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Kosher Today

Kosher Today

Di: Menachem Lubinsky
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The Kosher Today Podcast, hosted by industry veteran Menachem Lubinsky, offers a comprehensive look into the dynamic world of kosher food. This podcast delivers breaking news, emerging global trends, and exclusive interviews with prominent industry personalities. Lubinsky, founder of Kosherfest and former editor of Kosher Today, brings his decades of experience to provide listeners with insider insights and personal commentary on significant developments in the kosher industry. Whether you're a professional in the field or simply a kosher food enthusiast, this bi-weekly podcast promises to be an essential guide to the ever-expanding kosher marketplace, where innovation continues to flourish.

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Episodi
  • Kosher Today - R. Shalom Fishbane

    Kosher Today - R. Shalom Fishbane
    Sep 6 2026
    Kosher Today: Inside the CRC and the Unity of Kashrus with Rabbi Sholom FishbeinHost: Menachem Lubinsky Guest: Rabbi Sholom Fishbein, Rabbinic Administrator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc) and Executive Director of AKO (Association of Kashrus Organizations)From checking a brand-new Kentucky Fried Chicken location in Aventura as a young student to running one of the "big five" kashrus agencies in the country, Rabbi Sholom Fishbein has spent decades watching kashrus evolve from a niche communal service into a global industry. On this episode of Kosher Today, host Menachem Lubinsky talks with Fishbein about his path into the field, the cRc's identity as a community-first vaad rather than a pure certification business, and the growing pains of a kosher world serving a generation with an appetite for exotic food, international travel, and home-based "social media cooks."What They DiscussHow he got into kashrus — growing up in a kashrus-focused household in Chicago, working in a matzo bakery, and an early mentor who brought him along to inspect a new fast-food location, which sparked his interest in food-service supervision.Starting at the cRc on 9/11 — Fishbein began his role at the Chicago Rabbinical Council the same month the September 11 attacks occurred, and recalls being on the phone with a colleague at the OU as the events unfolded.The cRc's identity as a vaad, not just a certifier — the organization is run by a board of congregational rabbis whose priority is serving the community, even when that means losing money on food-service accounts, rather than maximizing certification revenue.The rise of the "approved list" debate — the cRc's well-known liquor and beverage approval lists have become an unintentional flashpoint, sometimes drawing complaints from other agencies whose clients decide they no longer need separate certification once they land on the cRc's list.A generation raised on "exotic" kosher food — Fishbein describes families now expecting kosher options in far-flung destinations as a baseline, not a luxury, and the strain that puts on agencies trying to vet standards abroad.The Midwest's logistical challenges — limited weekly deliveries of items like milk, and the need to import certain products from New York.Home-based "social media cooks" and party planners — a post-COVID surge in unlicensed home food businesses supplying kiddushes and parties through party planners, often without any health code compliance or kosher supervision, which Fishbein calls a growing headache for the industry.What a vaad is, and how the cRc balances local food-service work against nationwide industrial certification — with industrial accounts effectively subsidizing money-losing restaurant and catering supervision.Red flags for restaurant diners — asking who the mashgiach is, whether they're stationed only at the register versus actually working the kitchen, and how incoming deliveries should be checked and logged before anything reaches the fridge or freezer.AI's growing role in supervision — Fishbein describes camera-based systems that can flag unchecked eggs or unverified deliveries in real time.The founding and growth of AKO — from a small 1980s fax-machine-era gathering of community vadim to a roughly 120-member international organization whose committees set shared standards on ingredients, transportation, Pesach protocols, and more — while intentionally avoiding becoming a certification authority itself.The "tug of war" over consumer responsibility — Fishbein's frustration with retailers who stock questionable products on the assumption that shoppers will do their own research, versus consumers who assume anything on the shelf has already been vetted.Trader Joe's, Costco, and big retail "kosher" labeling — why broad, informal use of the word kosher at mainstream grocers creates confusion, and why Fishbein believes agencies need to fix standards at Jewish-owned stores first before tackling big retail.The mashgiach shortage and independence protections — why the role isn't lucrative, how the cRc structures pay and protections so a mashgiach never feels pressured by an employer to overlook an issue.Kashrus as a rare source of unity in Jewish communal life — and the role of Chabad shluchim worldwide in sustaining kosher supervision and infrastructure far from major Jewish population centers.Notable MomentsA story about a Trader Joe's-style survey finding that roughly 80% of consumers are effectively "clueless" about what a kosher symbol does and doesn't guarantee, while about 10% will go to the kitchen themselves to check.Fishbein's description of the CRC's approach to unchecked produce — locked cages for unchecked greens that only release checked, approved product to the kitchen.A line from Menachem calling mashgichim "the unsung heroes" of the kosher food world.About the GuestRabbi Sholom Fishbein is the Rabbinic Administrator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc...
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    51 min
  • Kosher Today - Ira Sacks

