Kashrus Concerns With Domestic Help – Part 1
Rav Moshe Heinemann, Rabbinic Administrator of the Star-K and Rov of Agudas Yisroel of Baltimore joins Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger for a comprehensive discussion of potential kashrus issues that can arise when non-Jewish domestic help is employed in the home.
View it in its entirety at www.KashrusAwareness.com 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
There are many who travel often and do not want to say the bracha of Tefillas Haderech on a daily basis because there may not be a chiyuv to say it if they travel in populated areas. There is an eitzah to say Tefillas Haderech in the Shemoneh Esrei in the bracha of Shema Koleinu right before they travel. In this way there is no problem of possibly saying a bracha L’vatala.
The following question arises when a person is not sure whether or not he will travel that day. There is a possibility that he might travel. May he add this tefillah in Shema Koleinu or should he not add a possible unnecessary tefillah in Shemoneh Esrei?

Where Did All The Bugs Come From?
In this installment of Let’s Talk Kashrus, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger is joined by Rabbi Lipa Klein, Head of the Vaad Hakashrus of Hisachdus Harabanim and Rabbi Shmuel Levi Weinberger, Head of Bedikas Tolaim at Hisachdus Harabanim, to discuss the issue of insect infestation in fruits and vegetables.
View it in its entirety at www.KashrusAwareness.com 
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The laws of Tisha B’Av when it falls on Shabbos, courtesy of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications:
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The Gemara in Taanis, daf lamed, amud alef says that all mitzvos that apply to an “avel” (mourner) apply on Tisha B’Av. Included in this category is Torah learning. It is permissible to learn “Iyov” and the chapters in Yirmiyahu that discuss the misfortune that will befall K’lal Yisroel. This is based on the posuk in Tehillim that says, “Pikude.. mesamchei lev.”
The Radvaz explains that even though learning Torah is a mitzva de’Oraysa and aveilus is a mitzvah de”Rabbonon, Chazal were “okeir” a de’Oraysa for aveilus de’Rabbonon because it is considered a “shev v’al taaseh” (refraining from doing.)

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

Join Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger and Rabbi Moshe Elefant, Chief Operating Officer of OU Kosher, as they discuss the kashrus ramifications of meals served on flights and whether the food in first-class and economy are always the same kashrus-wise. 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The Achronim ask a chakira regarding tzitzis. Is the “begged” of the tzitzis considered part of the mitzvah or is it considered a hechsher mitzvah, as we find that a house is just a hechsher for the mezuzah.
The Bais HaLevi in 1:5 and the Avnei Nezer Yoreh Deah 390 say that the ikkar reason one puts on the “begged” of tzitzis is to have an extra covering on the body. The Kehillas Yaakov in Yevamos 7 concurs and says the mitzvah of making tzitzis only applies to the strings of the tzitzis but putting on the begged itself is not the mitzvah.