-20T04:00:35.431-04:002014-06-20T04:00:35.431-04:00Ouch!! That's gotta burnOuch!! That's gotta burnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-30151976632087859162013-12-05T21:52:25.298-05:002013-12-05T21:52:25.298-05:00Looking at Blossom's menu it seems like they s...Looking at Blossom's menu it seems like they serve both kosher and non-kosher wines. Would you please explain to me how Blossom cafe can serve non-kosher wine and be considered a kosher establishment? If you posted the answer to this elsewhere, please direct me Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14663924438337695669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-69833910800281449082013-06-07T12:54:30.505-04:002013-06-07T12:54:30.505-04:00so your Mashgihim, work over there while they cond...so your Mashgihim, work over there while they conduct business on Shabbos?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-87407373773524597952013-02-28T13:57:44.231-05:002013-02-28T13:57:44.231-05:00Rabbi,
Please phone me at your earliest opportunit...Rabbi,<br />Please phone me at your earliest opportunity.<br />I have a Kashrus query.<br />Kind Regards<br />Pinchos Woolstone<br />7182211628Pinchos Woolstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13023147468527198152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-86397434703161546362011-10-23T18:05:46.724-04:002011-10-23T18:05:46.724-04:00I have no restaurant which has no Mashgiach and no...I have no restaurant which has no Mashgiach and no supervision. I do not know what you are referring to. If you want to ask more clearly and specifically by all means please do.<br />You can also send me an email at rabbi@ikckosher.com <br />It's convenient being "anonymous" and making unsubstantiated claims.RRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17062138379289977368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-74206023655860732172011-10-19T00:33:42.068-04:002011-10-19T00:33:42.068-04:00It is sad that this restaurant is considered Koshe...It is sad that this restaurant is considered Kosher. There isn't any mishgeach or kosher supervision, as per my phone conversation with their employee. Do you really know what is going on there? Rabbi with all respect please...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-32689010971406590962011-06-30T21:57:01.202-04:002011-06-30T21:57:01.202-04:00A good point. However, a proper balance must be st...A good point. However, a proper balance must be struck. We still must trust and instill trust. And we have the obligation, unless we have some evidence or knowledge to the contrary, to believe that the person is doing the correct thing. This is referred to as a "chezkas kashrut".<br />Of course as parents we have to act as swift as possible to protect and care for our children. And as it is really the parents house by all "rights" we as parents can do whatever we wish with or without proof. There really is nothing that officially is private especially if there is a valid suspicion of wrongdoing. BUT, I repeat, we do have to instill trust and foster a proper balance.RRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17062138379289977368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-7832155164633694212011-06-29T22:48:48.717-04:002011-06-29T22:48:48.717-04:00While that is certainly true, the sources on kashr...While that is certainly true, the sources on kashrut mention the idea of creating mirtat (fear) among the non-Jews involved. Now granted, this doesn't mean the mashgiach should wear a hockey mask and yell 'boo', but only that they should fear being caught at any moment. Privacy for one's household is appropriate where there is no risk of someone engaging in non-kosher practices for person gain or lack of knowledge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-83925989506094881882010-12-13T11:01:42.113-05:002010-12-13T11:01:42.113-05:00From what I understand what you said above is true...From what I understand what you said above is true only if the kosher establishment opened on shabbos is owned by a non-jew. if owned by a jew then the ownership needs to be transferred to a non-jew for shabbos via a Shtar Mechira. Is that correct?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-62458020780943020292010-09-26T11:29:37.603-04:002010-09-26T11:29:37.603-04:00Forgetting for a moment the argument that one who ...Forgetting for a moment the argument that one who does not keep shabbat may be willing to break other laws, including laws of kashrut, does addressing only what you see as the "Kosher" issues serve the purpose of a hashgacha? For example, if the restaurant owner is Jewish and is in possession of chametz during pesach, it is forbidden to Jews to eat that food even after pesach is over. This is not a "Kosher issue," but the penalty is severe and we tend to be machmir on the issue. When I look at a hashgacha, it tells me that an observant Jews with yirat shamayim has inspected the premises and would be willing to eat there himself--and he certifies that it is not problematic for another observant Jew to do the same. Is this the case for your hashgacha? In the end, I don't care whether someone considers the kosher issues to be ok unless, at the end of the day, it translates into "it's okay to eat there." Respectfully, Moshe PeretzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-50046594252760047732010-09-20T10:06:09.375-04:002010-09-20T10:06:09.375-04:00You refer to Shabbos and Kosher as being 2 issues....You refer to Shabbos and Kosher as being 2 issues. Although this is the case the two things are regarded as very closely linked and difficult to seperate. <br /><br />Many Kashrut Authorites will therefore not rely on a person who does not keep Shabbos to be trusted to keep a strictly kosher business especially with the added difficulties imposed by shabbos. <br />Do you have a shomer on site on shabbos for the places that are open?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-48753752435044955872010-06-22T14:43:18.010-04:002010-06-22T14:43:18.010-04:00Thank you JR
and if you have any suggestions or fa...Thank you JR<br />and if you have any suggestions or favorite places you would like me to check into, please let me knowRRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17062138379289977368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-66849328110354275382010-06-22T14:42:45.483-04:002010-06-22T14:42:45.483-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.RRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17062138379289977368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-26497555819102140552010-06-22T08:47:44.785-04:002010-06-22T08:47:44.785-04:00Thank you! This is much appreciated! Please keep...Thank you! This is much appreciated! Please keep certifying vegetarian places in Philadelphia! --JRAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-80409627672431277652010-04-12T12:23:19.799-04:002010-04-12T12:23:19.799-04:00The site looks pretty good! There's a lot of h...The site looks pretty good! There's a lot of handy info.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-22832231909517120892010-01-20T23:42:46.685-05:002010-01-20T23:42:46.685-05:00Hi Rabbi,
It wasnt clear if the owners are jewish ...Hi Rabbi,<br />It wasnt clear if the owners are jewish or not.<br />Thanks<br />JMEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-12661653099647844252010-01-18T14:44:33.367-05:002010-01-18T14:44:33.367-05:00If you have more questions please feel free to ask...If you have more questions please feel free to ask me but I will refer you to the following posted Q&A from<br />Friday, June 26, 2009<br />Shabbos and Kosher<br />I recieved the following question:<br />I understand that you give the kosher supervision for (Certain Restaurant) in Manhattan. How is it possible for it to be kosher when it is open on the Sabbath?<br /><br />Thanks for answering!<br /><br />And I answered the following:<br />Hello,<br />Thanks for the question.<br />According to Jewish Law, Shabbos and Kosher are two different things. Being open on Shabbos does not effect the Kosher status of the food.<br />Of course we want every Jew to be all that they can be and keep the Shabbos as holy as can be. BUT if someone does not keep Shabbos it does NOT at all mean that their Kosher standards are compromised.<br />Unfortunately, in this world of convoluted and unnecessary stringencies we are made to believe the opposite, that Shabbos is somehow a Kosher standard.<br />When I was young, reliable certifying agencies did give certification to restaurants and businesses open on Shabbos. And even now all the major certifying agencies (OU, OK, etc.) certify factories that produce on Shabbos.<br />If I can help you any more please feel free to contact me further.<br />Have a good Shabbos.<br />Rabbi SchwarczRRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17062138379289977368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133681342380820227.post-11850994920195798622010-01-17T18:37:00.550-05:002010-01-17T18:37:00.550-05:00well.. not the other day, more like about a year a...well.. not the other day, more like about a year ago... never the less, i am still curious as to how that works.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com