Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus – A Bowlful of Blessings
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...
Mitzvos Bnei Noach
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
We see in Sandhedrin 46a that we learn about all of the zayin mitzvos bnei Noach from a posuk in Bereishis 2:15 tes vov that Hashem commanded Adam saying… These are the mitzvos bnei Noach. One...
War and Teshuva
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Bereishis (18:23) the posuk tells us that Avraham asked Hashem, “Will you kill a tzaddik with a Rasha?” Avraham goes through a whole negotiation with Hashem that maybe there are fifty tzadikim, then he said forty-five,...
Vowing
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Devarim,30:3 the Torah tells us that one should keep his word and not desecrate his vows. The Shach brings a remez from the words “lo yachel devaro kechol” that teaches...
Shehecheyanu
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
Reuven buys a new suit but will not wear it until he has it checked for shatnez. When does he make the bracha of Shehecheyanu; when...
Calming Effect
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The Torah tells us in Devarim 29:9 “All Yidden are standing here before Hashem…” The Medrash says the reason why Parshas Nitzavim was placed right next to the klalos is because when the Yidden heard the 98...
Lifelong Mitzvah
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The Maharsha in Chidushei Aggados in Meseches Brachos 47a writes an amazing chiddush. The Gemara teaches us in several places that when one answers Amen Yehei Shmei Rabba with all his “kochos” (power) or...
Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus – Liquid Gold
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...
Knife
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Devarim 27:5 the posuk says one should not raise a knife on the stones in the Bais Hamikdash. Shulchan Aruch OrachChaim 180 says that our minhag is to cover the knife while bentching. The Bais Yosef brings...
Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus, Vintage Whiskey
A closer look at the complexities of all types of whiskies and bourbon with Rabbi Akiva Niehaus - Director of Kashrus Operations at the...
Aliyah L’Regel
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
Succos is one of the Shalosh Regalim. The mitzva of Aliya L’regel to the Bais Hamikdash applied to all three Regalim. One may try to understand what the mitzva of traveling up...
Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus – 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...
Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus, 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...
Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus – 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...
Forget About Eating
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The mishna in Avos 3:8 says that if one forgets his learning it is as if he is chayev misa (capital punishment.) The gemara in Menachos says when one forgets his...
WATCH: Let’s Talk Kashrus, 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...
Understanding What We Are Missing
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The well known posuk in Tehillim says, “Im eshkacheich... tishkach yemini.” We need to understand what this posuk is telling us. The nature of a person is that “hergel,”...
Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus – 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...