New York - Rabbis Say Strawberries Not Kosher |
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StrawberriesU/D 6-12-07 10:39 AM
The CRC [Central Rabbinical Congress of NY, Hisachdus Harabbonim] has issued a pesak today that frozen strawberries from Bodek are 100% OK if the berries are cooked or ground.
Originally posted 6/6/07 11:29 PM:
New York - Jewish religious authorities have banned strawberries, due to hidden bugs that’s not visible to the eye, and are therefore considered un-kosher until a new cleaning method is found.
An emergency alert was released proclaiming that even with extensive checks and washing, the berries are not to be eaten. It read: “Until now, the method of washing strawberries thoroughly in soapy water in order to remove any insects was considered by Jewish religious law sufficient. However, recent tests have proven that even after this rigorous procedure, insects are still present.
“Until this problem is solved therefore, fresh strawberries should not be eaten.”
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1
Jun 18, 2007 at 12:20 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
oy if yidden would only look at themselves as carefully as some look at strawberries, theyd find alot more than small bugs
be consistent and dont be a phony!
Just do the right thing.... always.
2
Jun 14, 2007 at 10:55 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
--Strawberries will be 40.00 a pound in boro park. And watch for 67 hashgochos on the new strawberries coming out.--
be my guest and pay 40 a pound. I'm going to stick to the strawberries at the local korean fruit store. It doesn't take a genius to look at the strawberries in the heimishe grocery stores and know that they are infested. Any fruit that is half rotten is likely to have bugs in it.
3
Jun 13, 2007 at 09:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Strawberries will be 40.00 a pound in boro park. And watch for 67 hashgochos on the new strawberries coming out.
Water, Shaitlach, bugs in water, strawberries, cell phones, internet,.....
Any basur v'cholov shailos anymore?
What the heck is judiasm becoming?
4
Jun 13, 2007 at 02:04 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The bugs actually improve the strawberries taste by giving them adding a distinct sweet but tangy flavor.
5
Jun 13, 2007 at 10:34 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
what a scam
6
Jun 13, 2007 at 09:40 AM whatever Says:Report as Inappropriate
WHO CARES?!!!!
7
Jun 13, 2007 at 09:15 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
bought grade A strawberries and examined them with a loop and magnifying glass and couldn't find 1 strawberry before or aftr washing.
Think it has to do with quality of produce
===================================
you couldn't find 1 strawberry even if you looked with a loop?
Oh my gosh!
8
Jun 13, 2007 at 07:07 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
does that mean we were eating non kosher food for years....
9
Jun 13, 2007 at 12:38 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
bought grade A strawberries and examined them with a loop and magnifying glass and couldn't find 1 strawberry before or aftr washing.
Think it has to do with quality of produce.
10
Jun 12, 2007 at 10:54 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Isnt this like the bugs in the water?
If you see a dot but you need a magnifying glass to see the bugs body parts then acording to Harav Elyashin Shlita then its called a bug, or as as some other poskinm say that you must be able to see everything (ie distinguish the dot to resemble a bug, parts and all) with the naked eye?
11
Jun 12, 2007 at 06:31 PM bug-off Says:Report as Inappropriate
5:55
Right on the target!
the difficulties with StwBerries is to determine rather it’s just a natural dot or a insect as u worded it - it’s ‘camouflaged-like’ therefore, u have to inspect the SEEN dot(s) , spots- with a loop rather it’s a bug or just a spot.
….simple.!!
But it still has to be SEEN with the naked eye.
12
Jun 12, 2007 at 05:55 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
WAKE UP EVERYONE!
The spots are visible they are using the magnifier to discern whether the visible spots are bugs or not.
On a white background you can see a speck that is quite small but on a dark background the same spot is near impossible to see. So how small does a bug have to be to be invisible?
I follow my Favorite Orthodox Rabbi’s opinion, or the Rav’s whose clothing and opinion agree with me. I never bend my opinion to a Rav rather I find a Rav who agrees with me. Is it "your" opinion that large but well camouflaged bugs are OK to eat? Is a bug that is large but camouflaged different then a bug that is small and camouflaged? Maybe you want to be my Rabbi because I really love strawberries, broccoli and spinach!
13
Jun 12, 2007 at 05:33 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Mr 4:31 -
Your post was great right up until you insulted an entire neighborhood of peopel, that you don't know.
Why do you think that the Far Rockaway community is any more or less modern than elsewhere?
Do have any statistics about how many of those children went 'off the derech' vs. the percentage of children from BP or Willy?
How dare you?
14
Jun 12, 2007 at 04:31 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
the rabonim in LA tried numerous times in various ways to find the bugs, no such luck, when asked the rabonim in LA answered very simply 1. our strawberries are fresher then the ones in NY
Maybe the people in NY who have been looking for bugs have floaters in their eyes so they will always be seeing bugs.