    Kosher Today - Ira Sacks
    Aug 20 2026
    Kosher Today: Protecting the Kosher Symbol with Attorney Ira SacksHost: Menachem Lubinsky Guest: Ira Sacks, trademark attorney representing OK Kosher and other kashrus certification agenciesEpisode DescriptionEvery day, kashrus agencies across the country are fighting a quiet legal battle: companies slapping a "K" in a circle on products that were never actually certified. On this episode of Kosher Today, host Menachem Lubinsky talks with veteran trademark attorney Ira Sacks about what happens behind the scenes when a kosher symbol gets misused — from innocent mix-ups after a company acquisition to outright counterfeiting. Sacks, who has represented OK Kosher since 2016 and built his career enforcing trademarks for major fashion and fragrance brands, walks through the mechanics of cease-and-desist letters, consumer alerts, and the surprisingly high stakes of a small circle-K on a product label.What They DiscussFrom fashion counterfeits to kosher law — Sacks built his career doing antitrust and trademark work at large firms, then brand enforcement for fashion and fragrance companies, before a connection through a jewelry company's legal officer led him to OK Kosher in 2016.Why people misuse kosher symbols — Sacks estimates a quarter to half of OK Kosher's cases involve genuine confusion (mistaking the circle-K for a generic kosher symbol, or for "keto"), while the rest simply calculate that the risk of getting caught is low.The value baked into a certification mark — as Menachem notes from a rabbi he once heard speak, misusing a kosher symbol isn't just a labeling error, it's effectively stealing the goodwill and trust that agency has built.How the process actually plays out — a cease-and-desist letter, weekly follow-ups, and often a public "kashrus alert" so consumers know a product is no longer certified, all while balancing accuracy to avoid business libel.Why lawsuits rarely happen — federal court judgments can take one to three years, so the real priority is getting a voluntary stop to new sales rather than chasing product recalls or courtroom wins.Passover crunches — mislabeled "Kosher for Passover" products create a race against the calendar, since the holiday's eight-day window can end before legal action ever catches up.Retail-level violations — cases involving restaurants and stores that keep using a certification mark after losing supervision, or after breaking down bulk kosher goods (like nuts sold from a barrel) into loose, mislabeled displays.Circle K vs. OK Kosher — a real (and lawful) point of consumer confusion, including an anecdote about a 95-year-old man convinced a Circle K gas station must be kosher.Consumers as the best line of defense — kosher shoppers, including former offenders turned informants, are often the first to flag a problem, making detailed complaint records valuable if a case ever reaches a judge.Repeat offenders and shell games — the same "scoundrels" resurfacing under new corporate names, or goods rerouted through different Mexican factories after one supply chain gets shut down.What damages actually look like — Sacks explains why untangling how much of a product's revenue is attributable to a kosher symbol (versus brand, price, or quality) makes damages hard to calculate, and why he aims to recover legal costs rather than punitive windfalls.Advice for agencies — register your mark with the U.S. Trademark Office, build a network watching for suspicious labeling, and think internationally, since certified products now travel worldwide and enforcement varies wildly by country.Notable MomentsA story about a discount grocery chain that once argued a kosher symbol mistakenly printed on bacon couldn't be "confusing" to anyone — a case study in the legal standard of "likelihood of confusion."The tale of Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda demanding kosher pasta at a moment's notice, only to learn the plant that made it was already OU-certified.A vendor caught displaying five different kosher certification symbols at a trade show, unable to say which one — if any — actually applied to them.About the GuestIra Sacks is a trademark attorney based in New York who has represented OK Kosher since 2016, along with several other kosher and non-kosher certification organizations. His practice focuses on brand enforcement, drawing on decades of experience protecting trademarks in the fashion and fragrance industries before shifting into kashrus law.About the HostFor Menachem Lubinsky and Lubicom Marketing and Business ConsultingCall 718.854.4450 or e-mail mlubinsky@lubicom.comThis show was Produced and edited by thepodwaves.com Kosher Today is available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe for more conversations on the people and trends shaping the kosher food and beverage world.
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    48 min
  • Kosher Today - Matias Averbuj

