Let’s Talk Kashrus

By Www.KashrusAwareness.com

What's Let’s Talk Kashrus about?

The Kashrus Awareness Project is committed to bringing attention to various Kashrus issues, to make kashrus part of the conversation in our community, and to lay the groundwork for consumers to make informed decisions.

Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group for educational content and kashrus updates. https://wa.me/message/HWKKNR7VBI77L1

Watch all our episodes on our website www.KashrusAwareness.com

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Let’s Talk Kashrus episodes:

05.16.2024
Product Of Israel
מצוות התלויות בארץ It happens all the time that we hear about a specific store selling produce from Eretz Yisroel. Most of us stay away from that produce to avoid problems with Trumos and Maasros. Well not anymore! Rabbi Dovid Cohen...
05.09.2024
How To Kasher A Tank
If you’re wondering why a tank would need to be kashered, you probably aren’t thinking of a storage tank. Storage tanks are those massive white round buildings you often pass on the highway, and have probably wondered what they are....
04.18.2024
Potayto, Potahto
It’s All A Matter Of Perspective Potatoes. A staple for Pesach in most homes. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Avraham Juravel - Rabbinic Coordinator at the OU, and the chief Rabbi of Idaho Falls, as he talks about potatoes and the...
04.11.2024
Intentional Attention
Lishmah We Must Mention In Part 2 of our matzah baking episode, we listen to Rabbi Dovid Cohen - Administrative Rabbinical Coordinator at the cRc explains to us how to achieve the obligation of having your matzos baked with the right...
04.04.2024
Knead For Speed
Baking Matzah Let’s listen in to a fascinating conversation with Rabbi Dovid Cohen - Administrative Rabbinical Coordinator at the cRc as he walks us through the matzah baking process in great detail. A step by step explanation of the process explaining...
03.28.2024
Hidden Hazards
Chometz In Disguise. “What can be wrong with…?” That’s a question that is fairly common when it comes to kashrus. But when it comes to Pesach, the answer to that question changes drastically. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Avraham Juravel who...
03.15.2024
Heavenly Hamantashen
The Forbidden Formula Back in the day, Hamantashen were much simpler. There were a few basic fillings, such as raspberry jam and poppy seed. Today it is much more complicated, as they can range from dairy caramel filled Hamantashen, to pulled...
03.08.2024
Liquid Logistics
In It For The Long Haul Most commercial products nowadays have some sort of liquid in their ingredient panel. The complexities of transporting liquids and keeping them kosher while being transported, falls directly under the watchful eye of Rabbi Yochanan Schnall...
03.01.2024
Hydroponic Quest
To Eradicate The Pests Hydroponics. Aeroponics. Vertical farming. These are just a few of the terms of recent innovations in the world of agriculture. How do these various methods of planting produce affect the levels of infestation? Let’s listen to Rabbi...
02.23.2024
Oven Overhaul
Shabbos Mode Redefined How has Shabbos mode been refined to avoid the newer shailos that have arisen? Let’s listen to Rabbi Tzvi Ortner - Director of the Technology Department at the OU as he walks us through ovens and other appliances. View...
02.16.2024
‎כי אשמרה שבת
The Shabbos Keeper. Technology has come a long way since the refrigerator has been invented. Together with the advancements in technology come many complications in Halacha. Whether it involves sensors, compressors, defrosters, or the good old shaila of the light bulb,...
02.08.2024
There’s An App For That
Some topics need to be revisited as technology evolves. Food delivery service apps such as door-dash and Uber-eats definitely fall in that category. So even though we already covered the basics last year, let’s find out what’s new in this...
02.02.2024
Vinegar Vignettes
Purity In A Sour World The key ingredient in all vinegars is wine. The key ingredient in most wines are grapes. For this reason many vinegars are very kosher sensitive. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Dovid Cohen - Administrative Rabbinical Coordinator...
01.26.2024
Yoshon Bytes
A Guide To Chodosh In The Digital Age For those who are makpid on eating only yoshon, it always involved a paperback booklet that listed various products and at what date they started being problematic. Let’s listen to Rabbi Sholom Tendler...
01.19.2024
Turning Up The Heat
Bishul Yisrael Sefaradi One of the biggest and often the most complicated chumros that sefardim are makpid on is the criteria to have bishul yisrael. Let’s listen in to R’ Hayim Arking - Administrator at the JSOR as he explains the...
01.12.2024
Mouthwatering Mazza
Nusach Sefard Most kashrus agencies rely on the psak of the Rem”a for ashkenazim, because that is the base of their clientele. Let’s listen in to R’ Hayim Arking - Administrator at the JSOR as he explains the complexities of certifying...
01.05.2024
Olive Beis
Kashrus 101 Sometimes when we think of certain products we assume that they are very basic simple products, so what can go wrong with them. We will focus on 2 such products today, olives, and olive oil. Rabbi Menachem Fishbane -...
12.29.2023
Risky Whiskey
חמץ שעבר עליו הפסח Chometz? Who’s thinking about Chometz now? Pesach isn’t for another 4 months. For some Mashgichim like Rabbi Akiva Niehaus (Director of Kashrus Operations at the cRc and the Rabbinic Coordinator of the Liquor Industry at the cRc),...
12.21.2023
Breaking Bread
Croutons, Bagel & Pita Chips In this final segment of our Brachos series Rabbi Dovid Heber - Kashrus Administrator at Star-K breaks down the various breads that aren’t necessarily homatzi once they are in their final stage. View it in its entirety...
12.14.2023
Spiritual Spirits
Can Alcohol Be Avodah Zara? What’s the possible connection between alcohol and avodah zara? From Saké which plays an integral part in Japanese culture to Trappist beers created in monasteries by monks, Rabbi Akiva Niehaus - Director of Kashrus Operations at...
12.07.2023
Melted Gelt
Unwrapping the World of Chocolate Is it true that chocolate factories are sometimes kashered with molten chocolate? Is chocolate labeled dairy equipment, truly dairy free? Let’s find out the answers in this fascinating conversation with Rabbi Dovid Oppenheimer, Rabbinic Coordinator at...
11.30.2023
Kosher Menu
At A Non-Kosher Venue Have you ever been to a hotel for an event, or for a Shabbos program? Did you ever think about the details on how the kitchen becomes kosher? Kashering a non-kosher kitchen is a very complicated process,...
11.24.2023
Holy Stoli
Kosher Cocktails Many cocktails use vodka or rum as their base. While these 2 alcoholic drinks are seemingly innocuous, occasionally they can be distilled from problematic ingredients. Let’s hear from Rabbi Akiva Niehaus - Director of Kashrus Operations at the cRc...
11.17.2023
Blended Blessings
What’s The Main Ingredient? Let’s listen in to Rabbi Dovid Heber - Kashrus Administrator at Star-K as he walks us through the complicated sugyos of ikar and tafel in regards to Brachos. View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/blended-blessings Join a Let’s Talk...
11.10.2023
The Knead For A Mashgiach
Challah Edition. Ever wondered how things are done on a commercial scale? What’s the process of taking challah for an entire bakery? Does everything in a bakery need hafrashas challah? These questions and more, answered by Rabbi Dovid Oppenheimer, Rabbinic Coordinator...
11.02.2023
For The Saké of Heaven
