Kosher
- Hechsher/Kosher Approval
Hechsher (הכשר Hebrew: "kosher approval" , plural:
hechsherim) is the formal granting of certification, usually by an
authorized rabbi, that a product is certified as kosher (meaning "fit"
[for consumption].) A hechsher is usually conveyed to the public by a
special marking on products (generally foods) certifying that the item
is certified as kosher. It is usually Orthodox rabbis who assume the
jobs of mashgichim (singular: mashgiach) meaning they "supervise" the
products and processes that manufacture kosher food to ensure that all
ingredients are kosher (meaning: "fit" [for consumption]) and meet the
required standards of the original hechsher.
In halakha ("Jewish law"), the kashrut ("dietary laws") specify food
items that may be eaten and others that are prohibited as derived from
the commandments of the Torah. Observant Jews generally will only eat
permitted foods. To assist Jewish consumers, rabbinic authorities allow
manufacturers to place their "certification stamps", known as hechsherim,
on foods that they have inspected and found to contain only kosher
ingredients and produced in accordance with halakha.
Some mistakenly believe that a rabbi merely "blesses" food for it to be
considered kosher. This is not true.
Rabbinic organizations and authorities and their hechsherim
The "OU" logo.
The "OU" logo.
See Identification of kosher foods.
The best known hechsher symbol in the world is the "OU" symbol of the
Orthodox Union based in New York City in the United States. They employ
hundreds of rabbis as mashgichim ("supervisers").
Further designations contained in hechsherim
Passover (P)
The observance of Passover (Hebrew: Pesach) entails additional rules of
kashrut. Near the holiday, foods that are kosher for Passover (Hebrew:
kosher l'Pesach) may carry a "P" near the hechsher, standing for
"Passover" or "Pesach".
Dairy (D)
Observant Jews do not eat dairy products with meat. To ease
identification of dairy products (like chocolate, which may or may not
contain milk), a "D" or the word "Dairy" accompanies the hechsher.
Products which don't contain milk but are made on machinery that was
previously used with milk may have "DE" or Dairy Equipment accompanying
the hechsher.
Pareve
Some foods may be eaten with meat or with milk. These foods are called
pareve and may carry this term near the hechsher.
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