Some topics need to be revisited as technology evolves. Food delivery service apps such as door-dash and Uber-eats definitely fall in that category. So even though we already covered the basics last year, let’s find out what’s new in this field with Rabbi Sholom Tendler, a Kashrus Administrator at the STAR-K.
WATCH:

View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/there-s-an-app-for-that
Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Shmos 22:24 the posuk discusses the concept of lending money. The Mechilta writes that whenever the Torah uses the word “im” it is optional, except in this posuk about lending money where it is a mitzvah.
We can kler whether it is a mitzvah that applies only for money, or does it apply to lending objects as well?
The Panim Yafos says that the posuk is referring davka to lending money being a mitzvah and not lending objects. The reason for this is that since a person may not charge interest when lending money, he should know that he does not lose out. However, objects may be rented and can also get used up, so one would not be mechuyav to lend it.

By Rabbi Yosef Wikler, Editor, KASHRUS Magazine
Many and complex are the ways of kashering, but the common denominator is heat, intense heat. However, intense heat can produce (unwanted) fires – a serious problem for the mashgiach who is being called to kasher and for the kashrus agency which sends him out to do so.
One fire caused by kashering resulted in fire damage was over $2,000,000. The company was able to collect from their insurance company, but the cause of the fire was never divulged. That is “a bit of a problem.”

Purity In A Sour World
The key ingredient in all vinegars is wine. The key ingredient in most wines are grapes. For this reason many vinegars are very kosher sensitive. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Dovid Cohen – Administrative Rabbinical Coordinator at the cRc as he details each type of vinegar and their kashrus concerns.
WATCH:

View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/vinegar-vignettes
Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
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Yoshon Bytes: A Guide To Chodosh In The Digital Age
For those who are makpid on eating only yoshon, it always involved a paperback booklet that listed various products and at what date they started being problematic. Let’s listen to Rabbi Sholom Tendler – Kashrus Administrator at the Star-K as he guides us through advancements in technology, and what that means for the consumer.
WATCH:

View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/yoshon-bytes
Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

Most kashrus agencies rely on the psak of the Rem”a for ashkenazim, because that is the base of their clientele. Let’s listen in to R’ Hayim Arking – Administrator at the JSOR as he explains the complexities of certifying kashrus according to the Mechaber. He goes through one by one, the various challenges that need to be addressed to ensure kashrus lemehadrin for sefardim (in addition to ashkenazim).
WATCH:

 View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/mouthwatering-mazza
Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Shmos 12:46 the Torah tells us that the Pesach should be eaten in one house. Regarding Pesach we can kler two questions. The first question is; did the people shechting the korban Pesach on Erev Pesach make a shehecheyanu on the Pesach? The second question is may the Pesach be eaten in a courtyard, or does it need to be eaten in the house?
The Nesiv Chaim 432 writes that while they shechted the Pesach, they did not recite a Shechecheyanu. They relied on the Shehecheyanu they say during the Seder. This would be like the building of the Sukka where we wait to say Shehecheyanu during kiddush on the first night of Sukkos.

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
After Moshe ran from Mitzrayim he arrives in Midyan at the well. He meets the daughters of Yisro. After the daughters were chased away by other shepherds, Moshe saves them and helps them feed their animals. When the daughters come home at an earlier time than the norm, Yiso asks them, “How come you are home so early?” They respond, “An Egyptian saved us from the other shepherds, and he also fed our animals.”

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
Since we are hopefully going to make a bris for our grandson, I figured we will try to write about Bris.
In Vayikra 12:3 the posuk tells us that on the 8th day one should have a Bris. Would a Mohel be allowed to walk out of the tchum in order to perform a bris? Do we say that since milah is docheh Shabbos he would be allowed to, or not?