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Mashgichim Certified by The Rabbi of Mosaic Law
As of 18 February 2007
The " Mosaic Law Kashrut Policy And Mashgiach Guide" states:
"The Rabbi of Mosaic Law Congregation serves as the Rav HaMakhshir on any kashrut question for the synagogue and its various affiliates and associations. He certifies all Mashgichim to supervise the Kashrut of all food preparation at MLC."
Rabbi Taff, the Rabbi of Mosaic Law, certifies the following people as Mashgichim and John Mee as the Director of Mashgichim.
Name |
|
John Mee, Director of Mashgichim |
johnmee3@comcast.net |
Gus Ballis |
Gus.Ballis@am.necel.com |
Roger Cochran |
RCochran@surewest.net |
Goldie Block |
NYGolde@aol.com |
Bob Gittleman |
BobsBlock@aol.com |
Yair Luria |
YLuria@comcast.net |
Elizabeth Mee |
elizabethmee@comcast.net |
Rina Racket |
RinaRacket@mosaiclaw.org |
Pat Thaler |
Pat@ThalerAndThomas.org |
Bill Thomas |
Bill@ThalerAndThomas.org |
Daniel Yamshon |
D890@aol.com |
The fee for mashgiach services is $25/hour, which is paid directly to the mashgiach. The mashgiach at his/her SOLE option may waive the fee, however they may NOT negotiate a fee lower than $25/hour unless it is waived completely.
Questions regarding this policy should be directed to John Mee at either home (916) 387-5079 or cell: (916) 812-8679
Mosaic Law Kashrut Policy And Mashgiach Guide
Updated 22 April 2007
To download a PDF version click here.
History
Date |
Person |
Changes |
16 April 2006 |
Bill Thomas |
Reformatted and Mashgiach Procedure section added. |
16 April 2006 |
Bill Thomas |
Added symbols to Hechsher Table. |
1 May |
Bill Thomas |
Added symbols to Hechsher Table. |
5 May |
Bill Thomas |
Added Hechsher of The Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis |
10 May |
Bill Thomas |
Added Rabbi N GreenBlatt as supervisor for Tabasco |
16 May |
Bill Thomas |
Added Triangle CRD, Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) |
10 July |
Bill Thomas |
Added reference to Rabbi's certified Mashgichim List. |
29 July |
John Mee |
Corrected and clarified wording. |
10 August |
Rabbi Taff |
Added hechshers of Igud HaKashrus of Los Angeles/ Kehilla Kosher |
18 November |
Rabbi Taff |
Added heshshers and sorted table by organization name. |
21 February |
Bill Thomas |
Restored 10 May 2006 changes lost due to editing error. |
22 April |
John Mee |
Added requirements for the Kitchen to remain closed except in the presence of a masgiach. |
4 May, 2007l |
John Mee |
Added United States Kashrut as an approved Hechsher |
Table of Contents
1 |
KASHRUT POLICY. |
5 |
1.1 |
Introduction |
5 |
1.2 |
Scope |
5 |
1.3 |
Definitions |
5 |
1.4 |
Supervision |
6 |
1.5 |
Product Certification |
6 |
1.6 |
Milk and Meat Separation |
6 |
1.7 |
Dairy |
6 |
1.8 |
Wine |
7 |
1.9 |
Meat and Fish |
7 |
1.10 |
Shabbat and Holy Days |
7 |
2 |
Kitchen Rules |
9 |
3 |
Mashgiach Procedures |
10 |
3.1 |
Overview |
10 |
3.2 |
Inspect the Kitchen for Readiness To Use |
11 |
3.3 |
Inspect All Food |
12 |
3.4 |
Inspect Everything Used for Preparation |
12 |
3.5 |
Ensure Preparation Meets All Requirements |
12 |
3.6 |
Ensure Presentation Meets All Requirements |
12 |
3.7 |
Ensure Cleaning Meets All Requirements |
12 |
3.8 |
Report Hours, Payment, and Injuries |
13 |
4 |
Frequently Asked Questions |
13 |
5 |
Hechsher Symbols and Kosher Foods |
14 |
KASHRUT POLICY
Introduction
Mosaic Law Congregation (MLC) in Sacramento is a member congregation of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and therefore abides by the traditional mandates of Jewish Law (halakhah). MLC maintains facilities to provide kosher meat and dairy meals. MLC prides itself on maintaining a high standard of kashrut in the kitchen that is in keeping with the tenets and principles of Conservative Judaism.This policy manual is prepared in order to facilitate food preparation and service in the MLC kitchen, articulate the guidelines regarding permissible activities when providing food on Shabbat, and direct Mashgichim how to implement these.To request changes or additions to this Policy, send your request to the editor, Bill@ThalerAndThomas.org. He will prepare a draft with your request and submit it to the Mosaic Law Rabbi.
