Tuesday, March 29, 2011

K4P (updated)

 

Updated 26 Adar II/1 April, adding third Sefardi K4P list.

Passover, Passover, what is kosher for Passover?

UO has its list.

Star-K has its recommendations.

Chicago Rabbinical Council has its list.

And more . . .

Passover 2011 Magazine by Rabbi Eidlitz.

Vaad Hakashrus of Denver Pesach Newsletter

Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis Passover Guide

COR Passover Page

MK Passover Guide

London Beit Din Passover Page

South African Union of Orthodox Synagogues Passover Page

All of the above are linked from Kashruth.Com - (http://www.kashrut.com), Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf's super kosher information site, strictly alef-alef. (Everyone should sign up for her Kosher Alerts email.)

 

For Sefardim

 

The nod goes to the Seattle (WA) Vaad (http://www.seattlevaad.org/). The SeattleVaad list comes out before the other major Sefardi list in the U.S. and, while lacking some admonishments found on the East Coast list (below), its list of items is fairly inclusive - from air fresheners (all are permitted) to yogurt (requires K4P certification).

The SeattleVaad list is the only list I know about that presents, in separate columns, both Sefardi and non-Sefardi (Ashkenazi) Kosher-for-Passover items. Seattle has large communities of both Sefardim and Ashkenazim.

The other Sefardi list, it's probably been around longer than the SeattleVaad list but comes out too close to the holiday to meet the shopping needs of many, is the Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate (JSOR) list http://www.jsor.org/PDF/passover2011bulletinformat.pdf.

The JSOR list every year includes 7 admonishments that deserve everyone's attention. The headings are below; go to the JSOR page (ibid.) to read the details.

א Thou shalt know what is Hames

ב. Thou shalt read Product labels Carefully

ג. Thou shalt beware of Look Alikes

ד. Thou shalt not buy any product simply since it is in the “Passover Aisle”

ה. Thou shalt know thine personal Kashrut level

ו. Thou shalt look before you cook!

ז. Thou shalt not assume – Ask!

Both lists remind the reader that the list is for the current year. Due to changes in manufacturing processes, what was K4P last year may not be K4P this year and, fortunately, what lacked K4P approval last year may be K4P this year.

One more Sefardi list: http://www.kashrut.org. Unlike the two preceding lists, this one expects a donation and suggests a "minimum of $5" via Paypal. Don't have a Paypal account? Donationa also may be made using a major credit card. According to the person recommending this list, "it is the most comprehensive, and includes Sephardic KP."

In the super

Jewish Humor Central, which is not always humorous, had a link to a Cincinnati supermarket that claims the largest kosher section in the city. The video can be watched at either http://tinyurl.com/4geqdjw or http://tinyurl.com/45lk5hk.

Fortunately, some aspirin, Motrin and Tylenol are K4P (check the lists) so if the pre-Pesach cleaning aches and pains continue into the holiday, there are remedies (but don't mix with alcohol).

Hag samach!