No where in Halacha from Brisk to R' Solovetchik will you find that any produce that has bugs that can only be seen with even glasses, is ussur. If you can see the bug with your naked eye, fine, wash the thing off and as the cRc says, enjoy!
this whole strawberry issue is brought by the same hot heads who wanted to assur Meal Mart for an accidental piece of sofek cheilev(never proven vadie)and the same rable rousers who wanted to assur roofing shingles on mikvaos untill they actually where shown a piece of roofing shingle.
with all due respect to Rabbi Blumenkrantz OB"M. he was a bit radical and extreme in halacha because he had to be given all the modern people living in Far Rockaway, they needed stronger gedarim so that their children would at least be somewhat shomer shabbos
15
Jun 12, 2007 at 04:15 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
OK Boys,
Lets take a poll.
How many peopel that read this blog have actually bought strawberries in the last few days and inspected them?
If you have, please say so and tell us your findings.
If not, please go out and buy some. Then seperate teh lot you bought in 2, cut and wash one group, then look for bugs.
The other group don't wash, but do cut and look for bugs.
Curious about what we find.
The power here is in the people.
16
Jun 12, 2007 at 03:21 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
--Hey boys, you know that ain't a magnifying glass, it's a loop - a jeweler's magnifier--
Well since a bug only has its special issurim if it is a whole bug, maybe what they are looking for is whether the bugs they find are whole or if they are missing parts in which case eating strawberries is permitted and for that you need a loop.
17
Jun 12, 2007 at 03:18 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Not sure if these folks are from KJ or Williamsburgh but it is a well known fact among those that are in the kosher food business that there are very few rabbis in KJ and Williamsburgh today that know what they are talking about when it comes to kashrus matters.
18
Jun 12, 2007 at 02:56 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Hey boys, you know that ain't a magnifying glass, it's a loop - a jeweler's magnifier - used to detect minute imperfections in diamonds, not bugs in fruit, which means the magnification is very high, as opposed to a magnifying glass, which is not necessary according to Halacha. Only what's visible to the naked eye. It's absulutely ridiculous.
19
Jun 12, 2007 at 02:11 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
--with regards to the yiddeshkiet issue I agree withu we are so busy with bugs and shaitlech we don't realize the skirts getting shorter, the shirts getting tighter . . .
June 5, 2007 9:00 AM--
It doesn't take a great genius to know that if you can't eat fruits and vegetables and you eat Lieber's chocolate instead the shirts are going to get tighter.
20
Jun 12, 2007 at 02:10 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
12:40 -
You are completely correct.
Over Shabbos I spoke with someone that is a Mashgicah for one of teh "Big 4".
Basiclly it comes down to this:
All produce may have bugs and need to be cleaned and checked.
High quality produce, that many families buy for their homes have fewer bugs and are NOT infested, otehrwise they wouldn't be "Grade A"
Lower quality produce used by certain caterers, restuarants and in much cooking and baking, may have a higher rates of insects/bugs and need better/more careful examination.
Whoever started this entire problem a few weeks back, hasn't actually been checking all varity and quailty levels of strawberries.
I personally cut open 3 dozen strawberries bought at Costco, washed, then cut them and examined (some with a magnifying glass) and found only 1 bug. Hardly an infestation.
Lastly, the photo on the homepage here is amazing, it shows ppl inspecting with magnifying glasses, clearly what the halcha says we need not do!
If you can't see it, it isn't there. Thats the Halacha, plain and simple.
21
Jun 12, 2007 at 01:38 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The whole crisises is incomprensible. Rabbis proclaimed that there is no valid cleaning methods. Yet they say strawberries from Bodek is kosher.
22
Jun 12, 2007 at 01:27 PM scy4851 Says:Report as Inappropriate
Shu"t Ksav Sofer Chelek Yoreh Dei'ah siman 63.
yoichlu ahnovim v'yisbo'u
23
Jun 12, 2007 at 01:10 PM Nucham Says:Report as Inappropriate
Shloma this is an amazing picture!
is this really the Rabuniam checking the strawberries, or you and friends set down checking your Asrig?
24
Jun 12, 2007 at 12:57 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The US Dept of Agriculture lists potential strawberry pests as the following:
1. Strawberry Clipper it is 1/10th inch in size and DEFINITELY looks like a weevil bug
2.Tarnished Plant bug - these are 1/4th inch in length, hard to miss because they are whitish.
3. Strawberry sap beetle - 1/8th inch long. Looks like a beetle, yuck.
4. Slugs, these are usually 1/2 in long or longer. Easy to clean off.
5. Thrips - the hardest to see. They are 1/16th inch long, which should be easily visible to the naked eye. They are whitish and show up easily on the red fruit. Thrips look like tiny little flies and would not be mistaken for seeds because they have legs and wings.
The prohibition is against eating bugs that are visible. We are not concerned k'halacha with microscopic bugs.
If the Rabbis who examined these fruits had trouble seeing bugs that were 1/16th inch in length, or longer then this must be because they have not been eating their greens, which are high in Vitamin K, a necessary nutrient for retinal vascular health.
I have noticed a huge increase in macular degeneration among frum Jews since the ban against greens. It was to be expected unfortunately.
This is a case of adding to the Torah and taking away from it. There is no ban against eating bugs you cannot see, but if you do not eat your veggies, you will not be able to see the bugs that you should be able to see. Or anything you should be learning either.
25
Jun 12, 2007 at 12:40 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
So, cooked bugs are Okay???
