Dear Editor@Matzav.com,
There is an issue that I would like to bring to the attention of the tzibbur.
A few months ago, I attended a simcha where I had an uneasy feeling about the level of kashrus. With just a few inquiries at the event, I was made aware about how ignorant we, the consumer, are. I am no expert in the kashrus field, but something just didn’t sit right with me.
Since then, I have been keeping my eyes open. I have made it my business whenever attending any kind of simcha or event where there is food being served to inquire about who is responsible for the kashrus. The result has been a fascinating, revealing experience. Many times, I have walked away feeling truly impressed and assured about the level of kashrus, yet in others I was left feeling quite surprised (What would the people eating here say if they knew who they were trusting?), and sometimes I left feeling disappointed, bothered, and even truly shocked.
I am not writing this letter to share my personal assessment and opinion about what I have discovered is going on, but rather to encourage anyone reading this to formulate their own opinion.
I would like to make a suggestion: The next time you attend any event where there is food, make a few simple inquires.
Go to the kitchen and ask the caterer or the party planner who is responsible for the hashgocha of the food before it comes to the hall, and who is responsible at the actual event. Ask them to point out to you who the mashgiach temidi is.
When you go to a Kiddush, ask the rov of the shul who is responsible for the kashrus of the Kiddush. Who is making sure everything that comes into the shul has a proper hechsher?
Ask the baalei simcha who is responsible for the kashrus here.
When you go to a restaurant, ask who the mashgiach temidi is.
When calling up a home business to order a gift of cake, candy, or a meat platter, ask them: “Do you have a hechsher?”
Ask the worker behind the takeout in the supermarket, “Where is the mashgiach?”
I can assure you that you will find this to be a very interesting and eye-opening experience. You will decide on your own whether you think what is going on is normal or not.
P.S. I want to add another important point. There are many products sold in local frum supermarkets from Eretz Yisroel with an Israeli hechsher on them. There are some Israeli hechsheirim that bnei Torah would not touch, yet people are not familiar with the Israeli list and just assume that anything is good. It may be worth your while to do a little research.
Hatzlocha rabbah.
Yechiel B.
Lakewood NJ
{Matzav.com}