OK Mashgichim Gather for Annual Conference

150 OK personnel and mashgichim, hailing from all corners of the globe joined the OK Kosher Annual International Rabbinic Conference on Monday at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights.

Photos: Yossi Fajnland/Anash.org

The OK held its Annual International Rabbinic Conference on Monday, November 21, 27 MarCheshvan, at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights.

The conference was attended by over 150 OK personnel and mashgichim, hailing from all corners of the globe. We’ve now been meeting for more than two decades to share chizuk and learn how to continue to excel in our field.

The opening session included an in-depth conversation with Rabbi Kalman Weinfeld, member of the Executive Kashrus Vaad and head of the Food Service department, who provided a close look at our Food Service standards, an inside look at an OK-certified kitchen, and what we are doing to maintain the highest level of kosher supervision.

Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka, Rabbinic Coordinator, shared some important safety information to help protect mashgichim on the job. Rabbi Levi Schapiro, Rabbinic Coordinator, gave a lesson about the production of the popular Betty Crocker Pizza Maker which is certified by the OK and does not need tevilas keilim when bearing the OK symbol.

Rabbi Rafi Chayo shared some important tips on connecting with customers at inspection visits and Rabbi Avi Rapaport, Regional Rabbinic Coordination and Operations Manager, reviewed important halachos for the year after shmitta. Rabbi Eli Lando, Executive Manager, spoke about the unique connection and relationship between mashgichim and the OK.

The two final presentations were panel discussions. The Ingredients Panel was led by Executive Kashrus Vaad Member, Rabbi Sholom Ber Hendel, Rabbinic Manager, Rabbi Levi Marmulszteyn, and Rabbinic Coordinator, Rabbi Elisha Rubin. The final panel, featuring a discussion on Tolaim and the latest findings of our lab, featured Rabbinic Coordinators Rabbi Yakov Teichman and Rabbi Sholom Kesselman, and Rabbi Yosef Appel and Rabbi Moshe Horowitz who performs lab inspections.