• September 24, 2023
  • 9 5784, Tishri
  • פרשת ויחי

Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut

Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut

THIS IS A WEBYESHIVA.ORG HALACHA MASTERY PROGRAM COURSE. TO JOIN THE HALACHA MASTERY PROGRAM PLEASE SUBMIT AN APPLICATION. For more information about this program please CLICK HERE.

In this Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut course Rabbi Dovid Fink will survey the opinions of the great poskim regarding the concept of hashgacha and the mashgiach’s specific responsibilities. Topics will include: What is a mashgiach, what are his responsibilities, what are the qualifications for a mashgiach, can a woman be a mashgichah, can a child be a mashgiach, can a mashgiach trust non-Jews in the kitchen, can a mashgiach trust Jews who are not Torah observant, non-Jewish cooks and bakers, wine handled by non-Jews, taking challa from dough, kashering a kitchen outside the home and more.

We will focus on primary texts from the Mishna through contemporary poskim with a view to clarifying the practical requirements for kashrut supervision.

October 22, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 1
Class description

In our first topic we will survey the sources that define what a mashgiach is and what he does. We begin with texts from the Mishna through the great medieval authorities and the Shulchan Aruch.

Starting next week, we will concentrate on the conclusions drawn by the modern poskim, focusing primarily on the opinions of R. Moshe Feinstein.

Handouts
October 29, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 2
Class description

In this session we cover the decisions of the Shulchan Aruch and other early modern authorities requiring the mere possibility that the mashgiach see the non-Jew milking the cow or the mere possibility that the mashgiach appear and see the non-Jews at work in the store or private home.

Next week, we will turn to the opinion of R. Moshe Feinstein regarding the reliability and trustworthiness of non-Jewish food producers who certify the kashrut of their products in writing.

Handouts
November 5, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 3
Class description

In this session, two seemingly contradictory teshuvot of R. Moshe Feinstein: In the first he embraces the reliability of factory certification that all their ingredients are of kosher origin. In the second he rejects that reliability and insists on full-time, on-site inspection.

Handouts
November 12, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 4
Class description

In this sessions, R. Moshe Feinstein’s strict criteria for kashrut supervisors.

Handouts
November 19, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 5
Class description

In this session, we conclude our survey of the opinions of the great poskim regarding the minimum requirements for kashrut supervision by studying the responsa of R. Asher Weiss and Rav Kuk.

Handouts
November 26, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 6
Class description

Women functioning as kashrut supervisors: The strict view.

Handouts
December 3, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 7
Class description

In this session, R. Moshe Feinstein’s opinion in the Iggerot Moshe.

Handouts
December 10, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 8
Class description

In this session we will start to examine the opinion of R. Menashe Klein in his Mishne Halachot.

This week we will complete that and go on to the teshuva of R. Moshe Sternbuch.

Handouts
December 24, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 9
Class description

In this session, we begin the topic of bishul Akum (non-Jewish cooking).

Handouts
December 31, 2017 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 10
Class description

We will continue with the same material.

January 7, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 11
Class description

In this session, the position of non-Jewish slaves and employees.

R. Bakshi Doron’s attempt to find a leniency to permit non-Jewish cooks in Israeli police kitchens.

 

Handouts
January 14, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 12
Class description

In this session we turn to practical issues discussed by contemporary poskim regarding commercial food production:

1) Rav Cohen of Antwerp on tuna fish and bishul yisrael.

2) Rav Aviner on Arab bread.

3) Rav Lau on cooking done by non-Torah observant Jews.

Handouts
January 21, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 13
Class description

In this session we will complete Rav Lau’s opinion regarding cooking by Jews who do not observe Torah from last week. We will also discuss beer and other beverages that are cooked or brewed, and the Mashgiach lighting the flame prior to cooking.

Handouts
January 28, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 14
Class description

In this session, we will complete our survey of the opinions of contemporary poskim regarding non-Jewish cooking. They include: Rav Ovadya Yosef, Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Valdenberg, Rav Yitschak Weis, and Rav Gedalya Felder.

Handouts
February 4, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 15
Class description

The opinion of the Rosh requiring one of the following in kashering non-kosher utensils: 1) The utensil must not have been used within at least 24 hours; or 2) The volume of boiling water must exceed 60 times the volume of the utensil being kashered. Sources are available through the links.

February 11, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 16
Class description

In this session we will cover the opinion of the Rosh requiring one of the following in kashering non-kosher utensils: 1) The utensil must not have been used within at least 24 hours; or 2) The volume of boiling water must exceed 60 times the volume of the utensil being kashered.

Handouts
February 18, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 17
Class description

In this session: earthenware utensils (כלי חרס) and glass utensils.

 

Handouts
February 25, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 18
Class description

This session, we begin our final topic in הגעלה (kashering through boiling): glass. After kashering glass, we will turn to challa, which must be taken from dough.

Handouts
March 4, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 19
Class description

In this session: What is the minimum amount of dough that requires separating halla without a bracha? What is the minimum amount of dought that requires separating halla with a bracha?

Handouts
March 11, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 20
Class description

We will continue with the material from the last session.

Handouts
March 18, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 21
Class description

In our final session (a bittersweet moment as we will be wrapping up our course): Noodle kugel; dough recipes based on liquids other than water; the shiur of separation (how much halla needs to be taken).

Handouts

In addition to being one of Rabbi Brovender's first students, Rabbi Dovid Fink is an outstanding expertᅠand teacher of Halacha. Rabbi Fink received his Rabbinic ordination from ITRI and the Mir and was awarded his Ph.D in Semitic Languages and Linguistics from Yale University. Rav Fink has taught thousands of students from all over the world for over 35 years.