    Kosher Today - Matias Averbuj
    Aug 13 2026
    Kosher Today PodcastKosher Wine & Jewish Life Across Latin America, with Matias Averbuj (Royal Wine/Kedem)Host: Menachem Lubinsky Guest: Matias Averbuj, sales lead for Royal Wine/Kedem in Latin AmericaEpisode SummaryMenachem Lubinsky sits down with Matias Averbuj, who has spent the last decade building Royal Wine/Kedem's presence across Latin America — now covering 22 countries. Matias, who started as a single salesman after connecting with Lubinsky through a yeshiva network, walks through how the kosher wine and grape juice business (including crossover brands like Bartenura's "blue bottle" and Kedem grape juice) has grown into a serious commercial market that reaches well beyond kosher-observant consumers. The conversation doubles as a tour of Jewish communal life across the region — market size, religious observance patterns, tourism-driven Pesach demand, and the state of antisemitism country by country — with a special focus on Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela.Key Topics DiscussedOrigin story: How Matias got his start in the kosher food business through a connection made by Menachem Lubinsky ten years ago, eventually joining Royal Wine as a salesman.Company footprint: Royal Wine/Kedem now sells in over 22 countries across Latin America, working with both kosher consumers and general-market supermarket chains.Crossover products: Bartenura ("the blue bottle") and Kedem sparkling/regular grape juice have become mainstream products, sold on supermarket shelves alongside non-kosher brands like Welch's.Panama deep dive: Home to roughly 15,000 Jews with very high kosher observance (80–90%), a large kosher supermarket, 40+ kosher restaurants, no local wine/food production (everything imported), and favorable tax policy drawing American and Canadian expats.Mexico: An estimated 50,000 Jews (mostly in Mexico City), with kosher demand also driven heavily by Pesach tourism in destinations like Cancún.Argentina: Roughly 250,000 Jews in Buenos Aires, with an estimated 40,000 keeping kosher; a well-developed communal infrastructure and, according to Matias, very low antisemitism.Brazil: A large but protectionist market — steep import taxes make imported products far more expensive at retail. Sao Paulo has the largest Jewish population, most of it Sephardic (Syrian origin).Venezuela: A community that has shrunk from roughly 20,000 to under 2,000 Jews, with most emigrating to Miami and Israel. Discussion of how the situation may shift following the fall of Maduro.Smaller markets: Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Peru, and Colombia (Bogotá) — small Jewish populations but often near-universal kosher compliance during Pesach specifically.Retail strategy: How kosher products are merchandised in Latin American supermarkets — often placed in "specialty" or "international" sections rather than a dedicated kosher aisle, plus the importance of in-store demos and social media support.Pesach logistics: The high-pressure seasonal push (planning starts around October) to supply hotels, tourists, and once-a-year kosher buyers, including matzah distribution to isolated communities.Jewish demographic trends: Which communities are growing (Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico) versus shrinking (Venezuela, Guatemala), and the role of Chabad throughout the region.Antisemitism: A comparative discussion of how Latin America compares favorably to Europe and, in the host's view, even parts of the U.S.Notable Quotes / MomentsOn Panama's unique kosher infrastructure: Matias describes it as feeling like "Miami or New York," with a kosher supermarket larger than most in North America and more kosher restaurants than many U.S. cities.On Venezuela's collapse: the community's drop from 20,000 to under 2,000 Jews is described as "a very sad story," with most departing for Miami and Israel.On merchandising strategy: kosher products are often shelved in "specialty" or "international" sections rather than kosher-labeled aisles, especially in smaller markets.Host's closing takeaways: lower antisemitism in Latin America relative to Europe/U.S.; strong crossover appeal of products like Bartenura and grape juice; near-total Pesach compliance in some communities despite low year-round observance.About the GuestMatias Averbuj leads Royal Wine/Kedem's sales operations across Latin America, based in Panama (previously Buenos Aires). Over ten years he has built a regional team spanning Argentina, Panama, and Mexico.About the HostFor Menachem Lubinsky and Lubicom Marketing and Business ConsultingCall 718.854.4450 or e-mail mlubinsky@lubicom.comThis show was Produced and edited by thepodwaves.com Kosher Today is available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe for more conversations on the people and trends shaping the kosher food and beverage world.
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    39 min
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