2026-9-1 KosherGram PDF
Rosh Hashana Issue
PAS YISROEL: The K-COR reminds consumers of the accepted custom to be stringent on Pas Yisroel during Aseres Yemei T’shuva. Please be advised that many K-COR certified establishments produce or sell some bread and cake products that are not Pas Yisroel. Ask the Mashgiach or call the K-COR office for details regarding specific establishments.
• The following establishments are totally Pas Yisroel, except where noted: BAKE STATION, DAKOTA BREAD COMPANY, ZEMAN’S, JERUSALEM PIZZA [except packets of Oyster Crackers served with soup], PIZZA STOP, PASTA MAVENS, ESS IN, PRIME 10, SOUL CAFÉ RESTAURANT, BAGEL TIME CATERING, KAPLAN CAKES, SAY CHEESE, SUGAR & CRUST and YODELS ‘N MORE. At THE GROVE FRESH BAKERY dept., all items that are sold loose, or repackaged with a Grove label, are Pas Yisroel.
• KORDAS’ BREADS, ROLLS, AND BUNS from Metropolitan Baking Co. that bear the K-COR symbol are Pas Yisroel*. Note that Kordas’ Greek Style Pita Bread and Kordas’ English Muffins are not K-COR certified.
• MILANO BAKERY BREADS and ROLLS that bear the K-COR symbol are Pas Yisroel* except Milano Bread Sticks which are not Pas Yisroel.
• SPECIALLY SELECTED brand SMALL BATCH SOURDOUGH LOAF, SMALL BATCH ITALIAN LOAF, ITALIAN BREAD and any other Specially Selected breads at Aldi that bear a Scroll K symbol are Pas Yisroel, and state “P.Y.” under the symbol in fine print. [Note that some Specially Selected breads with other symbols may not be Pas Yisroel, or may not have reliable certification. Some bear no certification at all.]
• TRADER JOE’S brand of CHOCOLATE BROOKLYN BABKA and HALF MOON COOKIES that bear OU Pareve are Pas Yisroel. [The OU has confirmed that although the Half Moon cookies are not on the OU Pas Yisroel list, they are Pas Yisroel.]
• TRADER JOE’S ORGANIC FRENCH BAGUETTE that bears MK certification [Montreal] is Pas Yisroel*.
• TRADER JOE’S CHALLAH – BRAIDED EGG BREAD with an Earth K symbol is Pas Yisroel, as stated on the label.
[NOTE: Trader Joe’s Sprouted Wheat Sourdough Bread and Sprouted Wheat Multigrain Bread bearing a Star-K are not Pas Yisroel.]
• KRONOS PITA BREAD with a cRc symbol is Pas Yisroel*, as stated on the label.
• FOOD FOR LIFE EZEKIEL SPROUTED GRAIN BREADS with the Kof-K symbol are Pas Yisroel*. [Note: Their bracha is Hamotzi.] The Pocket Bread, however, is not Pas Yisroel.
• MATT’S BAKERY COOKIES that bear a plain OK symbol are “Pas Yisroel”*, as stated on the label. Those that bear OK-D or OK-DE are not Pas Yisroel.
* per the “glow-bar method” [an electrical heating element turned on by the Mashgiach], which most Kashrus agencies consider Pas Yisroel. (The OU, however, does not accept this as Pas Yisroel, based on the psak of Rabbi Yisroel Belsky zt’l.)
HONEY:
• The COR recommends that honey be purchased with a reliable Kashrus certification.
• Standard honey goes through a filtering process, which removes the non-Kosher bee parts. Even “raw and unfiltered” honey is usually strained to remove the bee parts. However, some completely unprocessed honeys are neither filtered nor strained. If the label or the manufacturer states that the honey is not strained, or if bee parts are visible, that honey should be avoided.
• “Forest honey”, “Honeydew honey”, and “Beechwood honey” (or honey named after other types of trees such as Pine, Fir, Oak, etc.), generally refer to honey produced by bees that have consumed the non-Kosher excretions of aphids and scale insects left on trees, as opposed to standard honey that is produced from flower nectar. These are not considered Kosher according to some opinions, and should be avoided. Melipona honey should also be avoided.
• “Royal Jelly” is a bee product that, unlike regular honey, is an actual secretion of the bee. Some Poskim therefore rule that it is not included in the permitted category of “honey”, and it should be avoided.
• Honeycomb should be checked [before Yom Tov] for bee parts or insects. Honeycomb made from factory produced synthetic wax may contain non-Kosher ingredients and should not be used without reliable certification.
FISH HEADS:
• The Rainbow Trout fish heads now being sold at Superior Kosher Meats are completely fresh water raised in streams fed by artesian springs, and do not need to be checked for lice.
• Rainbow Trout from Norway are heavily infested, and require thorough cleaning and checking [see below]. The following is from New Square Kashrus Council:
• White fish: White fish heads are free of infestation concern.
• Salmon/Baby Salmon: Salmon heads [even farm raised] are commonly infested with salmon lice (brownish parasites ranging in size from approximately 1-3 cm).
· The entire gills must be removed. (It may be easier to first cut the head in half before cleaning). · Rinse the head thoroughly with water while rubbing all surfaces of the head (inside and outside), including all cracks, crevices and folds, and under and around the tongue. Inspect the head to make sure it is clean.
One who wants to avoid the checking process may just rinse the head and cook the head in a separate pot, take a small piece from the flesh of the head, and visually inspect it before eating to make sure there is no foreign object on it.
• Carp: Carp heads may be infested with very small transparent insects called Argulus that are very hard to detect. There is no known method to clean infested carp heads properly, and they should not be used unless checked by an expert.
BLACK EYED PEAS are often infested and require careful checking. The following is based on the Star-K procedure for checking dried, canned or frozen black eyed peas, and applies even if the product bears Kashrus certification. (Note: All canned peas and beans always require Kashrus certification, for general Kashrus concerns.)
• Dried black eyed peas should first be boiled in water. After they have been fully cooked, turn off the flame and allow them to soak in the water for 2-3 hours. The peas will swell and the peel will become translucent. Then check as below.
• Canned or frozen black eyed peas may be checked straight out of the can/bag; there is no need to boil or soak.
• To check (all types): Take the black eyed peas and inspect for holes or dark-colored stains, which may indicate an insect beneath the thin peel. If holes or stains are found, remove the thin skin and check if there is a cavity with a bug in it. (The black “eye” spot is not a sign of infestation. Similarly, orange colored stains on the surface are not signs of infestation; only dark or black stains are of concern.)
[Note: For those who prefer not to rely on checking, some Poskim advise that the Rosh Hashana simanim custom can be fulfilled without eating the item, by placing it on the table and looking at it.]
We Wish All a K’siva v’Chasima Tova