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!
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 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"}
Does a medicine chest contain hidden kashrus perils? Join Rabbi Eli Gersten, the Rabbinic Coordinator with OU Kashruth charged with recording OU halachic policies, as he explores a range of views on the potential kashrus issues with liquid medicines. Rabbi Gersten discusses such questions as: Does Halacha view medicine as “food”? Is there an halachic difference between adult needs and children’s needs? Is there any need to seek kosher-certified drugs? You’ll see that this topic is nothing to sneeze at! If you have questions or comments for Rabbi Gersten please send them to: gerstene@ou.org
A basic element of the Jewish kitchen is the use of utensils that were ritually immersed. But immersion raises a plethora of questions: In what does one immerse? How does one prepare the utensil? Can one do the immersion for a friend or a customer? Join Rabbi Eli Gersten, the Rabbinic Coordinator charged with recording OU Kashruth's halachic policies, for a thorough and lucid presentation that will "wet" your appetite for more! If you have questions or comments for Rabbi Gersten please send them to: gerstene@ou.org