I don't think so?? Also it would taref up your pot.
I did examine the "dots" under a microscope in fact. I happen to have one for my science class. And the "dots" were pin shaped. They had a little tiny flower like head and a pin like stem. This is the baby strawberry plant.
It is a miracle of Hashem that each fruit will bear a fruit according to its kind.
As far as raspberries, I have checked a lot of them and once in a while the whole box is buggy, but usually, I will wash them inside and out, put them on a white paper napkin and see nothing.
Of course I only buy fresh, top of the line produce because I think it is important for my family's health. This is not what is being used in restaurants. I do not think it is fair to put the rules that apply to restaurants on the Jewish housewife would is careful to choose her produce.
As far as the bug excreta goes, if you do not want to eat it, make sure you do not eat anything made with flour because it is full of it.
B'tayvon to you also.
26
Jun 12, 2007 at 12:23 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Re: BARZILAI
The definition of "excrement" is "waste matter discharged from the body"
Honey is not waste, and therefore not excrement. The "collector" bees collect nectar and then pass it with their mouths to other bees at the hive who then add enzymes from their bodies. The enzymes cause the water to evaporate. The remaining nectar is stored in a honeycomb, over time it turns into honey.
27
Jun 12, 2007 at 11:54 AM bug-off Says:Report as Inappropriate
Can someone explain;
some politics going on , last week Fairmont frozen …. advertised -the rabonim shikun skvere together with rabbi Shia Katz the Magerver rebe, that its muter L’katechilah as-it-is!! Now CRC says only grounded … is there anything there or not ; get their FACTS straight .
28
Jun 12, 2007 at 11:24 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
11:15 whoever said its not mutar.
just telling you to enjoy it! yummy.....
29
Jun 12, 2007 at 11:15 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
1100 you're right they are mutar. I'm sorry for your ignorance but that doesnt change halachah.
30
Jun 12, 2007 at 11:08 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Fish nhas worms, fruit and nuts bugs and worms, Vegetables have bugs flour has worms. so we cant eat anything. Now there is a question of Pikuach Nefesh (starving to death) and Pikuach nefesh is doche all halachos. So enjoy!!!!
31
Jun 12, 2007 at 11:00 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
okay I guess frozen cooked or ground woems we are allowed to eat! sounds Delicious!!
32
Jun 07, 2007 at 08:38 PM B.A. Mentsch Says:Report as Inappropriate
Machul Lach.
Machul Lach.
Machul Lach.
I took no offense.
33
Jun 07, 2007 at 12:19 PM BARZILAI Says:Report as Inappropriate
Chochom attik, you're right! Insect excreta is not assur, it's muttar to eat. In fact, you could argue that honey is no different, in that it, too, goes through the bees' system before being excreted and stored in the honeycomb.
BUT-- have you given any thought to "where did those little black bobkes come from"?
34
Jun 07, 2007 at 10:59 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
--But if you are seeing black dots, which are not seeds, and which do not have legs, then it probably was excreta from the bugs you couldn't see.--
Eating food with extreta on it is not assur.
35
Jun 06, 2007 at 08:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
god bless our raboonim, we should stand behind them and tell them not to keep it " hush hush " because we beleive it's going to be a chillul hashem, the is only growing and the victims who are most probbally reading this as well, we are with you we feel your pain but thank's to the poeple who always say "hush hush" its not going to last that long, with hashem help justice will prevail.
36
Jun 06, 2007 at 07:44 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
to all those comentaros who always give the excuse " dineh de'malchusoi dineh" the raboonim should uphold this statute thats if they learn rashi or maybe they are just past that gerosei chachoomim, they would make sure that anybody who harms our children gets justice like " dineh demalchusoi dineh"???, and leave the straberies issue to everybody's common sence.
37
Jun 06, 2007 at 06:25 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
When my husand tried to have a prominent child molester (he's been doing this for 30 years and the whole community knows about him) the Rabbonim all begged him not to do it. When my husband asked them what their plan was to stop him they had no answer.
My husband has this guy arrested. All he got was 30 days house arrest because CHOSHIVA people in the community intervened. A night before his sentencing he attacked another 15 year old boy. The boys father did not report it to the police and now this guy is still up to his old tricks. If anyone wants to check him out, he lives in Boro Park and is on Megan's List.
38
Jun 06, 2007 at 05:51 PM Mendel Gross Says:Report as Inappropriate
Please...Please do not knock the Rabbonim down, you are being Mevazeh a Talmid Chacham whoever doubts what our Rabbonim say...
We have to be thankful to them for making us aware of Sheitlich, bugs in the water, strawberries..etc..etc..
The time will come when you will all appreciate what they do..
I just want to make a statement to the Rabbonim..It is time to do something about going to Secular courts without the permission of a Beis Din, and one Yid Masering to the courts other Yidden..unfortuneatly it is rampant in the Heimishe circles, please come out with a Kol Korah about this big Aveira, when the Rabbonim will come out with this declration everyone will have respect for the Rabbonim...If any body disagrees with me please reply....
39
Jun 06, 2007 at 05:47 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
who would look at the video. the rabbonim assured video's a long time ago. Try a CD or some thing.
