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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 1
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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 2
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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 3
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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 5
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 8
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 11
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 12
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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 13
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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 14
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 15
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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 16
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.
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 18
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 19
Halacha Mastery: Hilchot Mashgiach Kashrut: Lesson 21
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.