Scope
This policy shall govern the preparation, serving, consumption and use of all food as well as any supplies, utensils, dishes or other equipment or material that comes in contact with food at any place on the entire Mosaic Law campus, including leased, rental, temporary or permanent facilities.
Definitions
Glatt Kosher Glatt is Yiddish for smooth, meaning the lungs of the animal were smooth which would prevent it from being classified as treifa.This term only applies to meat products and not poultry.
Glatt Mashgiach A mashgiach selected by the Rabbi to supervise a Glatt Kosher meal.
Hechsher An insignia or symbol signifying that the item has been certified as being Kosher (See Chapter 5 “Hechsher Symbols and Companies” for a list of accepted symbols.).
Holy Day Rosh Hoshanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot
Mashgiach- Individual certified by the MLC Rabbi to supervise the Kashrut of all food preparation at MLC. Plural, Mashgichim.
Rabbi Unless otherwise noted, the Rabbi of Mosaic Law Congregation.
Rav HaMakhshir The ultimate authority on any kashrut question for the synagogue and its various affiliates and groups.
Shabbat The period from 18 minutes before sundown on Friday to the appearance of 3 stars after sundown on Saturday.Consult a Jewish calendar or contact the MLC office.
Supervision
The Rabbi of Mosaic Law Congregation serves as the Rav HaMakhshir on any kashrut question for the synagogue and its various affiliates and associations. He certifies all Mashgichim to supervise the Kashrut of all food preparation at MLC. The Rabbi, or his designee, has the right and freedom to monitor and inspect all deliveries for the kitchen, all ingredients to be used and all preparation. This includes cooking, serving, removal and cleaning procedures.
The Rabbi must also approve any mashgiach, including a glatt mashgiach, supervising a glatt kosher affair at MLC. The glatt mashgiach works as an agent of the Rabbi. See the statement titled "Mashgichim Certified by The Rabbi of Mosaic Law" for the names of the Mashgichim and the Director of Mashgichim.
Unless directed otherwise by the Rabbi, the mashgiach shall supervise all food preparation, serving and associated cleaning activities at MLC. (See Section, “Mashgiach Procedures.”) This includes check-in of food, supplies and equipment, prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning. In case of any error or question regarding ingredients or equipment, nothing will be done until the mashgiach is informed and provides instructions.
All food related activities must be performed in accordance with this policy. Food safety requirements shall be strictly followed. The mashgiach shall ensure that food preparation processes and foods being served meet all food safety requirements. (See Section “Food Safety Requirements”.)
Product Certification
All ingredients and products must bear an approved hechsher (see Chapter 5) or come from an approved company. (See Chapter 5, “Hechsher Symbols and Kosher Foods”.) No item to be used in the preparation, serving or cleaning of food may enter the kitchen unless specifically approved by the mashgiach or Rabbi. This includes items such as aluminum foil. It might have an oil coating, which must be certified. When purchasing food priority should be given to products imported from Israel.
Milk and Meat Separation
All people working in the kitchen shall maintain total separation of meat and milk during food preparation, cooking and presentation. No utensils or ingredients may be transferred from the rooms storing milk utensils to the rooms storing meat utensils, or vice-versa. Each area must remain locked and the lights turned off, when the other area is in use.
Dairy
All cheese, completely dairy, manufactured and packaged by reputable companies in the United States in which rennet is used as a curdling agent, are permitted (Teshuvah by Rabbi Isaac Klein, 1974). However, it is preferable to use cheese with an approved hechsher (Rabbi Reuven Taff, 2002).
Dairy products that do not use curdling agents (i.e. cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, ricotta, etc.) must also have an approved hechsher.
Cheese that has been processed into a dry powder product (i.e. Parmesan and Romano) must have hechsher. This does not apply to fresh grated cheese.
Wine
All wine used at the synagogue, or at synagogue sponsored events, must have an approved hechsher. Priority should be given to wines imported from Israel.