40
Jun 06, 2007 at 04:49 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Excreta? Yuk.
It would be nice if someone can create a video of how to check strawberries and exactly what to look for. A picture is worth a thousand words.
41
Jun 06, 2007 at 03:51 PM BARZILAI Says:Report as Inappropriate
Strawberry seeds are not black, and, for that matter, are not really seeds. They are vestigial seeds. But if you are seeing black dots, which are not seeds, and which do not have legs, then it probably was excreta from the bugs you couldn't see. B'tei'avon, friend.
42
Jun 06, 2007 at 03:48 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
TIME WILL COME WHEN EVREY YIDDISHE HOME WILL NEED A MICROSCOPE(WITH HECSHER FROM RABBONIM) TO EXAMINE EVERY PEACE OF FRUIT OR BREAD OR WHTEVER WE TAKE INTO OUR MOUTH
"""ABSURD!!!!!!
43
Jun 06, 2007 at 02:57 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
To the fellow who said he didnt see any bugs in his raspberries:
I worked as a mashgiach in wedding halls and spent many hours during the day in fruit and veggie prep. And let me tell you, raspberries are one of the most notorious to clean.
If you think you saw seeds on the white cloth, then the seeds I've seen have legs and scamper all over the place. Hundreds of bugs from a box of raspberries, alive and moving. And also in other fruits and veggies to a lesser degree.
44
Jun 06, 2007 at 02:02 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
"No one has worried about whether their furniture comes from Asheira trees, wormy or not. How about a hashgocha on furniture?"
Not a bad idea! maybe if there would be a Hashgacha on furniture I wouldn't be in so much debt marrying of my children.
45
Jun 06, 2007 at 01:59 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I put the strawberries on a white paper napkin. I saw little black dots. I examined them with a magnifying glass, they were still little black dots (probably seeds).
Bugs have legs. There is no prohibition against eating bug pieces or bugs you cannot see. If this were the case, flour which contains millions of little bug parts would be forbidden.
Last year I heard a Rabbi say that Raspberries and blackberries were forbidden because of bugs in them. I also washed these and put them on a white paper napkin and saw nothing.
I bought organic Driscoll brand raspberries, blackberries and strawberries from CA.
Berries are the best source of manganese which prevents neurological damage. If you will not eat the berries whole, put them in the blender so as not to risk serious health problems from manganese deficiency.
46
Jun 06, 2007 at 11:34 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
No one has worried about whether their furniture comes from Asheira trees, wormy or not. How about a hashgocha on furniture?
47
Jun 06, 2007 at 11:13 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
To 10:06
First of all, I said "many of you guys should all pack your bags". I did not accuse everyone, as their are many positive posts on this topic.
Second of all, what exactly should the rabonnim do regarding drugs or molesters? What do you want our Rabonnim to say? Drugs are osur? Molesting is osur? Is that really going to help someone who is addicted or is a molestor? When a person reaches that level they need professional help from social workers or pychologists. The rabonnim are there for family support. Also, these are issues that should be discussed at home by parents with their children.
What exactly is wrong with Rabonnim coming out and saying not to eat Strawberries because there are bugs in them? This is what I expect them to do and I have a lot of gratitude to them for that. Now on the other hand, if they say something regarding drugs & molesting, I bet you would also critize them.
The way I see it, you are either with our Rabbonim or not. Judging from your comments " I think it's the other way around everything we do or eat we are still not good enough for them,",,, I think I know which way you are going.
48
Jun 06, 2007 at 10:24 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
to b.a. mentch if you are reading this comment please disregard any offence I APOLEGIZE berabim, so be a real mentch and get back to your post we miss you.
49
Jun 06, 2007 at 10:06 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
to 9:51 am, you are accusing all the bloggers that we are knocking the rabbonim, I think it's the other way around everything we do or eat we are still not good enough for them, they should focus on the drug's and child molesters etc.
50
Jun 06, 2007 at 09:57 AM dave Says:Report as Inappropriate
Anonymous said...
Anon 3:58,
No it was an Apple.
June 5, 2007 5:57 PM
No, it wasn't an apple either. I can't believe that so many Jews believe Christian stories. The gemara says it could have been a fig, grape or wheat. Please don't argue whether wheat is considered a fruit or not. Speak to your rabbi.
51
Jun 06, 2007 at 09:56 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
"this is the most ridiculous thing i ever heard. i'm not letting these extremeists control whether i eat a strawberry or not."
These same extremists are telling you not to "Mezaneh" go ahead & enjoy life.
52
Jun 06, 2007 at 09:51 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I have some strawberries at home. When I soaked them in water, very tiny black lines appear in the water. Are these the bugs the rabbonim are referring about? If so, I need to tell you all that even after I washed the strawberries with water, then soaked them in a soapy solution and rewashed them again, I was still seeing these black things in the water.
Also, I read somewhere that in the generation of Moshiach, people won't respect their Rabbonim. After reading the posts, many of you guys should all pack your bags because it sounds like Moshiach is coming today. Shame on all of you who have posted these negative and ridiculing remarks about our Rabbonim. When it comes to Yom Kippur, well you know the rest,,,,
53
Jun 06, 2007 at 08:38 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
this is the most ridiculous thing i ever heard. i'm not letting these extremeists control whether i eat a strawberry or not.
