With Tu B’shvat not far ahead, we have compiled a chart of different dried fruits and the applicable halachos.

Make sure dried fruits are properly sealed and stored in a cool dry area. Improper storage can lead to infestation issues. They should be purchased from stores that have proper quality control and storage practices.

Click here for a PDF version of the Cleveland Kosher Tu B’shvat Dry Fruits List.

Dry Fruit	Brocha	Needs Kosher Certification Year Round?	Needs Checking for Infestation?
Apples	Hoetz	Yes	No
Apricots	Hoetz	No (With no additional flavors)	Yes (Split open and check for worms)
Bananas	Hoadoma	Yes	No
Blueberries	Hoetz	Yes	No
Cherries	Hoetz	Yes	No
Cranberries	Hoadoma	Yes	No
Currants	Hoetz	Yes	No
Dates	Hoetz	No (With no additional flavors)	Yes (Check a sample of 2-3 dates in the package for worms)
Figs	Hoetz	No (With no additional flavors)	Yes (Open and look for noticeable webbing)
Mangoes	Hoetz	Yes	No
Nectarines	Hoetz	No (With no additional flavors)	No
Papaya	Hoadoma	Yes	No
Peaches	Hoetz	No (With no additional flavors)	No
Pears	Hoetz	No (With no additional flavors)	No
Pineapples	Hoadoma	Yes	No
Prunes	Hoetz	No (With no additional flavors)	No
Raisins	Hoetz	Domestic do not require certification	No

Honey:
Requires Kosher certification

Dates:
Domestic dates do not require kosher certification. It is advisable to split open three dates to check for worms.

Note: If dates are from Israel they require reliable certification to ensure that terumos and maasros have been separated.

Shredded Cabbage:
Acceptable with a reliable Kosher certification

Raw Cabbage:
Separate the leaves and soak in soap solution for two minutes and agitate. Then wash both sides of leaf under stream of water. Be sure to open the folds and crevices as you wash.

Leek:
If using the green shoots slit open and wash under stream of water. If using the bottom portion split along the length and wash thoroughly.

Spinach:
Soak in soap solution for two minutes and agitate. Wash each leaf under stream of water.

Black Eyed Peas:
Does not require checking unless there is reason to suspect infestation.

To receive Kashrus news and alerts please send an email to subscribe@clevelandkosher.org.

Honey:
Requires Kosher certification

Dates:
Domestic dates do not require kosher certification. It is advisable to split open three dates to check for worms.

Note: If dates are from Israel they require reliable certification to ensure that terumos and maasros have been separated.

Shredded Cabbage:
Acceptable with a reliable Kosher certification

Raw Cabbage:
Separate the leaves and soak in soap solution for two minutes and agitate. Then wash both sides of leaf under stream of water. Be sure to open the folds and crevices as you wash.

Leek:
If using the green shoots slit open and wash under stream of water. If using the bottom portion split along the length and wash thoroughly.

Spinach:
Soak in soap solution for two minutes and agitate. Wash each leaf under stream of water.

Black Eyed Peas:
Does not require checking unless there is reason to suspect infestation.

To receive Kashrus news and alerts please send an email to subscribe@clevelandkosher.org.

Honey:
Requires Kosher certification

Dates:
Domestic dates do not require kosher certification. It is advisable to split open three dates to check for worms.

Note: If dates are from Israel they require reliable certification to ensure that terumos and maasros have been separated.

Shredded Cabbage:
Acceptable with a reliable Kosher certification

Raw Cabbage:
Separate the leaves and soak in soap solution for two minutes and agitate. Then wash both sides of leaf under stream of water. Be sure to open the folds and crevices as you wash.

Leek:
If using the green shoots slit open and wash under stream of water. If using the bottom portion split along the length and wash thoroughly.

Spinach:
Soak in soap solution for two minutes and agitate. Wash each leaf under stream of water.

Black Eyed Peas:
Does not require checking unless there is reason to suspect infestation.

To receive Kashrus news and alerts please send an email to subscribe@clevelandkosher.org.

Great Lakes Brewery is now producing non-kosher flavored beers. At this time we cannot recommend their products.

Editor’s note: Great Lakes recently announced a 30th Anniversary Imperial Oyster Stout that was produced in their main brewery.

The yoshon season is about to begin. To receive local yoshon information, please send an email to yoshon@clevelandkosher.org.

The yoshon season is about to begin. To receive local yoshon information, please send an email to yoshon@clevelandkosher.org.

Editor’s note: Sushi2Go (CH) and Bar Sushi (UH) are not the same establishments.

Effective August 1, 2018, Sushi2Go is no longer certified by Cleveland Kosher. This is not due to any kashrus problems or violations.

Editor’s note: Sushi2Go (CH) and Bar Sushi (UH) are not the same establishments.

Effective August 1, 2018, Sushi2Go is no longer certified by Cleveland Kosher. This is not due to any kashrus problems or violations.

May one purchase pre-cut produce from the local supermarket?

After researching three local supermarket chains, we can offer the following guidance:

Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon, Pineapple – Some stores cut their own, while others purchase it pre-sliced from a regional company (Star-K certified). Either way, it may be purchased from the supermarket produce department.

Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Broccoli, Cauliflower – These items cannot be used as is, as they would require proper checking for insects.

