OK Kosher Certification: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:OK Kosher logo.jpg|thumb|The kosher symbol of '''OK (Organized Kashrut)''']] |
[[Image:OK Kosher logo.jpg|thumb|The kosher symbol of '''OK (Organized Kashrut)''']] |
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'''OK Kosher Certification''' is one of the major [[Kosher certification agency|kosher certification agencies]]. |
'''OK Kosher Certification''' is one of the major [[Kosher certification agency|kosher certification agencies]]. |
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In 1935, Abraham Goldstein founded '''Organized Kashrut Laboratories''' (OK Labs) to meet the American [[Jewish]] community's need for [[Kosher food]] products. |
In 1935, Abraham Goldstein founded '''Organized Kashrut Laboratories''' (OK Labs) to meet the American [[Jewish]] community's need for [[Kosher food]] products. |
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In 1968, Rabbi [[Bernard Levy]] purchased OK Labs. He was already involved in kosher certification several years prior to the purchase. |
In 1968, Rabbi [[Bernard Levy]] purchased OK Labs. He was already involved in kosher certification several years prior to the purchase. At the time, it was certifying a relatively small number of companies, but under his leadership, the organization began to grow, certifying companies internationally. Rabbi Levy instituted several improvements in the methods employed by kosher certifying agencies to verify the nature of products. Until then, many ingredients of products were assumed to be kosher, without visiting the company of each one. His policy was to travel to each company to see how the production was done first-hand. This led him to further investigate other companies, as many ingredients were composed of other sub-ingredients. As the organization grew, and the workload increased, Rabbi Levy's son, Rabbi Don Yoel Levy<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ok.org/about/leadership/|title=Leadership Archive - OK Kosher Certification|website=OK Kosher Certification|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref>, joined the OK to help expand the organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okkosher.com/Content.asp?ID=156|title=Corporate Profile|accessdate=26 March 2012}}</ref> |
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==Today== |
==Today== |
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After the death of Rabbi Bernard Levy in 1987, his son Rabbi Don Yoel Levy assumed leadership of the organization. |
After the death of [[Bernard Levy|Rabbi Bernard Levy]] in 1987, his son Rabbi Don Yoel Levy assumed leadership of the organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.torahcafe.com/scholar/rabbi-don-yoel-levy_0000000167.html|title=Rabbi Don Yoel Levy|website=www.torahcafe.com|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> |
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With more than 10 million consumers seeking kosher products in the United States alone, the kosher food industry has seen rapid growth in the past two decades, with sales reaching $165 billion in 2002 |
With more than 10 million consumers seeking kosher products in the United States alone, the kosher food industry has seen rapid growth in the past two decades, with sales reaching $165 billion in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ok.org/about/news-room/you-dont-have-to-be-jewish-to-eat-kosher/|title=You Don't Have to Be Jewish to Eat Kosher - OK Kosher Certification|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> Today the OK Certifies over 140,000 products, produced by over 1500 companies worldwide, including food giants such as [[Kraft Foods|Kraft]], [[Snapple]], and [[ConAgra]]. It employs over 350 Rabbis worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ok.org/about/mission/|title=Values & Mission - OK Kosher Certification|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> |
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It employs over 350 Rabbis worldwide [http://www.ok.org/Content.asp?ID=2 2]. |
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Besides giving Kosher Certification, the OK actively promotes education and observance of kosher laws and attitudes. |
Besides giving Kosher Certification, the OK actively promotes education and observance of kosher laws and attitudes. There are many books written on the subject, while most popular are the Kosher approved recipes.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Zomicks-Kosher-Challah-products-cookbook-ebook/dp/B00FRLQTTI|title=Kosher Challah – Bread Recipes|date=2013-10-09|publisher=Zomick's Bakery|year=2013|isbn=978-1-365-35568-4|language=English}}</ref> |
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Its headquarters are in [[Brooklyn, New York]], with offices in [[Europe]] and [[Israel]]. The OK is also an active sponsor of the [[Jewish Children's Museum]]. |
Its headquarters are in [[Brooklyn, New York]], with offices in [[Europe]] and [[Israel]]. The OK is also an active sponsor of the [[Jewish Children's Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ebooklibrary.org/article/whebn0003858689/ok%2520kosher%2520certification|title=World eBook Library - eBooks {{!}} Read eBooks online {{!}} Unavailable Content|last=Library|first=World eBook|website=www.ebooklibrary.org|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> |