54
Jun 06, 2007 at 01:06 AM kashrus pro Says:Report as Inappropriate
dont knock the OU. your own hasidic holyer than thou agencies, of whom most of them know not even a ki hi zeh of kashrus, ALL rely on the OU etc. without the OU etc, you wouldnt be able to eat anything in this country.
sorry but thats the emes!
55
Jun 05, 2007 at 11:53 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The problem is that all the people where davening sabbos with the stawberry minyan & no one stayed for the shallos seudas torah so all rabbunim came out with this halacha no strawberries & no early minyanim mincha
56
Jun 05, 2007 at 10:13 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
According to my son who is a caterer for a large chasunah hall. They will not be using strawberries. He was told that the bugs are the color of the strawberry and so small they can hardly be seen. But if you put them down on a white paper for an hour you will find them crawling around.
57
Jun 05, 2007 at 09:54 PM Shtender Bender Says:Report as Inappropriate
I wonder which company is about to announce they ahve grown and marketed Greenhouse Strawberries.
Then we'll really know this was a competitions ploy.
We should then ban that company and not think they are serving the needs of our community.
However, if they announce they will start to plant it now in agreenhouse, they should be commended.
58
Jun 05, 2007 at 09:46 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
to be a mentch, if you can't pick on the strawberies any more, so gei shloofen instead picking on your fellow blogers.
59
Jun 05, 2007 at 09:42 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
how must we wash our straberies if the water has bugs in it.
60
Jun 05, 2007 at 08:57 PM B.A. Mentsch Says:Report as Inappropriate
To 7:01pm; I am very proud you found a way to bring your "Seichel" and toilet paper in one short paragraph.
It's always good to know where one is coming from.
61
Jun 05, 2007 at 08:50 PM O.Gevald Says:Report as Inappropriate
Imagine if there were to be bugs found in POTATO KUGEL????
I mean, you know there are bugs found commonly in lukshen. So Lukshen Kigel is definately "Usser".
Oy, what am I saying? Perish the thought!
Then we would question your Yichus for sure!
62
Jun 05, 2007 at 07:01 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
what about the toilet paper did any body check if when they pull it out of the box on shabbos if they feel the paper ripping, and if possible to sugest a kosher for shabbos tissue paper, do we need the ou or crc etc to tell every move in ours lives, can't we use our own seichel and not to be charged for it.
63
Jun 05, 2007 at 06:57 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY???? There are bugs everywhere...including your skin, which feeds on your dead skin.
64
Jun 05, 2007 at 06:12 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
"I suggest investigating if there are "bugs" in other products like,
eggs, or maybe Pepsi, or even better what about chickens isn't it possible that a chicken ate a "bug" and now it is in it's "system". I guess will be left with............"
Investigate eggs, chickens,air and whatever else you like but DO NOT mess with my pepsi.
65
Jun 05, 2007 at 06:10 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
"If in fact there are so many worms shouldn't the brocho on strawberrys be changed to...shehakol..."
No the strawberry is the ikur and the bugs are the tapheil. Of course if you are koveia seudah on the bugs than the halacha may be different.
66
Jun 05, 2007 at 05:57 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Anon 3:58,
No it was an Apple.
67
Jun 05, 2007 at 04:02 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
If in fact there are so many worms shouldn't the brocho on strawberrys be changed to...shehakol...
68
Jun 05, 2007 at 03:58 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Is it possible that the forbiden fruit that eve ate was strawberry?
69
Jun 05, 2007 at 03:50 PM Jewish Says:Report as Inappropriate
the air is full of bugs..........
70
Jun 05, 2007 at 03:45 PM stop bugging me Says:Report as Inappropriate
How many of you eat fresh strawberries on a regular basis? As for myself I MAY eat strawberries once a year.
I really couldn't care less if they are usur.
It's a good thing people are so busy deciding if the Rabbonim are right or wrong on something they don't even care about.
The only thing I'm concerned about is if this whole "bug" thing is getting out of hand.
What's next?
I suggest investigating if there are "bugs" in other products like,
eggs, or maybe Pepsi, or even better what about chickens isn't it possible that a chicken ate a "bug" and now it is in it's "system". I guess will be left with............
71
Jun 05, 2007 at 03:26 PM Adam Rishon Says:Report as Inappropriate
Did someone say "Broccoli"?
72
Jun 05, 2007 at 03:24 PM Adam Rishon Says:Report as Inappropriate
So the original aveirah was eating fruit...any fruit. Let's drop the boreh pri haetz from the siddur.
73
Jun 05, 2007 at 02:15 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
AS I ALWAYS SAY...YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT DO IT YOURSELF.
74
Jun 05, 2007 at 01:30 PM BARZILAI Says:Report as Inappropriate
Here's an idea for all the poskim who think it should be muttar. Find a respected Rov and ask him. I'm waiting to see if any Rov would be mattir on the basis of manganese deficiency, or because if you don't look carefully you will not see them, or because your am haaretz elter bobbeh ate them. So far, all I see is Rabbi Blumenkratz's issur, the OU, the CRC, the Eidah Chareidis, and every hechsher organization in the world, who all agree that the bugs are there, they are assur, and you better know how to get rid of them before eating the produce.
