Kosher, Kashrus and Hechsherim Master thread

[dealfinder85]

olympic pita under kehilla kashrus
what hechsher is that?

[username]

Kehilah Kashrus - Flatbush

Rabbi Z. Adler

1294 E. 8th Street

Brooklyn, NY 11230

718-951-0481

kehilahkashrus@hotmail.com

[incendia]

Kehilah Kashrus - Flatbush

Rabbi Z. Adler

1294 E. 8th Street

Brooklyn, NY 11230

718-951-0481

kehilahkashrus@hotmail.com

Nothing says trustworthy like a hotmail email and a residential address

[dealfinder85]

Nothing says trustworthy like a hotmail email and a residential address

i found him on the CRC site

[shwarmabob]

Nothing says trustworthy like a hotmail email and a residential address

AFAIK Rabbi Yisroel Reisman gives his name to this Hechsher. If you have more questions call them up.

[incendia]

i found him on the CRC site

AFAIK Rabbi Yisroel Reisman gives his name to this Hechsher. If you have more questions call them up.

I live in Flatbush and know Kehila is widely accepted

But a hotmail email really does not scream of confidence

[churnbabychurn]

Anyone have experience being makpid not to rely on OU? What are the practical ramifications?

[henche]

Anyone have experience being makpid not to rely on OU? What are the practical ramifications?

Can only eat at waldorf

[churnbabychurn]

Can only eat at waldorf

Only the breakfast?

[aygart]

Only the breakfast?

The rest costs

[Yehuda57]

Anyone have experience being makpid not to rely on OU? What are the practical ramifications?

The first few days the crotch area really hurts, but after a while you get used to riding the high horse.

[churnbabychurn]

The first few days the crotch area really hurts, but after a while you get used to riding the high horse.

It was a serious question

[ExGingi]

Anyone have experience being makpid not to rely on OU? What are the practical ramifications?

You can experiment yourself. Try one week of making all your food from raw basic ingredients.

[Yehuda57]

It was a serious question

I know, but I couldn't resist!

Look, I have no experience with avoiding the OU and I am no expert on halacha or modern-day food production. I do have tangential connections with people who are experts in both. I think you'll find none boycot the OU outright, and instead rely on the fact that they are one of the most open and systematic hechsherim. You know exactly what shitah and psak they are relying on, and can be confident that it is applied consistently.

For instance, you may not eat Gushers with an OU but will have instant coffee (sorry), sugar or bread they certify as pas Yisroel.

I know saying that the OU is in any way reliable conflicts with your world view, and based on previous comments in this thread you clearly lack expertise or knowledge of modern day food production. So for you, an outright boycot seems appropriate. But don't expect there to be some sort of support group out there.

[aygart]

You can experiment yourself. Try one week of making all your food from raw basic ingredients.

This sounds like you are referring to the myth that no heimishe product can be better than the OU since they need to rely on the OU for the basic ingredients. This is not the case. First of all, at this point there are many, albeit not all, basic ingredients with supervision other than the OU. Even without that some of the heimishe hechsherim will do their research into the specific OU ingredient before accepting it. While some at the OU will poke fun at the hechsherim which simply call up and ask if an ingredient is good, when speaking to them they will tell you how some will make sure to go to the plant and research exactly which psakim the OU is relying on for each individual ingredient that they allow.

[moko]

This sounds like you are referring to the myth that no heimishe product can be better than the OU since they need to rely on the OU for the basic ingredients. This is not the case. First of all, at this point there are many, albeit not all, basic ingredients with supervision other than the OU. Even without that some of the heimishe hechsherim will do their research into the specific OU ingredient before accepting it. While some at the OU will poke fun at the hechsherim which simply call up and ask if an ingredient is good, when speaking to them they will tell you how some will make sure to go to the plant and research exactly which psakim the OU is relying on for each individual ingredient that they allow.

+1
Also there are legitimate chumros that some are makpid on. I manage the Hashgacha for several heimeshe companies produce at our plants. While we accept certain ingredients, they have them replaced for those productions.

[shwarmabob]

You can experiment yourself. Try one week of making all your food from raw basic ingredients.

I had a rabbi like that. He wouldn't eat anywhere. It took us some time to figure out the reason.
It's definitely the healthiest option, like a Chabad Pesach all year around. He wasn't overweight at all.

[username]

Anyone have experience being makpid not to rely on OU? What are the practical ramifications?

Ask these guys.

Anyway, the benei Torah in ey (Israelis) have never eaten OU.

[churnbabychurn]

Ask these guys.

Israel is very different because most products have reliable charaidy hashgacha.

I know that many chasidim don't rely on OU. I am exploring the option. Would like to hear some more practical applications. It's definitely not like a chabad Passover all year round. But does it mean no more big box stores brands? Like on staples like cereal, ketchup soda etc? What else are the implications?

I'm fully on board with what @aygart said, that a good hechsher would at minimum trust and verify... Contarry to widespread public perception, I absolutely do not buy into the idea that the OU is infallible and wouldn't have lapses etc, but that they only rely on "well grounded kulos"... (who are we really relying on anyway? It's just an organization. Not a beis din)

I would like to hear from ppl who do this before making the commitment...

[aygart]

Israel is very different because most products have reliable charaidy hashgacha.

I know that many chasidim don't rely on OU. I am exploring the option. Would like to hear some more practical applications. It's definitely not like a chabad Passover all year round. But does it mean no more big box stores brands? Like on staples like cereal, ketchup soda etc? What else are the implications?

I'm fully on board with what @aygart said, that a good hechsher would at minimum trust and verify... Contarry to widespread public perception, I absolutely do not buy into the idea that the OU is infallible and wouldn't have lapses etc, but that they only rely on "well grounded kulos"... (who are we really relying on anyway? It's just an organization. Not a beis din)

I would like to hear from ppl who do this before making the commitment...

There is also a middle ground. There are some who can tell you and advise you about various OU products, but you would probably need to get to know them first and not just be a random guy asking them. I have gotten advice about various products from R Weisner of the KCL for example. Otherwise, yes you are excluding Heinz Ketchup, GM cereals, Hellmans Mayo (that was once milchig according to R Heineman), Coke etc.