Rather than cancel the program, OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack, COO Rabbi Moshe Elefant, and Rabbis Yaakov Luban, Yosef Grossman, Eli Gersten and Moshe Zywica, the developers of the original initiative, decided to move ahead with the project, albeit with a different goal.
In a statement, the OU Kosher rabbis explained, “The original impetus for this project was a desire to disseminate short halachic tidbits as a zechus for Rabbi Belsky, with the hope he would have a refuah shelaima from his illness. As halachic consultant for the OU for more than 28 years, the imprint of Rabbi Belsky is felt in all areas of OU halachic policy. Many of the selections of the Halacha Yomis are based on psokim of Rabbi Belsky. With the passing of Rabbi Belsky, we are now dedicating this program in his memory. We are certain that OU Kosher Halacha Yomis will bring an aliyas neshama (elevation of the soul) of this great gadol, whose past contributions to OU Kashrus will continue for years to come.”
Here is a sampling of the questions that have already been answered, with an average of five to ten a day coming in to OU Kosher, according to Rabbi Grossman, OU Kosher’s Senior Educational Rabbinic Coordinator. Some of these questions were posed by people following the program, others by OU Kosher staff. Answers are formulated by OU Rabbonim and reviewed by Rabbis Gersten, Luban and Grossman.
Halacha Yomis is available via email, as well as on the OU Kosher web site. Now, OU Torah is pleased to further disseminate these handy daily Q&A’s (which, by the way, are not limited exclusively to questions of kashrus). OU Torah is starting the series from the beginning, with matters pertaining to laws of eggs and bishul akum (the requirement that a Jew be involved in the cooking of certain foods in order for them to be considered kosher).
So subscribe to Halacha Yomis, peruse the archives on OU Kosher or, if you’re on OU Torah anyway – and you know you are! – start at (or review from) the beginning! (Isn’t it great to have options?)
Subscriber questions on kashrus issues may be directed to Rabbi Gersten. These questions and their answers may be used in OU Kosher’s Halacha Yomis.