look at this!! - Oy I'm kvelling (that means bursting with pride)

This is from chowhound about Kosher restaurants.

Thanks Queenscook!! Glad to be of help.

"queenscook Jun 18, 2009 02:34PM

re: queenscook

It is the one on (Blank St.)

It's under the supervision of R Zev Schwarcz.

I've spoken to him a few times about the various restaurants under his supervision, and I've found him always willing to answer my questions frankly, and in a way that shows he's thought of the issue and found an answer that satisfies him. I've also found him willing to talk about the leniencies he sometimes relies on, and their pros and cons, and why he feels they should be applied in a particular situation. Let's just say that I've tried having similar conversations with some other rabbis who give hechsherim, and sometimes found quite a different attitude to being questioned."

A continuation of Tuesday August 18th post -A Parsha by Parsha, step by step, guide to the Devarim cycle of responsibility

As we mentioned the the book of Deuteronomy is one unit, dealing with one unit of time, one mission for our lives.
The book encompasses a unique and crucial part of our cycle of life and mission in life that starts with the beginning of that book and ends with it's end.
Every Parsha is a step by step rebuilding guide for the Teshuva process which starts before Tisha B'av (not Elul or Rosh Hashana as we are led to believe) and ends with Simchas Torah.

Parshas Devorim is an overall rebuking of the Israelites ways in the desert meant to wake us up to introspect into our lives in general to make way for the change which Tisha B'av is supposed to invoke in us. Which is how we interact socially one to another. Which is the crucial foundation for the rest of our Teshuva process. Because no repentance works unless we first correct how we act to others. Tisha B'av is meant to set us straight on that road.
Next is Parshas V'eschanan - once we break down our bad character traits then it's time to rebuild our foundation so this Parsha reviews all the fundementals:
The Ten Commandments, The Shema, the real purpose and benefits of following the Torah.
Parshas Eikev deals almost solely with the Land of Israel. Because that is a truly important foundation of our faith and lives. More of the spiritual effect of the land rather than the physical. But we must spend the time next on dealing with how we allow that to impact us on our road to Teshuva, repentance. Because, besides the Torah discussed in last week's parsha, it is the yearning for Land of Israel which kept us together as a people through all the difficult times of history.
more to come.....

Oh if only the Torah was the law of the land

If the Torah was the law of the land we wouldn't need tort reform because there are no torts allowed.
the laws of murder and capital punishment are so cleverly crafted to allow just the right amount of deterrent with the right amount of compassion and humanity for both the criminal and, what we forget these days, the victim.
And there is so so much more.
The impeccable balance which the Torah law follows is so brilliant and it was devised more than 3000 years ago.
And still is the best working thing out there.

Now here is a very nice conversation

My name is Blank Blank, and I'm a yeshiva bachur learning in New York.
I was on the internet and gathered that you give kosher certification to Vegan restaurants.
If this is fact, I wanted to ask you (if you have time) the following questions.

I read your blog and saw that this conversation may be easier for you if done by phone, but I was hoping that this email could serve you well for your blog. (also email is easier for me...)


Questions:

1.
Some people are concerned that the bedikas tola'im done by the workers of these establishments is not halachically sufficient. Why is their method for ridding the produce of bugs considered halachically sufficient?

First of all, every restaurant has an incentive NOT to serve bugs. No patron wants to eat bugs. And a bug served could ruin their reputation. Plus a Vegan place has even more of an incentive.
Secondly, I do inspect the way they check and clean for bugs on their own as the way an establishment checks is not inherently acceptable. But in the places that I certify they were serious about not serving bugs and the method they used was acceptable. I only requested a second rinse after checking and they comply.

2.
Some people are concerned that there are bishul akum concerns in these restaurants. Why is there no concern for bishul akum?

There are 2 rules for Bishul Akum that for the most part exempt the foods served at vegan restaurants. The first, and this takes care of most things, is that whatever can be eaten raw is not a problem of Bishul Akum and obviously that takes care of most products. That primarily leaves beans and rice, and the second rule, that it has to be exquisite enough for a King's Table, takes care of that according to most opinions.

