In glowing terms, the Novominsker Rebbe last week praised the work of OU Kosher in making Torah observance possible for large numbers of Jews.
Rabbi Yaakov Perlow told the OU’s annual Kashrus Conference:
“It’s a privilege for me to be here, because I know this assembled tzibbur represents the community of people that makes it possible for so many thousands of Yidden to eat kosher.
“It’s a zechus to keep Klal Yisrael going this way…. Baruch Hashem, in the years since the end of World War II, we’ve seen an aliyah, you can almost call it a renaissance, of our Torah tzibbur of this country, which did not exist before the war. There were problems with Shabbos, with chinuch, and there were problems with kashrus also.…
“The growth of our tzibbur, the ruchniyus, is due to the fact that there came an organization called the Orthodox Union and other groups as well that take a lot better care of the kashrus situation of the products that we eat, and that enabled our lives to be open to all the other [holy maters], our families, our mosdos.”
“All the mitzvos and [good deeds] that Yidden do have to have a lev pasuach [a receptive heart]. Rabbosai, it’s a privilege to be here because what you’re doing is making it possible for thousands of Yidden to have a lev pasuach to devarim sheb’kedushah” – to holy matters.”
Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of OU Kosher, said that when he invited the Novominsker to the conference, “he immediately agreed. He told me he was willing and anxious to join us.”
Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of OU Kosher, said it was “We are honored that the Rebbe joined us for this critical event, as our rabbonim from all across the country gather together.”
The conference was held in Paradise Manor, in Boro Park, Brooklyn. Over two days the world’s premiere kashrus experts shared their insights, techniques, and teachings. Participants received an update on OU kashrus in the Far East, as well as mobile electronic integration of kashrus tools for mashgichim.
Rav Hershel Schachter, who serves as OU Posek, spoke of the challenges of being a mashgiach on rough assignments and away from family for extended periods of time. Rav Schachter also shared some personal advice on kashrus surveillance.
Gary Torgow, chair of the OU Kashrus Committee, chairman of Chemical Financial Corporation, and noted philanthropist, offered remarks as well.