There are alternatives for people who want the healthful benefits of vegetables: Broccoli seed sprouts and mung bean seed sprouts; asparagus with the calyxes at the end scraped off; and, of course, properly inspected and washed produce.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:39 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I can't believe all this Rabbi bashing i'm wondering if you belong to klall yisroel. After the issur on strawberries came out I bought a box of fresh strawberries I don't remember where they came from & there were white worms all over visible to the naked eye. I washed them off under the tap most seem to have washed away but I didn't eat them. Be brave do as told by the Rabbinic authorities and you will be healthy. The Torah makes nobody sick.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:17 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
here in england the psak given out by Harav Padwa z"l and Harav Falk shlita many years ago, and also endorsed by all the botei din and kashrus authorities, is that the tops of the strawberries MUST be cut off before washing them in soapy water.
All these posts which are being mevazeh the rabbonim will do nothing to improve the status of yiddishkeit on the street or anywhere else. If this is how people will speak about the Rabbonim then how do you expect the skirts to stop getting shorter - just because the Rabbonim said that they must be 4 inches below the knee at all times?
get a life out there all you critics! until you face facts that by eating bugs one can transgress up to 6 lavin for each one and it is not just a hidden agenda by people with a financial incentive to knock down their competitors or try and make things difficult for everyone then we will carry on seeing mechutzafdige posts like the majority of what has already gone up.
the rabbonim are not just looking for problems, the bugs are visible to the naked eye just hidden under the leaf and most certainly this is not a case of gezeira sheein royv hazibbur yechoilim laamoid boi. as i mentioned earlier we are talking about five issurei deoiraiso with malkos for each issur FOR EACH AND EVERY BUG EATEN.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:07 PM YATZMACH Says:Report as Inappropriate
The EASIEST thing to do is to make something OSUR. It takes a TRUE Talmid Chochum to be matir.
Any AM HAARETZ can say TREIF, and most of these are MAJOR LEAGUE Am Harratzim,no matter how long the beard and how big the shtreimel.
Kashrus has become a multi million dollar business, and when anything becomes that lucrative there are going to be a lot of people getting into it.
I know of a "Rabbi" who served on the pulpit for 30 years before going into KASHRUS. This individual could not and still can not make a bracha on a radish and he's giving hashgachas..WHAT A JOKE.
You also have RAH BANNIM who give hashgachas on things they can't read much less pronounce..ISN'T THIS A JOKE???
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:03 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
is this a tactic by the " o-u " to make us forget about the restaurant at 46 and broadway called le marais, we sould never foeget.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 11:25 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I have been to simchahs catered by Michael Schick and Itch Mier Grunwald from Lakewood this past week and strawberries were being served with their stems . When I approached the caterers they said there is no problem as long as you clean them properly , and you can leave on the stem as well on the long stem strwberries.
Rabbi tEICHMAN FROM HEART K in LAwas matter strawberries provided you clean them.
My opinion is if it is so controversial why not wait out the storm like the shaitle fiasco
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Jun 05, 2007 at 11:06 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I won't express any views about what is mutar and what is assur - ask your rav. The only thing I will say is that the people that find these bugs are not leidigeiers as some here have accused them - they are avaryanim whose sole purpose is to do so to be mazik some elses paranasah. This is how competition works in the jewish world. If you are involved in the kosher food business you have someone check a 100 samples of your competitors product and you are guaranteed to find some bugs. I guarantee you (I've seen this done in practice many times) that if you take any expert and he goes into any restaurant or a private home and goes through the products he will find bugs. No exception. The question is solely how prevalent they are and obviously at some level food can become infested enough so that it becomes assur to eat. The big problem is also that many of the people announcing bug problems are doing so for personal gain - i.e. saying there is a bug problem with products produced by a competitor or which is certified by a competing hashgacha - and no consideration is given as to whether the prevelance of bugs is sufficient to be a problem since the goal is to find a problem. and us idiots dance like a bunch of puppets every time such an announcement is made.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 10:52 AM jewkim Says:Report as Inappropriate
Here is a link to an article from a year ago describing how starwberries can get infested and the bugs that do it:
Bug infestation decimates
area strawberry farm
Some excerpts:
Tami Klumpyan and her husband, Brian, have lost 95 percent of their crop to thrips, a common garden pest that has visited their farm with a vengeance....
Thrips are small - approximately 1/15-inch long - and millions of the tiny insects have been feasting on blossoms in the Klumpyans’ 4-acre strawberry patch...
... To find the pests, Tami blew on a seemingly unblemished blossom, adding enough carbon dioxide to the insects’ atmosphere to make them scurry out from folds and crannies around the petals...
Anna Maenner, executive director of the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association, said she has heard of two other berry farms in Oregon, Wis. and Poynette that were devastated by thrips.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 10:49 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
"Don't touch the tree" said Chava.
Look where that got us.
Stick to Halacha. Don't make up your own halachas. This is a very dangerous game the Rabbonim are playing. Kosher becomes Treif and Treif become Kosher.
WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!!!
