By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Vayikra 25:2, the Torah tells us that the land should rest in the seventh year as a Shabbos laHashem. In 25:4, the pasuk states that one may not plant or harvest. From here, we see that Shmitta consists of two mitzvos: one positive and one negative.

Can you rely on a kosher symbol you see online? Sometimes you buy something online, but the product has a different packaging when it arrives at your door. Rabbi Binyamin Berkowitz, Kashrus Administrator at the KOF-K, gives us the rundown on what to look out for.
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

In Parshas Emor the Torah discusses Shabbos and Yom Tov. The Gemara in Shabbos 118 and in Pesachim 112 say in the name of Rabi Akiva that a person should rather have a simple Shabbos, without any delicacies, rather than come on to other people for a loan or gift to enable them to procure delicacies. We pasken this way in Shulchan Aruch 242 where it states that if someone has to borrow money from others, but he has some money of his own, he should make sure to use his own money for Shabbos. We only say that one should celebrate Shabbos like a weekday (sans special foods) to someone who is in really dire financial straits.

The following question arises: Does the same thing apply to Yom Tov as well?

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

In Vayikra 19:3 the Torah tells us one has to fear his mother and father. The Gemara Yevamos 5b says one might think that Kibbud Av and Kibbud Eim is docheh Shabbos, but the above posuk finishes with the words, “That you shall keep my Shabbos.” Rashi in Kedoshim says that the Torah put the halacha of keeping Shabbos right next to Kibbud Av V’eim to tell you that despite the fact that Hashem commanded us to honor our father and mother; nevertheless, if one’s parent requests you to be mechallel Shabbos, don’t listen to the parent. This rule would apply to all other mitzvos as well. 

Have you been noticing more blood spots lately? Let’s get the real scoop what’s going on lately with the eggs together with Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Kashrus Administrator at the Chicago Rabbinical Council and Executive Director of AKO.
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

If a person is worried that he won’t remember to count all the days of Sefirah, should he count with a Bracha or not?

The Torah tell us to count forty-nine days from the bringing of the Omer until the bringing of the korban of Shtei Halechem.

The Rishonim argue whether the Mitzva of counting sefirah is Min HaTorah only during the times of the Bais HaMikdosh or not. The Chinuch in mitzvah 306 says that sefirah is only Min HaTorah during the time of the Bais HaMikdosh. The Rambam in Tmidim Umusafim 7:24 disagrees and says it is Min HaTorah even today.

Where can I buy chometz? Where is it problematic? Rabbi Yakov Teichman – Rabbinic Coordinator at the OK, gives us the full scoop.
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View it in its entirety at: https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/shelf-awareness 
Download the AKO post-pesach list below, or at https://www.akokosher.org/pesach
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

In Shemos, Perek Yud Bais the Torah tells us that we have a mitzvah to bring a Korban Pesach on Erev Pesach. Was the bracha of shehecheyanu recited when they brought the Korban Pesach since it is a mitzvah that occurs infrequently?

The Nesiv Chaim in siman taf lamed bais says that they did not say the bracha of shehecheyanu while shechting the Korban Pesach. They relied on the shehecheyanu that would be said on the night of Pesach during Kiddush. This is similar to the fact that we don’t make a bracha of shehechyanu while building the sukka, but rather we say the bracha of shehecheyanu during Kiddush when we also have the building of the sukka in mind.

Don’t Toss That Sauce
Just Yet…
Many people won’t sell chometz gamur. Does that mean I need to throw out a closed bottle of ketchup? Rabbi Yakov Teichman, Rabbinic Coordinator at the OK, helps us decipher those hard-to-read ingredient panels.
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
                In Vayikra 2:13, the Torah commands us that on all Korbanos must be salted. We learn from the gemara in Menachos 21a that the salting must be done, even on Shabbos. Why do we need a posuk stating that we are allowed to salt the korban on Shabbos when there is no issur De’Oraysa to salt on Shabbos? Perhaps, salting the animal is as if he is tanning the animal. This is not the case, since there is no tanning when it comes to food and it would therefore only be considered an issur De’Rabbonon. The skins would not be salted since each Korban required the animal to be skinned.