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In 2014, OK Kosher won the right over the ".kosher" domain name in the internet domain name space.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/ok-kosher|title=OK Kosher|date=2015-04-29|website=The Jewish Week {{!}} Connecting The World To Jewish News, Culture & Opinion|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2014/02/chabad-controlled-ok-kosher-gets-sole-control-over-kosher-domain-names-despite-objections-from-ou-an-567.html|title=<B>Chabad-Controlled OK Kosher Gets Sole Control Over .Kosher Domain Names, Despite Objections From OU And Many Other American Kosher Supervisors</B>|website=FailedMessiah.com|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> |
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In 2015, Kehilla Kosher from Los Angeles merged with OK Kosher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kosherquest.org/kehilla-kosher-merges-with-ok-kosher/|title=KEHILLA KOSHER MERGES WITH OK KOSHER - Kosherquest.org - Online Kashrus Information|date=2015-11-06|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> |
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The agency often expands its supervision of restaurants, mainly located in New York.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yeahthatskosher.com/2016/08/nycs-great-american-health-bar-now-under-ok-kosher-supervision/|title=NYC’s Great American Health Bar Now Under “OK” Kosher Supervision|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Kashrut}} |
{{Kashrut}} |
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[[Category:Religious consumer symbols]] |
[[Category:Religious consumer symbols]] |
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[[Category:Kosher food]] |
Revision as of 11:13, 26 August 2016
OK Kosher Certification is one of the major kosher certification agencies.
Early history
In 1935, Abraham Goldstein founded Organized Kashrut Laboratories (OK Labs) to meet the American Jewish community's need for Kosher food products.
In 1968, Rabbi Bernard Levy purchased OK Labs. He was already involved in kosher certification several years prior to the purchase. At the time, it was certifying a relatively small number of companies, but under his leadership, the organization began to grow, certifying companies internationally. Rabbi Levy instituted several improvements in the methods employed by kosher certifying agencies to verify the nature of products. Until then, many ingredients of products were assumed to be kosher, without visiting the company of each one. His policy was to travel to each company to see how the production was done first-hand. This led him to further investigate other companies, as many ingredients were composed of other sub-ingredients. As the organization grew, and the workload increased, Rabbi Levy's son, Rabbi Don Yoel Levy[1], joined the OK to help expand the organization.[2]
Today
After the death of Rabbi Bernard Levy in 1987, his son Rabbi Don Yoel Levy assumed leadership of the organization.[3]
With more than 10 million consumers seeking kosher products in the United States alone, the kosher food industry has seen rapid growth in the past two decades, with sales reaching $165 billion in 2002.[4] Today the OK Certifies over 140,000 products, produced by over 1500 companies worldwide, including food giants such as Kraft, Snapple, and ConAgra. It employs over 350 Rabbis worldwide.[5]
Besides giving Kosher Certification, the OK actively promotes education and observance of kosher laws and attitudes. There are many books written on the subject, while most popular are the Kosher approved recipes.[6]
Its headquarters are in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Europe and Israel. The OK is also an active sponsor of the Jewish Children's Museum.[7]
In 2014, OK Kosher won the right over the ".kosher" domain name in the internet domain name space.[8][9]
In 2015, Kehilla Kosher from Los Angeles merged with OK Kosher.[10]
The agency often expands its supervision of restaurants, mainly located in New York.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Leadership Archive - OK Kosher Certification". OK Kosher Certification. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ "Corporate Profile". Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ "Rabbi Don Yoel Levy". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ "You Don't Have to Be Jewish to Eat Kosher - OK Kosher Certification". Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ "Values & Mission - OK Kosher Certification". Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ Kosher Challah – Bread Recipes. Zomick's Bakery. 2013-10-09. ISBN 978-1-365-35568-4.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Library, World eBook. "World eBook Library - eBooks | Read eBooks online | Unavailable Content". www.ebooklibrary.org. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ "OK Kosher". The Jewish Week | Connecting The World To Jewish News, Culture & Opinion. 2015-04-29. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ "Chabad-Controlled OK Kosher Gets Sole Control Over .Kosher Domain Names, Despite Objections From OU And Many Other American Kosher Supervisors". FailedMessiah.com. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ "KEHILLA KOSHER MERGES WITH OK KOSHER - Kosherquest.org - Online Kashrus Information". 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ "NYC's Great American Health Bar Now Under "OK" Kosher Supervision". Retrieved 2016-08-26.