Saké, also referred to as Japanese rice wine, is an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the bran. Let’s listen to Rabbi Akiva Niehaus, certified saké sommelier and Director of Kashrus Operations at the cRc and the Rabbinic Coordinator of the...
10.26.2023
Cryptic Crispix
What's the Proper Bracha? Let’s listen to Rabbi Dovid Heber - Kashrus Administrator at Star-K as he does a deep analysis on one of the most complicated cereals in terms of its correct Bracha: Crispix. View it in its entirety at...
10.19.2023
A Bowlful of Blessings:
Cereal Edition Although not directly related to kashrus, the kashrus agencies are the ones who can help us figure out exact ingredients in products. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Dovid Heber as he guides us through various breakfast cereals and their...
09.21.2023
Exploring The Milky Way
Is Milchigs Better? One of the more common assumptions people mistakenly make, is that dairy products are easier to certify than meat. How many times have you heard someone say “I’ll just have the breakfast at this establishment. Their hechsher...
09.08.2023
Don’t Judge A Cook By Its Cover
Shopping in a kosher supermarket is not necessarily a stamp of approval on everything sold inside. A cookbook displaying raspberries does not vouch that they are free from infestation. Many times we subconsciously associate things that we buy as being...
09.01.2023
Crawling Cuisine
The Uninvited Guests Why are there so many bugs in produce? Is this a new problem? How come there was never such issues 100 years ago? If my grandparents ate strawberries why can’t I? All these questions and more, answered by...
08.25.2023
Symbol of Faith
Who Can I Trust? With 1,493 different Kashrus organizations all over the world, how can someone know who to trust? Let’s listen in to Rabbi Yosef Wikler who has been collecting data on the various organizations for over 40 years, for...
08.18.2023
Liquid Gold
Made In Mexico Whether you drink your tequila straight, or you do the whole ritual with the lime and salt, it’s worth finding out the kashrus of tequila. Rabbi Akiva Niehaus - Director of Kashrus Operations at the cRc and the...
08.10.2023
Vintage Whisky
With A Sherry On Top. A closer look at the complexities of all types of whiskies and bourbon with Rabbi Akiva Niehaus - Director of Kashrus Operations at the cRc and the Rabbinic Coordinator of the Liquor Industry at the...
08.03.2023
Starbucks: Caffeine On Ice
Iced Tea. Frappuccino. Cold Brew. Ice Shaken Espresso. These are just a few of the items on Starbucks cold drinks menu. Let’s explore the kashrus status of these drinks and others with R’ Sholem Fishbane, Director of Kashrus for the...
07.30.2023
Starbucks: There’s A Latte Options
Many options on the Starbucks hot drink menu. Mocha. Cappuccino. Hot Cocoa. Lattes. But are they kosher? R’ Sholem Fishbane, Director of Kashrus for the Chicago Rabbinical Council and Executive Director of AKO breaks down the menu for us in...
07.21.2023
Starbucks: Just A Black Coffee
What can be wrong with a plain black coffee? Apparently it isn’t that simple. R’ Sholem Fishbane, Director of Kashrus for the Chicago Rabbinical Council and Executive Director of AKO gives us guidance in this second installment of the Starbucks...
07.13.2023
Starbucks: An Introduction
A walkthrough of your local Starbucks store from a kashrus perspective with R’ Sholem Fishbane, Director of Kashrus for the Chicago Rabbinical Council and Executive Director of AKO. View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/Starbucks-an-introduction Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group...
07.07.2023
Kosher Carbonation
A Deep Dive into Hard Seltzer Seltzer with a twist - analyzed by Rabbi Akiva Niehaus - Director of Kashrus Operations at the cRc and the Rabbinic Coordinator of the Liquor Industry at the cRc. https://consumer.crckosher.org/liquor/hardseltzer/ View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/kosher-carbonation Join...
06.29.2023
Hold My Beer
Tapping into the Flavors of Kosher Brews A deep dive into the vast world of breweries and microbreweries with Rabbi Akiva Niehaus - Director of Kashrus Operations at the cRc and the Rabbinic Coordinator of the Liquor Industry at the cRc. View...
06.22.2023
When in Rome…
Don’t Do as the Romans Do Rabbi Nochum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbinic coordinator at OU Kosher takes us on a world tour of Kashrus overseas. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/when-in-rome Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group for educational content and kashrus...
06.15.2023
In the Event of an Event
The Mashgiach’s Role in Quality Control How does a kashrus agency certify an entire event, with tens of vendors? Let’s listen in as Joe Flohr walks us through the process. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/in-the-event-of-an-event Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp...
06.08.2023
Got Party plans?
The Importance of Having a Good Mashgiach on the Flohr Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a party? Let’s listen in to Joe Flohr as he gives us the inside scoop. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/got-party-plans Join a...
06.01.2023
Sushi Roll Call
Sushi Roll Call Mashgiach? Check. ✔️ Fishy Business? Let's get a look behind the scenes in the sushi industry with Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, Kashrus Administrator for KVH Kosher ~ Rabbinical Council of New England. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/sushi-roll-call Join a Let’s...
05.28.2023
Baby’s Formula for Success
Kosher from the First Drop Join us on a fascinating discussion with Rabbi Mordechai Stareshefsky, a Rabbinic Coordinator at OU Kosher, about the complexities of certifying baby formula. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/baby-s-formula-for-success Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group for...
05.19.2023
Burgers, Fries, & Kashrus Please
The Canteen Conundrum With summer around the corner, Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, Kashrus Administrator for KVH Kosher ~ Rabbinical Council of New England, describes the AKO camp initiative for us, which is a free service for all camps. For free guidance for...
05.11.2023
S’more Kashrus, Please
Keeping it Kosher at Summer Camp With summer around the corner, Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, Kashrus Administrator for KVH Kosher ~ Rabbinical Council of New England takes us on a guided tour through a typical camp kitchen. View it in it’s entirety at...
05.04.2023
Pour Decisions?
In this follow-up episode, Rabbi Nochum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbinic coordinator at OU kosher clarifies for us the difference between Mevushal & Non-Mevushal. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/pour-decisions Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group for educational content and kashrus updates...
04.28.2023
Wine, or Wine Not?
In this enlightening episode, Rabbi Nochum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbinic coordinator at OU kosher clarifies for us the differences between Yayin Nesech and Stam Yeinam. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/wine-or-wine-not Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group for educational content and...
04.21.2023
Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Double check your food delivery. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Yakov Teichman, Rabbinical Coordinator at the OK-Kosher, and Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger as they discuss ordering in with delivery services. View it in it’s entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/signed-sealed-delivered Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group...

