KOSHER

STRENGTHENING KASHRUT STANDARDS

OU Kosher combines expertise in halacha with an understanding of modern food production to ensure that kosher food meets the highest quality kashrut supervision.

1,303,191

OU-certified products

61,161

random audits in addition to hashgacha temidis, conducted July 2021 – June 2022

106

countries with OU-certified facilities

OU KOSHER COMMUNITY RELATIONS: KASHRUT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT

OU’s commitment to kashrut consumer and professional education continued to grow in depth and breadth with more than 30 one-day programs at yeshivas, kollelim, schools, synagogues, and community organizations. Educational programming in Israel was increased, and a community program took place in Mexico City.

The ASK OU Kashrus Training Program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to immerse yourself in the intricacies of halacha and kashrus. Participants can see the theoretical concepts in Yoreh Deah come to life.”

– RABBI ELI ELEFF, Managing Director of

Community Relations, OU Kosher

The ASK OU Summer Kashrus Training Program cohort with Rabbi Eli Eleff, managing director, Community Relations (center left), Rabbi Genack (center), Rabbi Elefant (center right). The program is sponsored by Lakewood’s Harry H. Beren Foundation.

ASK OU SUMMER KASHRUS TRAINING PROGRAM

Both a three-week internship and a weeklong educational program were offered for those interested in an in-depth, expert-level understanding of kashrus. Presentations and field visits brought kashrus to life in an applied, real-life setting. The program was sponsored by Lakewood’s Harry H. Beren Foundation. The ASK OU Summer Program, which began in the 1990s, has more than 1,000 alumni.

PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED:

How to Be an Excellent Mashgiach, The Mesorah of Birds, The Meat Industry, Red Flag Ingredients, and Oils and Emulsifiers.

FIELD VISITS:

The programs took place at the Orthodox Union, and at restaurants, factories, an industrial kitchen equipment showroom, slaughterhouses, and a winery, with the opportunity to meet with field specialists. As part of the comprehensive study of kashrus, the internship program included an overnight stay near a site that participants visited.

ASK OU training program in bedikas tolayim (insect infestation).

ASK OU interns visiting the Metropolitan Ballroom commissary.

The ASK OU cohort included an incredible group of talmidei chachamim, coming from some of the finest institutions.”

OU KOSHER ASK OU On-Site and Virtual Programs Included:

COMMUNITY

Ahavas Torah, Henderson, NV Congregation Etz Chaim of Flatbush, NY Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate Ladies Auxiliary - Oakhurst, NJ Kehillas Bais Yehuda Tzvi, Cedarhurst, NY OU SPIRIT for Retirees Young Israel of Hancock Park, Los Angeles, CA Hillel @ The College of Staten Island, NY Gourmet Glatt – Cedarhurst, NY Gourmet Glatt – Woodmere, NY

YESHIVAS, SCHOOLS AND KOLLELIM

Ateres Bais Yaakov, Monsey, NY Bais Yaakov D’Rav Hirsch, Monsey, NY Ezra Academy, Forest Hills, NY Las Vegas Bais Medrash, Las Vegas, NV Beth Medrash Govoah, Lakewood, NJ Kollel Ohr Halacha, Lakewood, NJ Kolel Maor Abraham, Mexico City, Mexico Torah Day School of Las Vegas, NV Mirrer Yeshiva Ketana, Brooklyn, NY Nefesh Academy, Brooklyn, NY Torah Academy of the Pacific Northwest – Seattle, WA Yeshiva Ketana of Queens, NY Yeshiva Ohr Simcha of Englewood, NJ Yeshiva of North Jersey, River Edge, NJ

RABBINICAL RESOURCES

RCA Igud HaRabbonim

Resources for Questions and Answers About Everything Kosher

OU Kosher continued to increase its capacity for answering questions, anywhere and everywhere.

THE HOTLINE AND WEBBE REBBE

Averaging over 200 inquiries per day throughout the year and close to 1,000 a day during the Passover season, calls to the OU Kosher Hotline continue to climb, along with emails to Webbe Rebbe and questions posted on social media. Inquiries range from current certification queries to complicated issues requiring real-time assistance.

In the month preceding Passover, traffic to OU Kosher’s website increases by over 300%, and hotline hours are expanded to meet the demand as questions flood in through all channels.

OU GUIDE TO PASSOVER

The OU Guide to Passover is the community’s central Passover resource. Over 70,000 copies of the magazine were distributed to homes, synagogues, and colleges.

Features in this year’s issue included: • Checklist for preparing and kashering a home • Ingredient substitutions • Navigating Passover with dietary restrictions • Children’s section

56 www.oupassover.org

OU Guide to Passover children’s section was a new addition to this year’s issue.

