Things To Do In Israel Master Thread

[moish]

Im told to be skeptical. And better to stick with bodatz rubin Shearis and even machpud

can you share who told you that?

[Drago]

Im told to be skeptical. And better to stick with bodatz rubin Shearis and even machpud

B/c it's lower than the OU in the US, or b/c it's easy to be more machmir in EY?

[rots5]

can you share who told you that?

Rabbi Yehuda Baum -  dont know for sure why. But not sure if its to be more macir but honestly i think it can be more of an issue. Though ppl do eat at papagao and so on

[Dan]

B/c it's lower than the OU in the US, or b/c it's easy to be more machmir in EY?

Even in the US meat companies strive to find another hechsher besides OU.
However OU has their hands in everything in the US, if you don't trust 'em you'll be eating fruits and veggies all day.

[Drago]

Even in the US meat companies strive to find another hechsher besides OU.
However OU has their hands in everything in the US, if you don't trust 'em you'll be eating fruits and veggies all day.

So we trust them very b'dieved?

[Dan]

Depends for what.  To supervise slaughtering it seems that way.
I know in the past they've been lenient on grape juice brands allowed in products like gushers, enough so that even OU mashgichim avoided them.  Not sure if that's still true.

[moish]

Depends for what.  To supervise slaughtering it seems that way.
I know in the past they've been lenient on grape juice brands allowed in products like gushers, enough so that even OU mashgichim avoided them.  Not sure if that's still true.

its still true

[PlatinumGuy]

yup, spoke to the mashgiach as well

they always said it might happen but not a definite date

its game over for real this time

I've heard a definite date at least once before. The Mashgiach has a way of pointing it out

[Galitzyaner]

Im told to be skeptical. And better to stick with bodatz rubin Shearis and even machpud

I'll tell something which may irk some of you, but so be it (just seeking the truth).

I just heard very recently from someone very familiar with the (a) overseas meat plant/slaughterhouse that provides glatt  kosher meat for a large percentage in Israel and the USA, he said that the honest truth is, the abovementioned hechsherim (that @rots5 mentioned, he specifically mentioned those 3 so called "stellar hechsherim" ) when it comes to the meat industry and the issues with cattle etc that affect kashrus, they are absolutely clueless, (they're like little kids in a museum of modern art).

I'll just say that of those hechsherim that he mentioned that really do know their stuff, is the OU.  He says they are definitely expert in their field.

Just sayin, take it or leave it.

Now, I'm not here to say the OU is the best Hechsher out there, far from it.  They use many kullos which are astonishing to say the least (simple example would be tuna).

[rots5]

I'll tell something which may irk some of you, but so be it (just seeking the truth).

I just heard very recently from someone very familiar with the (a) overseas meat plant/slaughterhouse that provides glatt  kosher meat for a large percentage in Israel and the USA, he said that the honest truth is, the abovementioned hechsherim (that @rots5 mentioned, he specifically mentioned those 3 so called "stellar hechsherim" ) when it comes to the meat industry and the issues with cattle etc that affect kashrus, they are absolutely clueless, (they're like little kids in a museum of modern art).

I'll just say that of those hechsherim that he mentioned that really do know their stuff, is the OU.  He says they are definitely expert in their field.

Just sayin, take it or leave it.

Now, I'm not here to say the OU is the best Hechsher out there, far from it.  They use many kullos which are astonishing to say the least (simple example would be tuna).

Wow.  U seem to he going against more yeshiva lite with ur statement u know - i don't care either way - but i know that its a serious thing here

[Moishebatchy]

Rabbi Yehuda Baum

No disrespect intended, but he has a reputation of being extremely machmir. I would prefer to ask R' Weiner. Or even R' Senter, despite him not being a poseik, and also being somewhat more machmir in kashrus.

[Moishebatchy]

(simple example would be tuna).

Huh?

