Kosher, Kashrus and Hechsherim Master thread

[moko]

the ou does not allow non OU meats

officially...

[churnbabychurn]

Did the OU ever appoint anyone to replace R Belski in setting their policies?

[thaber]

Did the OU ever appoint anyone to replace R Belski in setting their policies?

not AFAIK. I'd imagine Rabbi Genack is more involved as well as CEO. He is a very astute talmid chacham and a big boki in the sugyas as well.

[cholent]

not AFAIK. I'd imagine Rabbi Genack is more involved as well as CEO. He is a very astute talmid chacham and a big boki in the sugyas as well.

That is true, and R' Schachter of course remains in his position. I believe they also consult with R' Asher Weiss

[churnbabychurn]

not AFAIK. I'd imagine Rabbi Genack is more involved as well as CEO. He is a very astute talmid chacham and a big boki in the sugyas as well.

The CEO of the organization shouldn't be setting these policies.

Nothing against him personally, but is an accepted standard in any industry that the CEO who is responsible for financial growth, not set the "risk" policies.

[cholent]

The CEO of the organization shouldn't be setting these policies.

Nothing against him personally, but is an accepted standard in any industry that the CEO who is responsible for financial growth, not set the "risk" policies.

Rabbi Genack as well as Rabbi Elefant and all the RCs are talmidei chachamim, but you are right and that is why they have R' Hershel Schachter as an official posek and consult with R' Weiss and others as well for piskei halacha.

[mgarfin]

R Belsky is much more mainstream then R' Hershel Schachter, it may hurt them in the long run if they dont get a real mainstream  name.

[thaber]

R Belsky is much more mainstream then R' Hershel Schachter, it may hurt them in the long run if they don't get a real mainstream  name.

I'd love to see a second posek, but whose stream? for 99% of their clientele there is no difference. Additionally RHS has, for the most part been the more traditional and machmir of the two.

[mgarfin]

I'd love to see a second posek, but whose stream? for 99% of their clientele there is no difference. Additionally RHS has, for the most part been the more traditional and machmir of the two.

You may know better than me, but what I'm thinking is, as Lakewood/yeshivish guys are getting bigger and frumer this will have a long-term effect.

[cholent]

You may know better than me, but what I'm thinking is, as Lakewood/yeshivish guys are getting bigger and frumer this will have a long-term effect.

R' Asher Weiss should be acceptable for that crowd

[mgarfin]

R' Asher Weiss should be acceptable for that crowd

Is he from Israel?

[cholent]

Is he from Israel?

Yes

[Cheesecake]

Rabbi Genack as well as Rabbi Elefant and all the RCs are talmidei chachamim, but you are right and that is why they have R' Hershel Schachter as an official posek and consult with R' Weiss and others as well for piskei halacha.

But who makes the final decisions?

[challah baker]

Does anybody have any info on the Hechsher Kosher Madrid? Here is the link to their website. http://koshermadrid.com/. It was on a bottle of oil with a Trader Joe's label

[moko]

But who makes the final decisions?

Rabbi Genack. Always has and always will

[churnbabychurn]

R' Asher Weiss should be acceptable for that crowd

Is officially in charge of halachic discussions? Or just a consultation when convenient?

But who makes the final decisions?

Exactly

Rabbi Genack. Always has and always will

The perception always was that we are relying on R Belski and R Shachter.

While R Genak may be an excellent well learned CEO, I doubt the OU brand would be as strong amongst chareidim with just him.

Proof is that in EY OU is considered at most as good as rabbanut mahedrin amongst bney Torah.. in America it is only more accepted because of R Belski imho.

[cholent]

Rabbi Genack. Always has and always will

That is inaccurate. The OU has a large body of published psak, and basic halachic questions may be answered by Rabbi Genack or any of the RCs. However, shaylos come up constantly that are directed to the poskim, and their psak is final

[cholent]

Is officially in charge of halachic discussions? Or just a consultation when convenient?ExactlyThe perception always was that we are relying on R Belski and R Shachter.

While R Genak may be an excellent well learned CEO, I doubt the OU brand would be as strong amongst chareidim with just him.

Proof is that in EY OU is considered at most as good as rabbanut mahedrin amongst bney Torah.. in America it is only more accepted because of R Belski imho.

I think the most important point you are making here is, who decides which question needs to be asked to the poskim?

[thaber]

I think the most important point you are making here is, who decides which question needs to be asked to the poskim?

The RC's are all established poskim, and have all written seforim in their expertise (is, or at least was, a requirement). Any shayla that has a psak there is an internal teshuvah written to explain. When there was a machlokes between RYB and RHS, which was not infrequent, I'd imagine the CEO was machria, with input from the RC.
As far as this stuff goes they are leagues better and more transparent than almost anyone else.
Keep in mind that 23% of American Jews keep kosher at home, at least on some level. The OU is the symbol of choice. Muslims rely on it for Halal. Chassidim never relied on it, and uber yeshivish also not. So the demographic we're discussing, the yeshivishe crowd, who may not rely on RHS (which is ill advised IMHO anyway, and I am a card carrying yeshivish crowd member who had the zchus to talk to RHS about many topics), is, even long term, a very small part of their clientele.

[moko]

That is inaccurate. The OU has a large body of published psak, and basic halachic questions may be answered by Rabbi Genack or any of the RCs. However, shaylos come up constantly that are directed to the poskim, and their psak is final

just curious what your information is based on. I know what my info is based on...