OK Kosher Certification is a major kosher certification agency based out of Brooklyn, NY. It is one of the "Big Five," the five largest kosher certifying agencies in the United States. OK also has a large kosher presence in Asia.
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]
Todayedit
After the death of Rabbi Bernard Levy in 1987, his son Rabbi Don Yoel Levy assumed leadership of the organization.[3] Upon Rabbi Don Yoel Levy’s death in 2020, the Executive Rabbinical Council took responsibility of the OK.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
Its headquarters are in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Europe and Israel.[8] The OK holds an annual Mashgichim conference at the Jewish Children's Museum.[9] In 2014, OK Kosher won the rights to the .kosher domain name.[10] In 2015, Kehilla Kosher from Los Angeles merged with OK Kosher.[11] The agency often expands its supervision of restaurants, mainly located in New York.[12]
^Lauren Rothman; Helen Chernikoff (2014-02-04). "Rivalry Between Kosher Certifiers Heats Up". The Jewish Week/The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
^"KEHILLA KOSHER MERGES WITH OK KOSHER - Kosherquest.org - Online Kashrus Information". 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
^Dani Klein (2015-08-11). "NYC's Great American Health Bar Now Under "OK" Kosher Supervision". Retrieved 2018-04-27.
External linksedit
OK Kosher Certification Official website
OK's KosherSpirit magazine
OK Kosher partner in Argentina, Rabbi Jmelnitzky's website
January 01, 1970
kosher, certification, major, kosher, certification, agency, based, brooklyn, five, five, largest, kosher, certifying, agencies, united, states, also, large, kosher, presence, asia, hechsher, organized, kashrut, laboratoriescertifying, agencyorganized, kashrut. OK Kosher Certification is a major kosher certification agency based out of Brooklyn NY It is one of the Big Five the five largest kosher certifying agencies in the United States OK also has a large kosher presence in Asia Hechsher of Organized Kashrut LaboratoriesCertifying agencyOrganized Kashrut LaboratoriesFounded1935Headquarters391 Troy Ave Brooklyn NY 11213 U S Key PeopleRabbi Shlomo Weinfeld Chairman Executive Rabbinical Council Rabbi Levi Marmulszteyn Rabbinic Manager Websiteok org Contents 1 Early history 2 Today 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksEarly history editIn 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 editAfter the death of Rabbi Bernard Levy in 1987 his son Rabbi Don Yoel Levy assumed leadership of the organization 3 Upon Rabbi Don Yoel Levy s death in 2020 the Executive Rabbinical Council took responsibility of the OK 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 Its headquarters are in Brooklyn New York with offices in Europe and Israel 8 The OK holds an annual Mashgichim conference at the Jewish Children s Museum 9 In 2014 OK Kosher won the rights to the kosher domain name 10 In 2015 Kehilla Kosher from Los Angeles merged with OK Kosher 11 The agency often expands its supervision of restaurants mainly located in New York 12 See also editKosher foods Kashrut Mashgiach Hechsher Orthodox JudaismReferences edit Leadership Archive OK Kosher Certification OK Kosher Certification Retrieved 2018 04 27 Corporate Profile Retrieved 2018 04 27 Don Yoel Levy Rabbi Don Yoel Levy www torahcafe com Retrieved 2018 04 27 Our Ongoing Success Story OK Kosher Certification History OK Kosher Certification Retrieved 2022 06 19 Sherri Day You Don t Have to Be Jewish to Eat Kosher The New York Times Retrieved 2018 04 27 Values amp Mission OK Kosher Certification Retrieved 2018 04 27 Kosher Challah Bread Recipes Zomick s Bakery 2013 10 09 ISBN 978 1 365 35568 4 Our Global Offices and Regional Representatives OK Kosher Certification Retrieved 2022 06 19 OK Mashgichim Conference Recognizes Special Mashgichim Kosher Today 2013 11 18 Retrieved 2019 10 29 Lauren Rothman Helen Chernikoff 2014 02 04 Rivalry Between Kosher Certifiers Heats Up The Jewish Week The Times of Israel Retrieved 2018 04 27 KEHILLA KOSHER MERGES WITH OK KOSHER Kosherquest org Online Kashrus Information 2015 11 06 Retrieved 2018 04 27 Dani Klein 2015 08 11 NYC s Great American Health Bar Now Under OK Kosher Supervision Retrieved 2018 04 27 External links editOK Kosher Certification Official website OK s KosherSpirit magazine OK Kosher partner in Argentina Rabbi Jmelnitzky s website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title OK Kosher Certification amp oldid 1222512883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
