Kosher for Pesach goods still available to all

RABBI DOVI GOLDSTEIN

Just as he had checked out of his gear and was waiting to leave the base, a red siren went off signalling an emergency and that they would all have to take up their battle positions once again and wouldn’t be allowed to go home.

He and his fellow soldiers were taken back to their forward position, and they set up all their weapons and gear. As he received his new box of battle rations, he suddenly realised that he was given regular rations that included crackers and chametz (leaven) food. That night being the first night of Pesach, he was devastated that he wouldn’t be able to keep Pesach and have the basics for a meaningful seder.

Suddenly, a truck rolled up saying that it had special Pesach rations available for all the soldiers. The soldiers swapped their “regular” boxes for special Pesach boxes. In these boxes, there was a haggadah, wine, matzah, and canned fish and meat. Sitting under that 40mm anti-aircraft cannon that Pesach on his own, my father-in-law remembers it as the most special and meaningful Pesach he ever had.

I was thinking about how difficult this Pesach is going to be for many in our community and around the world. No guests. No family. No shul. However, what we will have is everything we need: a haggadah, wine, matzah, fish, and meat. In fact, I believe we are indeed very blessed in how many of the items we have come to rely on and enjoy for Pesach are available this year as well. This is due to the planning of the retail manufacturers and stores in making sure that they have ample supplies for the Jewish community.

For me, however, Pesach is still about the basics. We left Egypt 3 332 years ago with very little except for the basics. The bread didn’t even have time to rise (which is the basis for us eating matzah). Pesach is about connecting to what’s meaningful in our lives – our faith, family, and our community.

At the Beth Din kosher department, the reason for our existence is to serve the Jewish community and for more people to eat kosher more often. Fortunately, many of our kosher-certified food services are deemed “essential services” by the government, and you can buy from your favourite kosher butcheries, bakeries, and supermarkets.

We decided to move all our operations to remote sites early on, and our team has been working tirelessly to maintain the highest standards of kosher supervision during this challenging time.

We have a great list of resources to help you have a meaningful Pesach and make it as user-friendly as possible.

1.    For a list of products that don’t require a special Pesach hechsher (rabbinical certification), please see our green list. We have close to 30 items on this list. You can access the green list on our website using this link: https://www.uos.co.za/kashrut/openAlertUpdate.asp?updateID=913.

2.    The PNP Pesach guide is an indispensable booklet which can be accessed online and help you understand all the intricacies of Pesach as well as how to kasher your home. We have more than 50 common items and how to kasher them with an illustrated guide. Please use this link to access the guide: https://www.uos.co.za/kashrut/Pesach%20Guide%202020.pdf

3.    This year, we have added extra hours to our kosher desk WhatsApp hotline to assist you with your Pesach and general kosher and halachic queries. Please use our WhatsApp hotline on 063 693 9417, so we can make your Pesach planning as smooth as possible.

4.    Finally, we have an online “selling of chametz” portal. Please use this link to access all the information: https://www.uos.co.za/kashrut/pesachSaleChametz.asp.

• Rabbi Dovi Goldstein is the managing director of the Beth Din’s kosher department.