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Jun 05, 2007 at 10:15 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
there is no such a halucha to ban any kind of produce becuase of bugs, about thrips mr. barzili the halucha requires you only to do your best cleaning your produce not dancing and not being meshuga
remember what the mishna tells us that a leader should not enforce any haluchas that the tzibur won't be able to take it
and so is for produce
fonny rabbis stop with the bullshit and cut crap
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Jun 05, 2007 at 09:18 AM BARZILAI Says:Report as Inappropriate
Have any of you posters with opinions ever seen a thrip? Do you have any idea what it looks like? Well, wake up and smell the coffee, people. Put a strawberry on a white surface and shake it vigorously, and you will see the thrips going nuts on the white surface. They are elongated and eminently visible.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 09:00 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Rabbi blumenkrantz OB"M said @ one of his hilchos pesach droshso's that if you wash fresh strawberries and leave them on a napkin or paper towel over night you will see the bugs on the paper in the AM. with regards to the yiddeshkiet issue I agree withu we are so busy with bugs and shaitlech we don't realize the skirts getting shorter, the shirts getting tighter, and how many people are conducting "business". For some reason this issue is on the table but not being yelled out in the streets?!
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Jun 05, 2007 at 08:32 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
all those rabbis are big hypocrits because there is no halucha that says if you cant see bugs then you should not eat it as a result
the halucha by meat is if you salted it properly according to the halucha then what ever blood is left in the meat is allowed to be used
the same is with all produce if you check it the best according to the requierments of shlchun ourch then there should be no problem
the rabbis are angry that the market of produce wont put a kashrus lable on stuff that comes straight from the farm and thats why they harras the consumer about bugs the whole bug issue is a scam to make money and market thier own products
there is bigger kashrus problems then bugs and those rabbis wont focuse on them because they are reciving already pay checks for it
form the first hand in kashrus
a mashgiach
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Jun 05, 2007 at 08:21 AM YATZMACH Says:Report as Inappropriate
The problem is the fruits & vegetables DO NOT have bugs,It's the LAYDEGAYERS with nothing to do that have the bugs.If they had something worthwhile to do we would have less of these NONSENSE shaylos to worry about.
And why are the RAH BANNIM worrying about this SHTUS. Haven't they noticed yet that Yiddishkiet is slowly BUT surly going down the tubes?
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Jun 05, 2007 at 07:01 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Bodek is also not Kosher anymore.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 06:54 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
the eyda chareydis in eretz yisrael also also came out saying no straw berrys since it is the end of the season and the strawberrys are soft the bugs are inside the strawberrys
does any body know if bodek srawberrys are ok?
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Jun 05, 2007 at 06:20 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
who cares what the ou says.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 01:24 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
who says raspberries and blackberries are forbidden?
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:49 AM Mnachem Says:Report as Inappropriate
Sorry Mark, but I have to tell you Shlomia is right for posting this now.
I was in Kiryas Yoel for Shabas (where Our Shlomia Shamos lives) and there were posters all over the Shuel that you can't eat them at all, also I hear in Williamsburg they said the same. And there were full page ads in the Blat saying that the Rabbe said you can't it them at all.
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:42 AM Mark Levin is The Great One Says:Report as Inappropriate
anon 1153,
Achray Mos Kedoshim Emor.
The FACTS are (and considering you are also not interested in FACTS) that you CAN eat strawberries IF you wash them as prescribed by the OU or the cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council).
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:26 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Shaitles, bugs in water and now we are picking on strawberries. Dovid Hamelech had starwberries on his table and will you tell us that there were no bugs then? Wash the darn thing off and clean the thing so there are no bugs.
In vegas I betted that tha next shaylah will be on picking ones nose because maybe there are bugs in the nost when put under a microscope. What the hell is next?
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Jun 05, 2007 at 12:03 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I thought that if the bug is not visible to the naked eye then there is no problem.
How many invisible bugs are there out there?
The part that confuses me is, how did they find out about the bugs in the first place if the eye can't see them?
can it be that some Rav was fooling around with a microscope and discovered insects?!! Ha!
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Jun 04, 2007 at 11:53 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Interesting, this is something that Rabbi Blumenkrantz OB"M has spoken about for years where was everyone then????
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Jun 04, 2007 at 09:56 PM Kvetcher Says:Report as Inappropriate
Anon 9:36 looks like the Rabbis are using microscopes, and confusing microscopic bacteria and insects.
Soon we will need to wear SARS masks when they will discover that the air we breathe is full of insects not visible to the eye.
Maybe getting them jobs will solve all the insect problems.
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Jun 04, 2007 at 09:54 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I have long understood that for reasons of health we should avoid strawberries because they are full of insecticide and related chemicals. While this article makes it clear that there is still a concern about insects I would still ask a health professional whether we should eat strawberries.
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Jun 04, 2007 at 09:43 PM Mark Levin is The Great One Says:Report as Inappropriate
Comon Shloima, this is simply not true! The OU put out a notice on FRIDAY telling the people what to do.
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Jun 04, 2007 at 09:36 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I looked very closely at the picture and don't see even one bug. Who is making up these shaalos?
