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We’re FOR Grain, Not Against It
There's grain and there's grain. Of the many different types, Jewish law only accords special recognition to five of them. The ramifications of this distinction are numerous; let Rabbi Eli Gersten, the OU Kashruth Rabbinic Coordinator charged with recording OU Psak and Policy, be your guide! Tune in as he touches on such topics as brachos, Shabbos, taking challah, gluten allergies, and more. Come "wheat" Rabbi Gersten and the issues will be "spelt" out!
Whose Food is it Anyway?
Sometimes, you need to juggle two volumes of the Shulchan Aruch at the same time! A case in point involves doing business with non-kosher food. Join Rav Hershel Schachter, one of OU Kashruth’s Senior Poskim and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbenu Yitzchok Elchanon, as he examines such questions as: Are there foods a Jew mayn’t sell? Are there foods a Jew mayn’t even own? Is a Jewish stock-holder considered an owner in the eyes of the Halacha? Tune in - you’ll see it was a good investment!
The Berachos on Cold Cereals: A Hot Topic
Wake up hungry? Want some cereal? Get a spoon, a bowl--and listen to this Tidbit! In this installment, Rabbi Eli Gersten, the Rabbinic Coordinator with OU Kashruth charged with recording OU Psak and Policy, discusses the berachos made on breakfast cereals. He'll give you an overview of some of the fundamentals of the laws of berachos, and describe how crucial it is to know how cereals are made. Tune in, and you'll be ready for action when it's "crunch" time! If you have questions or comments for Rabbi Gersten please send them to: {encode="gerstene@ou.org" title="gerstene@ou.org"}
The “DE” Foods: Can a Product be “Sort” of Parve?
Perhaps the question most frequently asked of the OU is, “Does this OU-Dairy product actually contain dairy?” This question is of particular interest to those observing supra-legal kashrus stringencies with respect to dairy products. Join Rabbi Binyomin Geiger, the public face of OU Kashruth on the OU Hot-Line, as he discusses this deceptively complex topic. Find out if ingredient panels can assist the curious consumer, and learn once and for all the reasons the OU does not put “DE” on its labels!
What You See is What You Get… You Hope
The next time you go food shopping, ask yourself, "Is the OU food in the store actually from an OU factory?" Welcome to the world of kashrus security - your guide, Rabbi Eli Gersten, the Rabbinic Coordinator with OU Kashruth charged with recording OU Psak and Policy. When is there a concern about kosher food being switched for non-kosher? What must a kosher sender do so that the recipient knows that the food delivered is kosher? What do canned tuna and shrink-wrapped cold cuts have to do with halacha? "Tuna" in and you'll "meat" up with the answers! If you have questions or comments for Rabbi Gersten please send them to: {encode="gerstene@ou.org" title="gerstene@ou.org"}
Guess Who’s Coming to (Kosher) Dinner
New Jewish diet: Don't eat at anyone's house. We all know that this regimen will never (ahem) "take off." But why not? How exactly is it that we can eat when we didn't personally verify kashrus? Join Rabbi David Bistricer, a Rabbinic Coordinator with OU Kashruth, as he discusses the legal underpinnings of eating food without first-hand knowledge of its source and preparation. Are all Jews valid witnesses for kashrus? Can you rely on someone whose kashrus standards are lower than yours? Is there a difference between reliance on a host and reliance on a grocer? Tune in: You can trust us when we say you'll come away smarter!
Let My People Know: The OU Poskim answer questions all across the Shulchan Aruch
In this extra-special video, OU Kashruth’s Senior Poskim, Rav Yisroel Belsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, and Rav Hershel Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbenu Yitzchok Elchanon, provide practical guidance on issues spanning the breadth and depth of Yahadut. Tune in as they address such questions as: Are there halachic issues with cruise ship departures on Erev Shabbos? How does a Shabbat-observant Jew run an Internet business? Can “implants” of genes from non-kosher species render kosher food forbidden? What is Tzenius? Can you go to a doctor or hair stylist of the opposite gender? Do weddings cost too much? Can I invite an intermarried relative for a Shabbat meal? Recorded live on December 13, 2011 at OU headquarters in New York, NY.
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I’m Just Wild About Turkey
It widely accepted that the American domestic turkey is a kosher avian species. But what about the bird known as "the Eastern Wild turkey?" Join Rabbi Chaim Loike, a Rabbinic Coordinator with OU Kashruth widely-recognized for his vast expertise in the kashruth of birds, for a unique discussion of hands-on halachic exploration. Are these two turkeys from the same species? Rabbi Loike discusses the halachic source material, as well as the turkey's encounter Rav Yisroel Belsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and Senior OU Poseik. You'll be "Giving-thanks" after you hear his talk!
Your Children and Your Charity – WEBCAST
Shabbos and Kashrus observances often prompt questions for rabbis. But some questions are so complex, not just any rabbi will do. This extra-special VIDEO features two of our generation’s great sages. OU Kashruth’s Senior Poskim, Rav Yisroel Belsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, and Rav Hershel Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbenu Yitzchok Elchanon, provide practical guidance for giving charity and raising children. Tune in as they address such questions as: To whom do I give Tzedakah? How much Tzedakah do I have to give? Can I give Ma’aser to a needy relative? How do I choose a yeshiva? How do I foster my child’s success in learning? What is the highest priority in child-raising? Recorded live on December 14, 2010 at OU headquarters in New York, NY.
Download the audio only MP3 here