Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

[Yehudaa]

Asking your local Rav in Lakewood, Crown Heights, or Paris doesn't help much.
You and everyone else here pokes fun about Israeli Kashrus being complicated but then doesn't ask someone who's familiar with it before eating it.
I'm still waiting for anyone here to drop a name to me of a Rav in Jerusalem that's familiar with Israeli Kashrus who is respected and followed by the Charedi community who says it's good and better than Rabbanut.
Sure, you can make fun of how it's politics, and that you heard the masgiach is a tzadik, and they only use para adumas that are shechted by R Chaim after davening 40  days by the Kosel. But until that happens, and as long as there isn't a rav that follows that criteria who says it's ok, the fact that this American Rosh yeshiva, and that community Rav who used to work for CRC eats there when he visits Israel means very little. Yes, that's called selective research and if it works for you then great. I'm sure it's strictly kosher, and if you you eat Rabbanut then perfect, but know that what it is, is Rabbanut.

+100

You make very good points. Also, I have never eaten there (yes, I had the opportunity), because I would need to do much more personal research before I would do so.

Still, I do think there’s a reasonable tzad that they’re better than you’re making them out to be, not merely Rabbanut, and when I do the research for myself, I’ll be glad to share. The fact that many upstanding Yidden do something DOES count for something, even if not everything.

Many upstanding people eating there doesn't make a difference: if your rav says it's not good then the fact that everyone eats there won't help you, and if your rav says it's fine then you can eat there without the support of all the people who eat there.

My Rov called a Rov in Jerusalem and determined it was OK, thanks for asking!

Do you know who that Rov was? (I'm not criticizing if you don't know as your Rov is enough for you to trust, but I'm curious who it was....)

[Emkay]

My Rov called a Rov in Jerusalem and determined it was OK, thanks for asking!

A second hand report of an anonymous Rav doesn't change what I said. I have no idea what you asked him, or what he asked the Rav, or what anyone's standards are.

[Dan]

A second hand report of an anonymous Rav doesn't change what I said. I have no idea what you asked him, or what he asked the Rav, or what anyone's standards are.

It's irrelevant. But saying it's same the same any Rabanut is ridiculous.

[Emkay]

It's irrelevant. But saying it's same the same any Rabanut is ridiculous.

I'm sorry it sounds that way.  I'm open to being explained why it's not. The policies are the same regardless what you've been told.

[S209]

It's irrelevant. But saying it's same the same any Rabanut is ridiculous.

Can you please find out which Rav? I’d love to know. I’m not being facetious, I really want to speak to someone before I eat there, and I plan on being there soon be”h

[Dan]

Can you please find out which Rav? I’d love to know. I’m not being facetious, I really want to speak to someone before I eat there, and I plan on being there soon be”h

Nope. Everyone should speak to the mashgiach there and to their own Rov.

[gross5g]

Nope. Everyone should speak to the mashgiach there and to their own Rov.

Mashgiach there isn't very reliable when comes to Americans he holds that plain rabanut is better than anything in America so tells everyone they can eat there.

Need to find someone in Israel with the knowledge of what goes on one place that has been working there way into the restaurant/hotel food industry is zntkosher.

A big travel agent wanted them to get involved with the Waldorf but due to politics with the masgiach and with the rabbanut they refused to work with them.

[Dan]

Mashgiach there isn't very reliable when comes to Americans he holds that plain rabanut is better than anything in America so tells everyone they can eat there.

So therefore he's going to lie when asked what products they use?!?

[gross5g]

So therefore he's going to lie when asked what products they use?!?

No but will be very vague and tell u it's mehadrin (again mehadrin for who) or it's ok to eat etc. Especially if speaking English , he tried pulling that on me on more than one occasion and then I switched to Hebrew and called him out on it and he basically told me look at the people who eat here and if I have an issue then dont eat anything and walked away.

[S209]

Nope. Everyone should speak to the mashgiach there and to their own Rov.

My Rav doesn’t pasken for Yerushalayim. The mashgiach is bound by the rules of the Rabbanut, nobody else. Nobody will call him out on doing something wrong as long as it’s within the guidelines of the Rabbanut, which is antithetical to the basis of requiring kosher certification in the first place.

[Yehuda25]

I"ve heard from multiple people I trust that the hechsher is good there, good enough for me:)

[Dan]

My Rav doesn’t pasken for Yerushalayim. The mashgiach is bound by the rules of the Rabbanut, nobody else. Nobody will call him out on doing something wrong as long as it’s within the guidelines of the Rabbanut, which is antithetical to the basis of requiring kosher certification in the first place.

Your Rov should be able ask someone they know in Yerushalayim or do research into the hotel's practices.

[Yitz]

My Rav doesn’t pasken for Yerushalayim. The mashgiach is bound by the rules of the Rabbanut, nobody else. Nobody will call him out on doing something wrong as long as it’s within the guidelines of the Rabbanut, which is antithetical to the basis of requiring kosher certification in the first place.

You can buy food from a Hechsher that you like and eat in the room.

[davidrotts63]

Your Rov should be able ask someone they know in Yerushalayim or do research into the hotel's practices.

Not many people even in Yerushalayim have much info on it, I as well would really love to hear who has done the research.

[moko]

Not many people even in Yerushalayim have much info on it, I as well would really love to hear who has done the research.

can't speak for the Waldorf but I did research into another fairly well known Yerushalim hotel and the tests were less than stellar

[davidrotts63]

can't speak for the Waldorf but I did research into another fairly well known Yerushalim hotel and the tests were less than stellar

Can I ask what hotel? Is it a more accepted one?

[moko]

Can I ask what hotel? Is it a more accepted one?

PM sent. It was a very accepted one

[Emkay]

So therefore he's going to lie when asked what products they use?!?

No, but he will leave out certain things (As he did when I spoke to him).
Besides, the origin of the ingredients is the least of the issues in the Waldorf, as I'm sure the Rav who you looked into it told you.
People here think that as long as the masgiach checks of the classic boxes (meat is Rubin, veggies Gush Katif, ingredients mehadrin, blah blah blah...) then all is good.  The ingredients aren't even close to the main issue.

[EJB]

No, but he will leave out certain things (As he did when I spoke to him).
Besides, the origin of the ingredients is the least of the issues in the Waldorf, as I'm sure the Rav who you looked into it told you.
People here think that as long as the masgiach checks of the classic boxes (meat is Rubin, veggies Gush Katif, ingredients mehadrin, blah blah blah...) then all is good.  The ingredients aren't even close to the main issue.

Maybe in 10 years with the IC is build they’ll make it real mehadrin

[elya]

So therefore he's going to lie when asked what products they use?!?

The answer to that question is a surprising yes!

I was told first hand by someone who spoke to the Mashgiach for a while regarding which products/Hechsherim he uses, and then asked to go through the kitchen where he found quite a few things the Mashgiach had mentioned a few minutes prior he would never use.

I have heard this specific story happen to more than one person. (Only one being first hand, other being second hand)