13 august 2007

<br><p>

There have been unconfirmed reports, as of august 2007, that the
cafeteria now has a mehadrin hechsher again.  Anyone possessing more
precise information is asked to provide additional details so they can
be posted in this space.

<br><p>

1. In the past, the faculty cafeteria in the <em>irgun hasegel</em>
building had a <em>mehadrin</em> hechsher of the Ramat Gan rabbanut.

<br><p>

2. Under the current management of Mr. Yishai Rachtman, the cafeteria
no longer uses cholov yisrael cheese and bug-free lettuce.  It no
longer has a mehadrin hechsher.  The faculty and the larger public
have not been informed of the change.

<br><p>

3. We will try to signal as promptly as possible any future change in
the kashrus status of the cafeteria.

<br><p>

Practical advice concerning bug-free vegetables:

<br><p>

4. The situation with insect infestation in vegetables has gotten much
worse in recent years.  The prohibition against eating insects 

<td> <A HREF=lettucedeoraisa.html> may involve an issur de'oraisa.</A>
</td>



Certain insects (certain grasshoppers) were specifically allowed, and
in fact the Teimanim have a masoret of eating them.  But concerning
the bugs found in vegetables, Rav Wye did a considerable amount of
research on this, and the conclusions are quite clear, even though
they may go against earlier practices that were common in a completely
different situation.

<br><p>

5. Gush Katif products are bug-free.  They are currently available on
the market.  My wife served them last shabbos, including lettuce.  It
is virtually impossible to get rid of all the bugs in non-supervised
lettuce, by merely washing it, in my experience.

<br><p>

6. Gush Katif does not have a monopoly on bug-free lettuce.
Generally, whatever has the hashgacha of Rav Wye mentioned on it, is
reliable, whether or not it is Gush Katif.  Some reliable pre-washed
vegetables appear under the Badatz Eida Charedit Yerushalayim
hechsher.

<br><p>

7. Do you think the <em>irgun hasegel</em> should distribute an email
to the faculty list at LISTSERV@listserv.biu.ac.il, to inform the
public of the change in the hashgacha at the cafeteria?  Please let me
know at katzmik@macs.removethis.biu.andthis.ac.il

<br><p>

8. Read all about the regular flies

<td> <A HREF="http://www.torah.org/learning/drasha/5762/devarim.html">
here
</A> </td> ("raw nuts" should be replaced by "chocolate vat")


<p><br><br><p> 

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