Meat and Fish
All meat must be kosher and have an approved hechsher. Only kosher fish is allowed at MLC. Processed fish and fish products (i.e. canned, pouch, etc.) must have an approved hechsher.
Shabbat and Holy Days
It is the responsibility of the caterer to sell and/or serve food that is appropriate for Shabbat.
A Friday evening Oneg Shabbat may not be dairy. It must be Pareve. (Note: This is because most people have a meat meal for Shabbat dinner.)
No cooking on Shabbat is permitted. The use of stoves, coffee makers, or other cooking equipment is therefore limited. Use of the microwave oven on Shabbat or Holy Days is, in all cases, forbidden. A non-Jew may light sterno canisters for chafing dishes for their personal use prior to the arrival of any guests , after which the chafing dishes may be used by Jews (hana’ah) to warm pre-cooked foods on Shabbat.
Foods that have been blanched or seared (pan-cooked) prior to Shabbat may be warmed on Shabbat provided that they are already in an edible state (ke-ma’akhal ben derusai) prior to warming. Raw foods cannot be warmed on Shabbat because it constitutes cooking.
A non-Jew, in the presence of a mashgiach, may turn on ovens and stoves for their personal use, after which the oven may be used by Jews for the benefit (hana’ah) of warming pre-cooked foods for use on Shabbat. Nevertheless,food may not be cooked on Shabbat for use after Shabbat. Food may be fully prepared before Shabbat, kept constant in a warmer, and served after Shabbat. After Shabbat, ovens and stoves may be turned on by Jews or non-Jews, and cooking may commence, as soon as Shabbat is over and a mashgiach is present.
The mashgiach shall also be present whenever food is served on Shabbat. The absence of a mashgiach shall be considered a serious breach of this policy by the Caterer and may subject the event to immediate shutdown and/or cancellation. In the event of any dispute or breach of this policy, or any other question of religious law, the decision of the Rabbi shall be final and binding.
A major Holy Day is different from Shabbat in the following respects:
Food for the same day may be cooked in the presence of a mashgiach. However, a Jew may not turn on or use any electrical equipment or ovens. A Jew may turn up, but cannot turn down the gas heat that is already on. If a major holy day should fall on Thursday or Friday, and food is to be prepared for the following Shabbat, the mashgiach must be sure to perform the eruv tavshilin before Yom Tov. (see below)
Kitchen Rules
Items requiring a hechsher must have one of those designated APPROVED in Chapter 5 “Hechsher Symbols and Kosher Foods” section’s table.
Mosaic Law Kashrut Policy requires conformance to the requirements in the document “Mosaic Law Kitchen Facilities User Procedures”. The requirements for safely preparing food appear in that document.
The Rabbi of Mosaic Law Congregation serves as the Rav HaMakhshir on any kashrut question for the synagogue and its various affiliates and associations.
The Kitchen shall remain locked at all times, except for maintenance or delivery unless a mashgiach is present
The mashgiach shall supervise and be present during all food activities. This includes prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning.
All ingredients and products must bear an approved hechsher, including wine.
All cheeses made in the USA by reputable companies are permissible. Processed dairy products such as cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, ricotta, powdered Parmesan, etc. must have an approved hechsher.
All food, supplies, utensils and other equipment (including items such as aluminum foil) must approved by the mashgiach.
The Dairy Room must be locked and the lights turned off whenever the Meat Room is open and vice-versus. No items may be transferred between rooms.
Place the correct plastic table clothes on the long kitchen tables before starting (i.e. blue = dairy, and red = meat)
Use of the microwave oven on Shabbat or Holy Days is forbidden.
Foods that have been pre-cooked prior to Shabbat may be warmed on Shabbat provided that they are already in an edible state prior to warming.
A non-Jew, in the presence of a mashgiach, may turn on ovens and stoves for their personal use, after which the oven may be used by Jews.
The middle sink on the east wall of the kitchen is for hand-washing and pareve items only.
No food items may be brought in opened. They must be closed and/or the seal must be unbroken.
All baskets are for pareve items only and must be lined with plastic wrap.
Only non-dairy creamers are allowed.
A Friday evening Oneg Shabbat may only be Pareve, not dairy.
Coffee carafes must be washed separately in the dishwasher after running it for 1 empty cycle.
The dishwasher must be run empty for 1 cycle before washing begins and when all dishwashing has ended.
