When Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, a Kashrus Administrator in Boston, was planning to send his daughter to camp, he called the camp’s administration and inquired about their kashrus protocol. “We have a chassidishe cook,” was the reply. Rabbi Kaufman was unimpressed and decided to do something.
By Devorah Klein – Hamodia
Several years ago, Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, Kashrus Administrator for KVH in Boston, was planning to send his daughter to camp. He called up the camp’s administration, and inquired, “What is your kashrus protocol?” “Oh, we have a chassidishe cook,” was the reply.
Rabbi Kaufman was shocked by that response. “In most situations, we are so careful with our hashgachos and our kashrus, whether it is choosing which products to purchase in the supermarket, which restaurant to eat in, or which caterer to use for a simchah. However, after discussing the issue with other kashrus professionals, I confirmed that when it comes to camp and yeshivos, in many cases, the situation is much laxer.”
Having one chassidishe cook is far from sufficient supervision to ensure kashrus in a busy, industrial kitchen, especially when there are non-Jewish workers helping to prepare over 1000 meals a day. Who is turning on the fire for the non-Jewish cooks, assuring that the food is bishul Yisrael? What is the bug checking policy? Who is checking in the orders to verify kosher products arrived, including the approved shechitah on meat and chicken, etc, etc.?
Rabbi Kaufman joined with Rabbi Sholom Tendler, of the Star-K, Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore, and approached Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Director of the Associated Kashrus Organizations (AKO) to see if a camp kashrus committer could be formed. “We compiled a list of goals, and sent it out to AKO members,” recalls Rabbi Fishbane. “We then asked for volunteers who were willing to travel around to camps, pro bono, to review kashrus protocols.”
Ten dedicated kashrus professionals replied with their willingness to participate. Shortly after Pesach 2021, the group began holding conference calls, put together forms and checklists, and then with the authority and reach of the AKO, began emailing flyers and cold-calling camp directors, asking if they would be willing to allow kashrus representatives to come to their camp and review protocol.
To further spread the word, Rabbi Kaufman and Rabbi Tendler set up a booth at a national camp show. At recent AKO conventions, time was dedicated to discussing the topic, brainstorming on how to procure more resources, and how to expand the reach of the initiative. Rabbi Fishbane noted that a friend of his, who works as a camp chef, posted some information on a chat group for camp chefs, which generated much interest.
“As word gets around, Menahelim are asking, ‘What about yeshivos?’” relates Rabbi Fishbane. “Just because the bachurim are learning upstairs, does that permit the goyim working downstairs in the kitchen? There is interest in expanding this concept to yeshivos, and I welcome that conversation and challenge.”
The Rabbanim have visited approximately 25 camps, reviewed their kashrus protocol, and approved 15. “We are not certifying camps,” Rabbi Kaufman emphasized. “We are telling parents that we have checked it out, and there is an acceptable kashrus protocol in place.”
Rabbi Kaufman emphasized that when visiting camps, they do not charge any fees, not even for expenses such as travel costs. They are truly acting l’tovas haklal.
At some camps, the Rabbanim were satisfied with what they observed. However, at others, they were quite astounded by the lack of protocol, the lack of knowledge, and the mistakes that were being made.
“We have visited camps across the spectrum,” Rabbi Kaufman continued. “Some definitely have better protocol than others, and this is across the board. It is noteworthy that Satmar camps are way ahead – they have full-time, paid mashgichim at all camp kitchens.”
Rabbi Kaufman continued, “One camp called us for guidance. They said, ‘We don’t need you to come visit, we just want to review our protocol.’ After speaking with them, it was clear that their system was not set up properly. It is just like the well-known expression, ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail.’”
In some cases, camp directors had set up a reliable protocol, but overlooked some basic areas, such as an outdoor grill, the camp canteen, or use of the campgrounds during off-season. “Sometimes, you just need an outside pair of eyes to review the situation and point out the issues,” noted Rabbi Kaufman. “We provide training and show the camp how to set up proper protocol for little or no expense. There is really no excuse for a camp not to have an inspection done. “
Rabbi Shalom Tendler commented, “If hashgachos would run their system of kashrus the way some camps run their kitchens, we would all, rightfully, be out of business. The idea that for two months they can ‘wing it’ and ‘if something happens, we can ask a shailoh’ is astoundingly lacking. Camps are collectively serving hundreds of thousands of meals each summer, on Shabbosos and on weekdays. ‘Assuming’ that just because someone is frum, they are watching the kitchen, is a sure recipe for disaster.
“Setting up an acceptable protocol is not that complicated. In almost every case where we helped camps create systems that could ‘pass’, it was usually only about being more organized in communication to ensure someone is specifically designated to oversee the kashrus, which is simpler than most envision. Someone just needs to focus on the issue, understand what to do, and then do it.”
Rabbi Fishbane emphasized, “In sefarim that discuss kashrus, there is a specific urgency to be extremely careful when dealing with children. Since their neshamos, and their guf, are not fully developed, eating tarfus can have a greater negative impact. If there is a choice where to be super careful about kashrus, it should certainly be in the camps, where the youth, who are the future of Klal Yisrael, are gathered. Assuring our youth are not exposed to the possibility of timtum halev should be on top of the list of priorities.”
For more information, or to arrange for a camp kashrus review, please contact [email protected].
Reprinted with permission from Hamodia
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