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Jun 04, 2007 at 09:03 PM Heimish Says:Report as Inappropriate
from the Chicago Rabbinical Council:
There has reportedly been a recent high level of insect infestation in strawberries. The situation is being investigated, but in the meantime, the cRc recommends the following procedure:
A) Cut off the leafy top of the strawberry, being careful not to cut too much as to open the cavity in the strawberry. (This will keep the soapy water from entering the center of the strawberry. If too much was cut, this does not invalidate the procedure.)
B) Wash the strawberries in a soapy solution, rubbing them with a sponge. If the strawberries have creases and/or folds, then special care should be made in those areas.
C) Rinse the strawberries and enjoy!
From the OU
Fresh strawberries have long been recognized as being prone to insect infestation, including aphids, small mites and thrips, and should not be consumed unless prepared in a proper manner. These insects are found primarily under the green leafy crown at the top of the strawberries. They can also be nestled on the surface of the berry. The insects tend to migrate from the top of the strawberry downward.
Recent claims have been made questioning the viability of any cleaning and checking procedure for strawberries. These claims have caused much confusion and concern in the kosher consuming community. The OU has carefully investigated these claims, and a series of experiments were performed to address this issue. Research has determined that when prepared and washed properly, the insects will be removed from the strawberry (this result has been confirmed by a group of Rabbonim and experts in the field, meeting in Lakewood on May 29, 2007).
The following is the OU’s recommended method for preparing strawberries as excerpted from the soon-to-be published “OU Guide to Checking, Fruits, Vegetables, and Berries” (2nd edition).
1. Remove the green leaves from the top of the strawberries, careful to not make a hole in the top of the strawberry. If a hole was made, the strawberry should then be cut in half, allowing you to wash both the inside and outside of the strawberry.
2. Place the strawberries in water that is concentrated with liquid soap.
3. Vigorously agitate the strawberries in water.
4. Allow the strawberries to soak in water for several minutes after agitation.
5. Wash each strawberry individually under a strong stream of running water, ensuring that the entire surface of the strawberry is thoroughly washed.
6. Dry strawberries, wiping their surface.
Cautionary note: This procedure must be performed meticulously to achieve desired results. A visual inspection should be made following the process.
Consumers wishing to receive additional direction from the OU how to prepare fresh strawberries according to OU guidelines should contact our office at 212-613-8241.
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Jun 04, 2007 at 08:53 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
where are the hidden bugs? if they are near the stem only, cant we just cut off that area?
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Jun 04, 2007 at 08:40 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Mow that strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are forbidden, I hope that our esteemed Rabbis will address the expected manganese deficiency that we will see among frum Yidden. Berries are by far the richest source of manganese.
Deficiency in manganese causes diabetes, epilepsy and various other neurological disorders. I guess we will expect to see an increase in these among frum people in the coming years.
Just as our Rabbis banned all greens, the only reliable source of Vitamin K (the body cannot effectively use the synthetic). In the past few years we have seen a tremendous increase in bleeding and connective tissue disorders in frum yidden.
Hashem gave us a wide variety of kosher foods, each is important to our health, without them we will suffer from terrible but preventable diseases.
If you are worried about bugs, put it in the blender, but do not stop eating entire categories of foods that our mothers and grandmothers never had a problem serving to their families.
It is a D'oraisa requirement to protect your health. Please do not think you can buy it in a pill.
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Oct 11, 2009 at 04:47 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Now, here's the truth about these thrips bugs. I am the farmer who had them on the strawberries and that were debated by the Head Jewish people. Number one: You can see these bugs. They do hide in the cap area. To check for them, just breath on them. They don't like carbon dioxide and will come out. Two: That many thrips bugs making it into the northern states is a rare occurance. Once every 20 years or so. They do not over winter in the northern states that get freezes, I'm assuming New York would be one of those states. Three: Anything grown on Gods green earth in soil will always have the possibility of bugs. I'm still amazed this actually got strawberries declared as unkosher. This is what I would do...buy your strawberries from a state that has freezing weather in winter. Then if you are concerned, put them in a bag, breath carbon dioxide into the bag and seal the bag. Watch and see if you see any movement. These bugs are small but can be seen with your eyes. They are thin and tannish in color. What the bugs (thrips) do is steal the sugars out of the berry, leaving the berry with a very tinny flavor. If you taste the berry and it's sweet, great news, this bug didn't touch it. The bugs actually did most of the damage in the flowering stage. They didn't live till the next year because our winters are very cold. So please get the facts everyone before declaring a perfectly great healthy fruit as unkosher. This is what worried me when I lost my entire crop and my entire years earnings....how am I going to put food on my table, kosher or not. That should be a bigger concern than bugs..in my eyes.
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Oct 11, 2009 at 03:01 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I owned the farm that had the tiny little bugs. You really need to get the facts before banning strawberries. I never heard of anything like this before. Unkosher? First, in Wisconsin it was a very rare occurance to have these tiny little bugs ever show up. Two, while you are busy worrying about eating them, my family was wondering where we were going to get the money to eat anything because we lost our entire crop. Third, the berries change flavor and lose all sugars when these bugs attack. So if you are eating a sweet strawberry, you won't find the little buggers!