Between times when the stove tops are used for meat and dairy meals, they must be re-kashered by a thorough cleaning. They must also be subjected to an open flame such as a blowtorch. This includes the griddle. Following treatment with a blowtorch, the burners must be run on the highest temperature setting for at least 1 hour.
Between times when the ovens are used for meat and dairy meals, ovens must be re-kashered first by a thorough cleaning. The oven must then be run on the highest temperature setting for at least 1 hour.
Flowers, decorations, music equipment, etc. must be delivered to no later than one hour before Shabbat starts on Friday or immediately following Shabbat. No deliveries of any kind can be made on Shabbat for use either on or after Shabbat.
Non-Jews may set up pre-delivered decorations and other items on Shabbat after 3:00 PM for use after Shabbat provided no other activities are still in progress in the Sanctuary Building.
Cameras, video and audio recorders are not allowed in or around MLC on Shabbat or any Holy Day, except as designated by the Rabbi.
All injuries requiring treatment by a physician must be reported to MLC Facilities Manager within 48 hours.
Mashgiach Procedures
Overview
All Mashgichim, on all parts of Mosaic Law’s property, work exclusively as agents of the Mosaic Law Rabbi. All Mashgichim follow only the Kashrut policy set by the Mosaic Law Rabbi.
Mashgichim may not use their own policies and traditions instead of the Rabbi’s. No other person may rule on Kashrut nor may anyone use any other Kashrut policy.
Mashgichim must all receive instruction from the Rabbi and from the manager of the kitchen before they may serve as a Mashgiach for preparation of food at Mosaic Law Congregation or for a Mosaic Law Congregation event.
All Mashgichim charge $25 per hour of supervision. A Mashgiach may waive this fee or order it paid to the Mosaic Law fund of his/her choice. In no case may a Mashgiach charge a reduced fee. The time starts from when people who will prepare food first enter the kitchen and ends when they have left and all cleaning of the kitchen has been completed to satisfaction of the Mashgiach. E.g. If the caterer brings in food at 2:00PM for a dinner and synagogue maintenance staff completes cleaning at 11:30PM, then the Mashgiach or Mashgichim charge $25 * 9.5 hours or $237.50.
The Mashgiach shall do the following:
Inspect the kitchen to determine its suitability for the event.
Inspect all food brought into the kitchen to ensure that it has an acceptable hechsher.
Inspect all food and utensils and everything else used for preparation to ensure that they contain an acceptable hechsher.
Ensure the preparation meets all requirements for Kashrut and food safety at MLC.
Ensure the presentation of the food meets all requirements for Kashrut and food safety at MLC.
Ensure the cleaning meets all requirements for cleanliness, kashrut and food safety at MLC.
Report the hours to the Facilities Manager and method of payment.
Inspect the Kitchen for Readiness To Use
The Dairy/ Meat state of the kitchen must match the meal. If not, then halt the preparation and contact the Facilities Manager.
The kitchen must have minimum cleanliness.
The sanitizer must start. If it does not operate or if the water is not at the minimum temperature, contact the Facilities Manager.
See “Mosaic Law Kitchen Facilities User Procedures” for more information.
Inspect All Food
The Dairy/ Meat state of the kitchen must match the food.
All processed food must have an approved hechsher or come from a source specifically named by the Mosaic Law Rabbi.
All food brought into the kitchen must pass Kashrut inspection. This includes food not used in the preparation such as snacks or coffee drinks for the workers.
Do not allow any food prepared in anyone’s home, including the Mashgiach.
Inspect Everything Used for Preparation
The Dairy/Meat/Pareve nature of the utensils must match the food ingredients. Do not use Pareve utensils with dairy or meat ingredients; dairy with meat or meat with dairy.
The utensils must have minimum cleanliness. If not, the order the current people preparing the food to clean them before continuing with their preparation.
Do not allow any utensils, dishes or tools from outside the Mosaic Law property in the Mosaic Law kitchen. If anyone brings any utensils, dishes or tools, order their removal from Mosaic Law.
Ensure Preparation Meets All Requirements
Fresh lettuce and similar vegetables separated into individual leaves for washing to remove dirt, insects, and mollusks.
Only approved utensils and foods used.
No mixing of meat and milk.
No use of meat or milk with Pareve utensils such as percolators or cream and sugar pictures.
Ensure Presentation Meets All Requirements
Only approved foods presented.