[Galitzyaner]

Wow.  U seem to he going against more yeshiva lite with ur statement u know - i don't care either way - but i know that its a serious thing here

As I wrote :

I'll tell something which may irk some of you, but so be it (just seeking the truth).

I guess it takes someone who truly cares about the facts to not be insulted or offended.  Please feel free to do your own investigation, after all we are all eating these foods every day.  I'm open to any findings that contradict what I've said, be my guest.

I myself was very surprised myself to hear that, after all "can there possibly be anything better than the almighty eida?!"
But the truth is, I was not that surprised, I've been hearing over the past few years that the eida is nothing what it used to be. 
I was once in a restaurant that is very often discussed on this thread (for their once amazing steak sandwich ), and had a long talk with the mashgiach.  He's worked under many hechsherim in E"Y, and he confirmed exactly what I have been hearing.  He also confirmed what I've also heard from many mashgichim and store owners, there is no mainstream hechsher in Israel that comes anywhere near R' Landau.  They all say he's top top, just the metziyus.

[Galitzyaner]

Huh?

Huh?  Are you American?!
Are you not familiar with the whole dolphin fiasco??!
Old stories, batchy.

[Moishebatchy]

Huh?  Are you American?!
Are you not familiar with the whole dolphin fiasco??!
Old stories, batchy.

Yes, I'm American. But I don't follow the news much.

[PlatinumGuy]

Everyone knows the Eidah is not such a good hechsher.

For one thing, they don't give Maaser Oni to the poor, or Maaser Rishon to a Levi (as discussed elsewhere).

However, I seem to remember they are the only organization that doesn't rely on OU. I might be wrong though

[rots5]

As I wrote :I guess it takes someone who truly cares about the facts to not be insulted or offended.  Please feel free to do your own investigation, after all we are all eating these foods every day.  I'm open to any findings that contradict what I've said, be my guest.

I myself was very surprised myself to hear that, after all "can there possibly be anything better than the almighty eida?!"
But the truth is, I was not that surprised, I've been hearing over the past few years that the eida is nothing what it used to be. 
I was once in a restaurant that is very often discussed on this thread (for their once amazing steak sandwich ), and had a long talk with the mashgiach.  He's worked under many hechsherim in E"Y, and he confirmed exactly what I have been hearing.  He also confirmed what I've also heard from many mashgichim and store owners, there is no mainstream hechsher in Israel that comes anywhere near R' Landau.  They all say he's top top, just the metziyus.

im not insulted in the least bit, i was just a bit taken aback, but yes, u have a great point - i learned this summer about the milk in israel and america, and boy was i surprised about a lot - so i def understand that things can be shaded one way but really compltetly wrong! so galitzyaer - i commend you on ur point and i will def start to do more research, thanks!

[Moishebatchy]

i learned this summer about the milk in israel and america

What did you learn?

[Galitzyaner]

Yes, I'm American. But I don't follow the news much.

Nothing to do with news, its the Kashrus scene -stuff not reported in the "news".
Anyways, many many frume yidden don't eat canned tuna (recently I learned that the canned salmon is just as problematic) that is certified only by the OU and are not Bishul Yisroel (famous brands like starkist & chicken of the sea).  Aside for the fact that they don't require tuna to be Bishul Yisroel, there are much serious problems. 
See some more info here, and here.
Hechsherim like the Star-k, the OK, and the Eida all require a mshgiach temidi, something which OU could care less for.

Now, I am not saying that the OU is possul, this all started because I was trying to defend the OU, and to point out that they have their own share of problems I got into this...  Unfortunately, I trust the OU a lot more than many other hechsherim out there, I'm just cognizant of the fact that the OU has their own stash of kullos etc.. Some of them quite serious.  However they are expert in their fields where others are clueless.  Enough said.

[rots5]

What did you learn?

kiddush this shabb in my apt  ill tell it over, lets just say if u are makpid on chalav companies u should be lactose free here in israel!!