Diced Yellow Onions, Diced Red Onions, Diced Celery, Sliced Tri-Color Peppers, Jicama Sticks, Celery Sticks, Carrot Sticks, Mango – These items are available at Heinens prepackaged bearing a Star-K.

If you would like to receive kashrus news and alerts please send an email to subscribe@clevelandkosher.org.

Amy Joy, located at 6633 Mayfield Road, is no longer certified by Young Israel of Greater Cleveland (YIGC) Kosher.

Goldie’s Donuts, located at 5211 Mayfield Road, is certified by YIGC Kosher. All products are to be considered dairy.

Correction and update to Pesach Guide page 29:

The Vaad Hakashrus Cleveland Kosher did not transact a mechiras chometz for Vienna Foods (formerly Simon Foods) this year.

From crcweb.org/alerts.php (via kashrut.com/Alerts/):

In honor of Chodesh Adar the cRc is happy to share with the kosher consumer the latest additions to the cRc’s liquor list. The full list, which includes these additions, can be found at http://www.crcweb.org/LiquorList.pdf

Newly Certified: BEER: Angel City, Assorted Varieties (Star-K logo required), Cobra, King, Premium, Zebra (KLBD logo required), McKenzie River, Assorted Varieties (OU logo required), Traveler Beer Co., Assorted Varieties (Star-K logo required). BRANDY: Boukha Bokobsa, Fig Alcohol (OU-P logo required). GIN: Dripping Springs, Gin (HKA certified), Empress, 1908 (Kosher Check logo required). OTHER: Ginger Tipple, Assorted Varieties (OK-P logo required), Truly Spiked & Sparkling, Assorted Varieties (OK-P logo required). RUM: Richard Distilling, Assorted Varieties (AKC logo required), Cruzan, Black Strap Rum- Dairy (OU-D certified). SAKE: G Sake, Assorted Varieties (Oregon-K logo required), Momokawa, Assorted Varieties (Oregon -K logo required), Moonstone, Assorted Varieties (Oregon -K logo required). SCOTCH: Bowmore, No.1 (KLBD logo required). TEQUILA: Cava, White Tequila (OU-P logo required). VODKA: Dripping Springs, Vodka (HKA certified), 3 Kilos, Vodka (OU-P logo required), David’s Harp Vodka, Citron Lemon Flavored (OU-P logo required), Peacock, Vodka (OU-P logo required), The Metropolitan Martini Co., Vodka Martini (OU-P logo required), Zachlawi, Assorted Varieties (OU-P logo required), Barton Naturals, Vodka, (cRc logo required), Rodrigues Markland Cottage, Sedna Vodka (COR logo required).

Newly Recommended (Not Certified): Beer: Goose Island, Four Star Pils, Ommegang, Art of Darkness, BPA, Gnomegang, Hop House, Soothsayer. IRISH WHISKEY: Bushmills, Red Bush. SCOTCH: Ancoc, 16 Year Old, Balvenie, Peat Week 14 Year 2002 Vintage, Kilchoman, 2006 Vintage (5 Year), 2007 Vintage (6 Year), 2008 Vintage (7 Year), Old Pulteney, 12 Year Old, Noss Head, Speyburn, Bradan Orach.

 Newly Non-Recommended: AMERICAN WHISKEY: Clyde Mays, Whiskey, Slaughter House, American Whiskey. BEER: Mackeson, XXX Triple Stout Milk Beer, Sweetwater Brewing, All Varieties, Branchline Brewing Co., All Varieties, Summit Brewing, All Varieties, Veil Brewing Co. , All Varieties. BOURBON: Angel’s Envy, Bourbon, Jim Beam, Distiller’s Masterpiece, Kelsey Creek, Unflavored (Only acceptable if purchased before Pesach 1992/5752), Rock Hill Farms, Unflavored (Only acceptable if purchased before Pesach 1992/5752), Straight Edge, Bourbon, Trader Joe’s, Kentucky Bourbon Straight Whiskey, Zackariah Harris, Unflavored (Only acceptable if purchased before Pesach 1992/5752), CANADIAN WHISKY, All Varieties (Reliable Hechsher Required). IRISH WHISKEY: Bushmills, Black Bush, Kilbeggan, Single Grain Irish Whiskey. RYE: Basil Hayden’s, Dark Rye. SCOTCH: Glengoyne, 21 Year Old, Glenlivet, 25 Year Old, Ardbeg, An Oa, Auchentoshan, 12 Year, Bowmore, 10 Year Old, Bruichladdich, 16 Year, First Growth Series, CUVÉE “C”, Buchanan’s, 18 Year Special Reserve, Glenfarclas, 21 Year Old, 25 Year Old, Glenfiddich, Project XX, Winter Storm, Glenlivet, 21 Year Old, Highland Park, Magnus, Jura, 10, Kilchoman, 2009 Vintage (8 Year), Speyburn, 10 Year Old.

Please check your bags to make sure it has the Star-K on the bag. Some productions were not certified. There are many bags in our local stores that do not have the certification.

From Cleveland Kosher: The Kosher Hot Dog stand at Progressive Field will be operating with Kosher supervision on four of the nine games in the upcoming home stand.

The stand will be operating under Cleveland Kosher supervision on Wednesday, 5/24; Thursday, 5/25; Sunday, 5/28; and Monday 5/29. The other games all fall on Shabbos or Shavuos.

B’tayavon!