Orthodox Union Teaches Laws of Kosher to Houston Jewish Community

06 Feb 2023
OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Chaim Goldberg presents to Yeshiva Torat Emet (YTE) students at an OU Kosher in the Community event in Houston, Texas

Visit Educates 500 People; Includes Demonstration, Fireside Chat and Presentations

The Orthodox Union (OU) recently concluded an educational event in Houston, Texas. Kashrus experts taught about the laws of kosher to more than 500 community members and students.

OU Kosher Managing Director Rabbi Eli Eleff and Rabbinic Coordinators Rabbi Chaim Goldberg and Rabbi Chaim Loike educated the Houston community over two days. The Houston Kashruth Association (HKA) assisted with the event’s coordination efforts on the ground.

OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Chaim Loike teaches about what makes birds kosher with a live bird demonstration at an OU Kosher in the Community event in Houston, Texas

The visit to Houston was part of OU Kosher in the Community, the OU’s initiative to educate different regions across the U.S. about kosher. It is part of The Harry H. Beren Advanced Seminars on Kashrus (ASK OU), an OU program created to teach the laws of kosher.

The educational offering included a community event at a shul, presentations at five Orthodox Jewish day schools, and a Q&A at OU Kosher Rabbinic Field Representative Rabbi Saadya Kaufmann’s house. At the Young Israel of Houston, the rabbis spoke on “From Fish to Fowl: A Kosher Journey through Land and Sea.” Rabbi Loike taught about what makes birds kosher or non-kosher with live chickens, turtle doves and peacocks on display as a visual and memorable learning experience. 

Participants learn about kashrus at an OU Kosher in the Community event in Ramat Eshkol, Israel

At the schools, Rabbi Eleff, Rabbi Goldberg and Rabbi Loike spoke to students about the behind-the-scenes of what kosher certification entails. The schools were Yeshiva Torat Emet (YTE), Torah Day School of Houston, Robert M. Beren Academy (both junior high and high school), Mesivta of Houston and Torah Girls Academy.

During the fireside chat at Rabbi Kaufmann’s home, attendees posed their most pressing kosher-related questions to Rabbi Eleff and Rabbi Kaufmann.

Rabbi Eleff and OU Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Daniel Sharratt also recently presented in Norfolk, Va. That visit was sponsored by The Norfolk Kollel, which provides educational programming in Norfolk.

OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Daniel Sharratt demonstrates bedikas tolayim techniques at an OU Kosher in the Community event in Norfolk, Va

As part of the OU Kosher in the Community initiative, OU Kosher CEO and Rabbinic Administrator Rabbi Menachem Genack, and COO and Executive Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Moshe Elefant also recently delivered presentations in Yerushalayim. OU Kosher programming will continue in various cities as invited.