THE OU KOSHER APP

in addition to finding product information, the OU Kosher App also contains information to help you learn more about: • Tevilas Keilim • Pas Yisroel • Brachos • Bug Checking

KOSHER-CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY GUIDE

OU Kosher certifies several appliances including GE refrigerators and ovens with “Enhanced Shabbos Mode” to be used with the Shabbos Keeper.

HALACHA YOMIS: 6,000+ SUBSCRIBERS

This daily newsletter offers a Q&A on the laws of kashrus and daily living, with over 1,200 questions in the online archive. Subscribers are encouraged to send in their own questions on kashrus issues.

OU KOSHER ANNUAL RABBINIC FIELD REPRESENTATIVES (RFR) CONFERENCE

In May 2022, over 150 OU rabbinic field representatives and rabbinic coordinators gathered in Tarrytown, NY, to meet and learn from each other through shared insights, discussions about techniques, and updates on industry trends. Special guests included HaRav Hillel David, shlit”a. The RFR conference is about professional development, because food production is in a constant state of flux. And as we learned from the pandemic, it’s not enough to stay up-to-date. We need to be creative and stay ahead.”

– RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT, COO, OU Kosher

BELOW: Left to right: Rabbi Yissachar Krakowski, director, OU Kosher Israel; Rabbi Ezra Friedman, rabbinic field representative and director of the Gustave and Carol Jacobs Center for Kashrut Education in Israel; Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO, OU Kosher; Rabbi Dovid Bistricer, rabbinic coordinator, OU Kosher; Rabbi Mati Cohen, rabbinic field representative, OU Kosher; Rabbi Avi Berman, executive director, OU Israel.

This conference presentation focused on the rapid growth of companies exporting to Israel, where over 50% of food products are imported.

Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO, OU Kosher, addressing the group of 150 RFRs on the first day of the conference in Tarrytown, NY. The company did not want OU DE, they wanted OU Pareve because they understand the importance for their market. So, we had to figure out how to produce a non-dairy product in a dairy facility. That is no simple task.”

– RABBI AVRAHAM JURAVEL, Rabbinic

Coordinator for Technical Services

PRESENTATIONS THIS YEAR INCLUDED:

Precautions in the Workplace discussed staying safe in the various environments and conditions rabbinic field representatives regularly encounter.

Innovation in Plant-based Products explored the practicalities of kashrut for products that are changing from dairy to parve. · An Overview of European Kashrut addressed the language, cultural, and travel challenges of supervising the OU Kosher certified facilities.

OU Kosher Israel Operations included an important update on the growing number of companies exporting food products to Israel.

RFRs HELP DRIVE EUROPEAN GROWTH

OU Kosher headquarters runs around the clock in every one of the world’s time zones, stopping only for Shabbat and holidays. Mashgichim or rabbinic field representatives (RFRs) who work in the field do it at great personal sacrifice, often spending days and weeks on the road away from family and community.

The experience of a mashgiach traveling in Europe through many countries, cultures, and languages, is quite different from that of their U.S. counterparts. Kosher food is not as accessible in Europe, and some certified companies choose not to put a kosher symbol on their product. In Europe there is little awareness of kashrut, which can present a challenge when educating plant employees. Despite all this, OU Kosher has seen significant growth in Europe.

TOP EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

by OU Kosher certified facilities

2,235

OU Kosher certified plants in Europe

ENGLAND 49

NETHERLANDS 272

BELGIUM 84

FRANCE 388

SPAIN 223

GERMANY

POLAND 285 84

SWITZERLAND 39

ITALY 349

TURKEY 139

NEWLY CERTIFIED PLANTBASED PRODUCTS

Responsible food production and innovative plantbased products are an exploding trend. Here are just a few examples.

Chobani Coffee Creamer PlantBased Sweet & Creamy

Plant-based Chobani® Coffee Creamer. Full of flavor. A delicious indulgence for coffee made sustainably from the goodness of plants. Add the fresh taste of real cream to your coffee, without the dairy. OU-DE

Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Pancake & Waffle Mix

This mix of organic ingredients tastes great and packs 10g of plant-based protein per serving. So let the flipping begin!

Dr. Praeger’s PlantBased Perfect Chick’n Tenders

Everything you love about crispy, dippable tenders without sacrificing great taste! Every serving of these vegan tenders provide 14g of soy-based protein. Made with Non-GMO Project Verified ingredients.

Also: General Tso’s Chicken Nashville Hot Chick’n

Oatly Oatgurt

This totally vegan, plantbased product is what you’d expect a good fullfat yogurt to be, only this one is…wait for it…made from oats with a rounded, balanced acidity as opposed to a sharp tang. OU-DE