THE VA'AD
E-NEWSLETTER
SHABBAT PARASHAT VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEH/HACHODESH
~ 27 ADAR 5767 – MARCH 16/17, 2007
*KASHRUT ALERTS*
There's more than one way to skin a fish...
To order kosher skinned fish,
it has been necessary for a customer to be present and observe the
skinning or to have a mashgiach be present in order to positively identify the
fish as kosher once the skin is removed (with the exception of salmon).
Another option for ordering kosher
skinned fish is to have the store leave a "skin tab" on each piece of
fish. A skin tab is a roughly nickel-sized piece of skin left on the fillet so
that the type of fish is discernable. All of the Seattle establishments
providing kosher fish (Albertsons – Mercer Island, Mutual Fish, QFC – Mercer
Island, QFC – University Village and Uwajimaya in the International
District) have agreed to leave tabs as an alternative way of providing
skinned fish to the kosher consumer.
If you order fish by phone, or in
person but wish to shop elsewhere while your fish is prepared, ask for kosher
cutting with skin tabs and you will receive properly certified skinless
fillets. – Al Maimon
§ Essential Baking Potato
Bread has been re-certified and is kosher - pareve.
In addition, we are happy to announce that all of the certified breads made by
Essential Baking are now Pas Yisroel. The Vaad thanks
Essential Baking for the cooperation and assistance.
§ We post a list of recommended hechsharim
on our website (http://www.seattlevaad.org/KosherSymbols.html). Products under other hechsharim
may be recommended on a case-by-case basis. If you ask about a
particular product, we will follow up as soon as possible. Please be
aware, however, that our recommendation of a product from a non-listed hechsher does not automatically mean that everything
from that hechsher is recommended.
National:
§ Butter needs a reliable hechsher.
There are additives used in making butter (even when not listed on the
ingredient list) that can be problematic, as well as various sources of cream
that can be of questionable kosher status. Using butter with a hechsher insures that you are using kosher product.
We will be publishing more specifics on butter in the future.
§ Artichoke Hearts need a reliable hechsher because of the possibility of infestation.
§ You can find a list of recent kashrut alerts at http://www.kosherquest.org or www.kashrut.com. As always, please consult with your rabbi or
the Va’ad if you have any questions about specifics.
Passover:
§ The Seward Park PCC will be holding its annual Passover
Bulk Foods Sale on Sunday, March 25, 2007 from 9 am – 3 pm.
This event is a wonderful service provided by PCC and is supervised by the
Seattle Va’ad. Products like bulk coffee beans, almond butter,
honey, maple syrup, nuts, quinoa, and spices will be offered for sale.
§ Salad Information:
Dole Fresh Salads have a Star-K-P
on the products that are certified kosher for Passover. Dole salads only
bearing the plain Star-K (no "P") are acceptable for Passover, as
well. Each bag of salad should be checked for proper certification.
Salads under the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis (OV)
are certified year-round but not for
Passover. Sam’s Club and some Costco
salads bearing the KOAOA (Half-Moon K) symbol
are acceptable for Pesach, however, the consumer
should spot check for insects.
§ Due to a reformulation of Benefiber, originally listed on some Pesach lists as
being approved for use, it has now been found to contain actual chometz.
§ The Passover Guide is ready! It has
been posted in pieces and as a whole to our website (http://www.seattlevaad.org/Passover.html). If you would like us to email it to you,
please let us know. It is a large file!
The website will be continually updated with
the latest Passover information.
§ Albertson’s, Leah’s Catering,
§ The Va’ad is working with both Albertsons on
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Vaad issued 3 certificates to meshulachim this week, 2 for individuals and 1 for an
institution. The previous week, we issued 2 certificates.
The Va’ad is seeking high school students to hire for
Passover kashering jobs during the 2nd
half of March. Please contact Elise at 206-760-0805 or vaadinfo@seattlevaad.org.
The SHA 8th Grade invites the community to
a Deli Night fundraiser, 3/25, 5:30 pm, Ezra Bessaroth. More
info
BCMH & Nosh Away are having a Pre-Pesach Shabbos Dinner, 3/30, 7pm, Julie@bcmhseattle.org, More info
JFS presents “When to Worry: Understanding Changes in
Your Aging Parents”, 4/19, 7pm. More info
Check out the latest NCSY events! More info
SHA ECEC Summer Camp has started enrollment. More
info
SJCC Passover Seder, 4/3, 6:30 pm,
Passover Symposium with community Rabbis, sponsored by Chabad-Lubavitch,
3/25, 10 am, More info
The Jewish Genealogical Society of WA presents
“Forensic Genealogy”, 3/19, 7 pm, SJCC. More info
Open house for Camp Moshava
of Wild Rose, WI, 3/19, 8 pm More Info
Jewish Prisoner Services needs donations of men’s
clothing & household goods. Contact Chaplain
Gary Friedman at (206) 985-0577.
Chabad-Lubavitch teaches classes for all ages and levels. More
info
The Seattle Kollel teaches classes for all levels and ages. More Info
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Website: www.seattlevaad.org
E-mail: vaadinfo@seattlevaad.org
Phone: (206) 760-0805 Fax:
(206) 725-0347