3.
If there is no concern for bedikas tola'im or bishul akum, then why do these restaurants require certification at all?

Mainly the fact that grape products ie. wine, vinegar, grape juice, etc whereas they are still vegan, need special Kosher certification. Also, and I found this myself upon occasion, sometimes the owners don't realize that a product they purchased may contain a non-kosher or dairy ingredient.

Thank you very much,

Pasha's Parshas is back - Deuteronomy for our lives

The cycle of the Torah Reading is significant. It is not an accident that certain portions are read at certain times of the year and that especially holds true for this time of Tshuva (repentance).
The book of Deuteronomy is one unit, dealing with one unit of time, one mission for our lives.
The book encompasses a unique and crucial part of our cycle of life that starts with the beginning of that book and ends with it's end.
Parshas Devarim is always read right before Tisha B'av and the last Parsha, Vzos Habracha is always read on Simchas Torah.
This tells us that from before Tisha B'av until after Simchas Torah we have one mission, one purpose in our lives.
And the Parshios of Devarim (Deuteronomy) are there to guide us week by week along this path.
Every Parsha is a step by step rebuilding guide for the Teshuva process which starts before Tisha B'av (not Elul or Rosh Hashana as we are led to believe) and ends with Simchas Torah.
This retooling is necessary every year to keep us on the proper path and allows us to grow and build from year to year.

The Joy of a Bad Thing Stopping

Yesterday (Aug 5) was a little known but very significant Jewish Holiday, "Tu B'av". "the fifteenth day of Av"
It is compared in the Talmud to the purity and innocence of Yom Kippur.
But what's interesting is that NOTHING actually happened on Tu B'av. Rather bad things STOPPED happening.
So when something bad stops that is a real cause for celebration to the point that it allows us to reflect on ourselves like we do on Yom Kippur.
Sometimes we don't see anything positive happening to us so we get discouraged but really we have to see all the bad things that didn't happen and be grateful and realize how we are indeed watched over and protected.

Pasha's Parshas - Stay True to Our Values

The Torah says, "And all of you who attached themselves closely to G-d (meaning firmly following the precepts of morality and integrity of G-d and the Torah) are alive TODAY".
Why does it say "today" it should have said "will be alive eternally'?
Isn't that the intended message?
If someone falls into a rushing river, just because he's moving you don't know he's alive if he's moving with the current, you only know he's alive if you see him struggling to fight against the current.
Just because a person's moving (functioning in society) is no proof he's "alive" in the present if all he does is go with the flow. But if he's following the Torah's rules of morality and integrity which are often a struggle against prevailing currents, then you know he's alive TODAY.
Let's be "alive" and true to our values.

Tisha B'av - Mourning for our loss 2000 years ago?

As Tisha B'av (the Fast of the Ninth of Av) is about to begin we need to realize that we are not commemorating an event or events that took place more than 2000 years ago.
If that were true it would have little or much less meaning today.
Look at the American Holidays that commemorate a past event that have lost much of their significance and they were no more than 200 years old!
For the Fast (or any Jewish Holiday) to have any significance we must realize that they are there to help us correct or improve ourselves based upon current and contemporary issues and wrongdoings.
The Talmud tells us "Any generation that the Temple is not rebuilt in their time it is as if it has been destroyed in their time". We aren't mourning the loss of 2000 years ago and the misdeeds which caused it back then but we are mourning OUR TIMES and the misdeeds that continue to not allow things to permanently change for the best. (the Temple to be rebuilt)
But we shouldn't despair and think that if this corruption is so widespread what can I as one person do?
The answer is alot.
As the prophet Isaiah in last week's Haftora said, that although he refers to the leaders as Lords of Sodom the people are still referred to a "night refuge" in a field and "separated remnant" that there still is some hope, even though it's a small remnant of goodness, they have the power to effect change.
We can effect a change with our efforts regardless of what we think everyone else will do.