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10 Cheshvan 5760 - October 20, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Tnuva-Tel Aviv Machzikei Hadas Dairy Follows Guidelines of HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv

by A. Cohen

The chareidi community is very pleased with recent halachic enhancements introduced into the Badatz Machzikei Hadas (Belz) production line at the Tnuva dairy in Tel Aviv. These improvements are in accordance with guidelines of the pillar of halocho, HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv.

Since the initiation of the special production line, extensive changes have been made in the dairy's kashrus system, enabling the chareidi community to enjoy a wide variety of dairy products manufactured under the highest standards of quality and kashrus.

In recent months the dairy was visited by HaRav Eliashiv's devoted secretary, HaRav Yosef Efrati, as well as by HaRav Mordechai Gross, rav and av beis din of the Chanichei Hayeshivos community in Bnei Brak and former head of the hashgocho operation of Shearis Yisroel. Both prominent rabbonim observed the production process firsthand, and examined various components of the milk as well as those of the raw materials, in all stages of production, starting from milking in the dairy farms until marketing to consumers.

A letter issued by HaRav Gross states that, "after consulting Maran HaRav Eliashiv, shlita, I visited the Tnuva dairy in Tel Aviv. . . . I checked all aspects of the dairy, and the composition of all its products. I examined its milk, whose production does not involve Shabbos desecration -- and ascertained that no Cesarean sections or stomach operations are performed -- which would render the cows from which the milk is derived treif -- and that no stomach injections are administered. I also saw the effective supervisory system which guarantees that the milk is cholov Yisroel; it is not milked by non-Jewish workers or volunteers [as ruled by HaRav Eliashiv]. I also verified that the cheese is made of cholov Yisroel and that the vapor systems do not return vapors or water to the vats, and that all of the raw ingredients are kosher. [After all this, I am happy to report that] in the Tel Aviv Tnuva dairy, the highest standards of kashrus are maintained."

He closes his letter expressing the fact that by consuming dairy products manufactured in so stringent a manner, one merits to fulfill the Rambam's words that "one [thereby] introduces added kedusha and taharo to his soul . . . and purifies it for the sake of Hakodosh Boruch Hu, as it is written, `and you shall consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.'" Addressing the dairy, he says, "Fortunate are you for having enabled adas Yisroel to achieve such a level."

In his letter, HaRav Efrati notes that he has merited to apprise the Torah-observant community of the daas Torah of Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, that milking performed by non-Jews in farms whose owners are not Torah-observant gives rise to a chashash of cholov akum. But to our dismay, nearly all of the dairies are not stringent on this point. It is not uncommon in many kibbutzim that non- Jewish volunteers work in the dairies.

"Under the guidance of Maran, I tried to insure that Machzikei Hadas supervision would function according to Maran's guidelines and rulings, and with the cooperation of the rav of Tnuva, we managed to institute an arrangement whereby products under the Machzikei Hadas mehadrin supervision of Tel Aviv's Tnuva dairy will be manufactured in line with all halachic rulings issued by Maran HaRav Eliashiv, shlita, and will only use milk that is free from this chashash.

HaRav Efrati adds that one mitzvah leads to another, and that the presence of mashgichim on the farms has markedly reduced the possibility of Shabbos milk entering the dairy, and has given rise to a situation in which no milk products under this supervision contain milk which was milked on Shabbos. In addition, a supervisory system guaranteeing that no operations have been performed which might render the animals treif or sofek treif has been initiated. Care is taken to insure that no milk from forbidden animals is used in the mehadrin products. HaRav Efrati notes that this is a unique hiddur,, not found in any other department in the world marketing cholov Yisroel.

Arrangements have also been made to insure that all acids used in the manufacturing of milk products under this supervision are also derived from cholov Yisroel and manufactured under constant supervision. A team of expert mashgichim work in the enterprise, ensuring that all kashrus guidelines are properly fulfilled. In addition, there are special Shabbos mashgichim whose job it is to see that no work is performed on Shabbos.

HaRav Efrati concludes his letter by blessing all those involved in the kashrus supervision of this enterprise to see hatzlocho in their work, "so that all Jews who are meticulous about the kedusha and taharo of their food, and who are careful to only consume food which is kosher beyond a doubt, should benefit from these products."


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