K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Useful information for Rosh HaShana

• The cRc’s 2020/5781 Guide to a Kosher New Year
  • Honey: Requires might be packaged kosher certification hot on equipment as retail honey used for non-kosher products.
  • Carrots
    • FRESH or FROZEN (including baby carrots are acceptable without hashgachah.
    • CANNED: Requires kosher certification.
  • Leek: Cut along full length of the leek so every leaf is separated. Wash each leaf thoroughly under running water.
  • Cabbage
    • FRESH GREEN: Remove and discard 4 outer green leaves. Remove remaining green leaves (if any) and rinse them thoroughly under a stream of water. The remaining white leaves may be used without any further checking other than a cursory inspection for obvious insect infestation.
    • PRE-WASHED: Acceptable without certification; no further washing is required.
  • Beets
    • RAW A general inspection is needed to rule out obvious infestation.
    • COOKED, CANNED OR JARRED Requires certification.
  • Pomegranate
    • FRESH A general inspection is needed to rule out obvious infestation.
    • FRESH ARILS With no questionable additives are acceptable without hashgachah.
  • Dates: FRESH or DRIED Acceptable without a hechsher. Slice open a handful from the container and check inside. If no insects are found the rest may be eaten without checking. This applies to all dates which are either grown in the United States and/or are pitted.
  • Gourd
    • FRESH A general inspection is needed to rule out obvious infestation.
    • CANNED: Requires kosher certification.
  • Raisins: All domestic do not require certification, unless need they are oil treated or flavored. Does not need special infestation inspection.
  • Fish / Head of Fish
    • RAW FISH It is preferable to purchase raw fish in a kosher fish store. If this isn’t possible, one must first make sure the fish is, in fact, a kosher species. The only reliable method of determining that a fish is from a kosher species is by inspecting its scales to be sure that they are the type that can be removed from the fish without ripping any flesh. (One notable exception is salmon where the flesh-color is unique and is considered a clear identifying mark of the kosher, salmon fish.) Secondly, the knives used to scale, eviscerate, fillet and/or cut the fish may have been previously used for non-kosher fish. To avoid this issue it is necessary to ask the store employees to clean the knife and work on a clean piece of butcher-paper. If this isn’t possible, there is basis to permit the purchase of pre-cut fish but it is necessary to scrub clean any surfaces that had been cut.
    • SMOKED / COOKED / PROCESSED / JARRED / CANNED Requires certification.
  • Head of Sheep: Requires Certification.
  • Black-eyed Peas:
    • RAW A general inspection is needed to rule out obvious infestation.
    • COOKED, CANNED OR JARRED: Requires certification.
  • Fenugreek:
    • FRESH Use cRc cleaning thrip- cloth method, as directed below.
    • SEEDS Ground, chopped, powdered or whole are recommended without hashgachah.
  • Spinach
    • FRESH or PREWASHED Use cRc cleaning thrip- cloth method, as directed below.
    • FROZEN OR CANNED Requires certification.
  • Thrip-cloth Method (using a silk cloth) You will need a large bowl, dish soap, 2 strainers, a thrip-cloth (a fine silk cloth
    at can be purchased from the cRc), and a light box.
    1. Separate the leaves and place them into a bowl of water.
    2. Put enough dish soap (a good choice would be Seventh Generation 0%fragrance) or kosher vegetable wash into the bowl until the water and leaves become somewhat slippery.
    3. Agitate and soak the leaves in the soapy water for 1- 2 minutes.
    4. Remove the leaves from the bowl and discard the water.
    5. Repeat steps 2-4. Alternatively (instead of repeating steps 2-4) one can wash each leaf under running water (both sides) and then place leaves into a new bowl of soapy water.
    6. Remove leaves and pour the water through a thrip-cloth that is sandwiched between 2 strainers.
    7. Check the cloth carefully on top of a light box or similar apparatus. If a bug is found, repeat. If no bugs are found, rinse and enjoy
• Info on Pomegranates: From the cRC Twitter Feed: Plain pomegranate seeds don't need kosher certification, but pomegranate juice and pomegranate molasses do.

Star-K Reminder for Rosh Hashanah

• September 8, 2020 from the Star-K

  At this time of year when many of us are using figs, dates and leeks, this is a reminder to check these items properly:

  • DATES: It is recommended that one open and do a visual inspection on a few out of each container. If no insects can be seen, one can assume the rest are insect-free.
  • FIGS: Open each one and check carefully for infestation (typically wasps, beetles or worms).
    Checking instructions for dates and figs apply even if they have a hechsher, due to the possibility of improper storage.
  • LEEKS: Examine the outside for any leaf miner trails. Check in between the leaves for thrips or other insects.
  • BLACK EYED PEAS
    • Dried peas should first be boiled in water. After they have been fully cooked, allow the peas to soak in the water for 2-3 hours. The peas will then swell and the peel will become translucent.
    • Canned or frozen peas may be checked straight out of the can/bag; there is no need to boil or soak.
    
    To check (all types), take the peas and inspect for holes or dark-colored stains as this may indicate an insect beneath the thin peel. If there is a dark spot on the peel, remove the thin skin and check if there is a cavity with a bug in it. (The black "eye" spot is not a sign of infestation. Similarly, orange colored stains on the surface are not signs of infestation; only dark or black stains are of concern.)

  Star-K Yoshon Updates – as of September 1, 2020

  • Star-K Quick Reference Guide
  • Yoshon/Pas Yisroel Update for Baltimore Summer 2002, Elul 5780

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  KVH Pas Yisrael ~ Aseres Yimei Teshuvah ~ 5781/ 2020

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• Insect checking instructions for some items used on Rosh HaShana as simanim from Rabbi Moshe Vaye Shlita

  The following documents as to the proper way of checking simanim to be used on Rosh Hashanah is provided by Rabbi Moshe Vaye Shlita, updated for Rosh Hashanah 5781 from Jerusalem Kosher News on September 2, 2020:

  • VayeSimanimEnglish.pdf
  • VayeSimanimHebrew.pdf