After years of uncertainty and rumors, the rav of Bnei Brak, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Yehuda Leib Landau, who gives hashgacha on Coca Cola in Israel, issued a kashrus alert pertaining to Coca Cola originating in the PA (Palestine Authority) and Europe.
Many believed, albeit erroneously, that when traveling in Europe, one may drink Coca Cola, even without a hechsher, as well as anywhere in the world.
Rav Landau has put an end to the speculation, stating “Anyone who is not privy to the production process can only speculate”. Rabbi Landau warns that “Coca Cola from the PA and Europe require kashrus supervision, and those bringing it to Eretz Yisrael cause the tzibur to err.”
Rav Landau completed his letter with, “והשי”ת יצילנו ממכשול ויחדש עלינו שנה טובה ומתוקה”.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
It should be outright Assur to support Hamas.
http://www.crcweb.org/beverage_list.php
(To save you time: Coke in Europe is fine. Coke concentrate products being sold in Israel: produced in Israel is fine. But coke products from Egypt and Mexico, not recommended. Other places- not enough information to say.)
That’s because the food coloring and the sugar source needs a hecsher
While it is true that HaRav Landau does not certify coke products from those parts of the world, the OU has stated that in Europe they can vouch for Coca Cola (including diet, zero, caffeine free, and with lemon) as acceptable but other products may not be acceptable.
“whatever you want,it’s always coca cola”
Is Rav Landau saying he knows something that the OU doesn’t?
Or is he disagreeing with the OU?
Or is he caving to public pressure from certain radicals?
Regardless I would like to see OU review this comprehensively and make a statement.
because it’s okay for them to disagree, but it’s slightly problematic for there rampant rumors as to who holds what