No mixing of meat and milk
Placed into or on dishes or surfaces that have been treated with an approved sanitizer.
Ensure Cleaning Meets All Requirements
Only food approved food may return to kitchen.
Only trash barrels used to collect garbage.
No mixing of meat or milk with Pareve utensils.
Observed cleanliness. If not cleaner than at start, immediately inform the workers and ensure that all observations are remedied.
Report Hours, Payment, and Injuries
Write message to Facilities Manager. Include the following:
Event Name
Event Host’s name
Name or description of whom you supervised.
All injuries.
State whether or not the kitchen cleaning left it cleaner than in the beginning.
Your Name
Date of your supervision
Start time and end time
Amount charged even if you waived this amount.
How paid. E.g. Cash, check, Mosaic Law account, or waived.
Whom paid. E.g. you, Mosaic Law fund.or waived.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: Why the strident declarations about using the same policy? People rely on the Mashgichim to make certain they have prepared kosher foods. If one Mashgiach says, “Kosher”, and another latter says “Treif” then they have lost the money used to buy the ingredients. If the reverse happens, then they might have spent more money than they needed. In both cases, they will distrust the Mashgichim.
FAQ: Why the fuss about $25? Several reasons exist. People respect according to what they pay. If a Mashgiach charges a negotiated rate, then they might treat the Rabbi’s Kashrut policy as negotiable. The Mashgichim deserve more than a token payment for their expertise and the time from their lives.
Hechsher Symbols and Kosher Foods
The Mosaic Law Rabbi does not approve of all hechshers. The Rabbi approves only the following kashrut agencies and food companies. See www.kashrut.com/agencies and www.crcweb.org/kosher/consumer/Agency_List.html for lists of hechsher symbols.
Use these references only to learn more about a symbol and not to determine the acceptance of a symbol. Be aware of the date of any statements about any organization as their qualities may change over time.
Kosher Symbol or Company |
Agency |
Description |
|
“Star-K” Kosher Certification |
APPROVED |
|
Atlanta Kashrus Commission |
APPROVED |
|
Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) |
APPROVED |
|
Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) |
APPROVED |
|
Indianapolis Beth Din |
APPROVED |
|
Indianapolis Orthodox Board of Kashrus |
APPROVED |
|
Florida K |
APPROVED |
|
Igud HaKashrus of Los Angeles/ Kehilla Kosher |
APPROVED |
|
Kosher Council of Canada |
APPROVED |
|
Orthodox Rabbinate of North Dade |
APPROVED |
|
South Palm Beach Vaad |
APPROVED |
|
Triangle-K and Associates, Inc. |
APPROVED |
|
Vaad HaRabanim of Greater Washington |
APPROVED |
|
Kosher Overseers |
APPROVED |
|
Kosher Supervision (KOF-K) |
APPROVED |
|
Kosher Supervision of America |
APPROVED |
|
NSW Kashrut Authority |
APPROVED |
|
Organized Kashrus Laboratories (OK) |
APPROVED |
|
Orthodox Rabbinical Council of San Francisco |
APPROVED |
|
Orthodox Union |
APPROVED |
|
Orthodox Vaad Ha Kashrus of the Ashkenazi Kehila in Mexico |
APPROVED |
|
Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) |
APPROVED |
|
Scroll K |
APPROVED |
|
The "United States K" |
APPROVED |
|
Vaad HaRabanim of Greater Washington |
APPROVED |
|
Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis |
APPROVED |
|
Vaad Hakashrus of Northern California |
Approved |
|
Triangle-K and Associates, Inc. |
APPROVED |
|
The "Tablet-K," Religious and Kitchen Supervision |
APPROVED |
Bests Kosher |
|
APPROVED |
Hebrew National |
|
APPROVED |
Rohrer Brothers |
|
APPROVED |
Bob’s Butcher Block |
|
APPROVED |
Yaer Luria |
|
APPROVED |
McIlhenny Company, Avery Island, Louisiana, 70513 |
|
APPROVED |
False Symbols |
Name |
Description |
K |
|
NOT APPROVED |
Kosher |
|
False Symbols |
|
Copyright Symbol |
NOT APPROVED |
Ò |
Registered Trademark Symbol |
NOT APPROVED |
Supervised by “name” |
|
NOT APPROVED |
|
Recycle Symbol |
NOT APPROVED |


