What's Let’s Talk Kashrus about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Let’s Talk Kashrus episodes:

Product Of Israel

How To Kasher A Tank

Potayto, Potahto

Intentional Attention

Knead For Speed

Hidden Hazards

Heavenly Hamantashen

Liquid Logistics

Hydroponic Quest

Oven Overhaul

‎כי אשמרה שבת

There’s An App For That

Vinegar Vignettes

Yoshon Bytes

Turning Up The Heat

Mouthwatering Mazza

Olive Beis

Risky Whiskey

Breaking Bread

Spiritual Spirits

Melted Gelt

Kosher Menu

Holy Stoli

Blended Blessings

The Knead For A Mashgiach

For The Saké of Heaven

Cryptic Crispix

A Bowlful of Blessings:

Exploring The Milky Way

Don’t Judge A Cook By Its Cover

Crawling Cuisine

Symbol of Faith

Liquid Gold

Vintage Whisky

Starbucks: Caffeine On Ice

Starbucks: There’s A Latte Options

Starbucks: Just A Black Coffee

Starbucks: An Introduction

Kosher Carbonation

Hold My Beer

When in Rome…

In the Event of an Event

Got Party plans?

Sushi Roll Call

Baby’s Formula for Success

Burgers, Fries, & Kashrus Please

S’more Kashrus, Please

Pour Decisions?

Wine, or Wine Not?

Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

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