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I want to buy a product under the hechsher of the international kosher council. does anyone know anything about this hechsher?
Have you checked yet with Rabbi Google?
Scouring forums some say it’s good, some say not, some say it’s good but they will certify establishments that are open on Shabbos. I didn’t find it on the CRC list but their list is very machmir and not all inclusive. So I don’t know.
From th ikc website “We are an Orthodox certification. Rabbi Zev Schwarcz, is the Rabbi directing the IKC. He is a graduate and musmach of Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland.He has had over 20 years experience with Kashrus supervision with major kosher certifying agencies. All of our Mashgichim are Orthodox, bnei yeshivos. Our guideline is the Halacha (Jewish Law). We strive to do everything according to Halacha (Jewish Law).”
Their website stresses they can certify you if you’re open on Shabbos.
Alot of well known valid Hechshers will certify places that are open on SHabbos if they are not owned by Jews
They have “options” to certify Jews open on Shabbos, according to their FAQ.
The website leaves me a little deflated. It looks like the main message is to advertise to potential businesses, and it’s not geared towards the kosher consumer.
Another issue that I have is that hechsher certifies a pizza place in Philadelphia which serves kale salad. I do a lot of vegetable washing, and I can tell you that kale can be one of the worst things as far as bugs.
Kosherquest. Com does not list the ikc as recommended.
Seems simple enough. Someone found their website. Contact them. Ask them their standards. You are concerned with the kale, ask them how they check it for bugs. Ask them how they enforce their standards.
I will say this. I am an “orthodox, ben yeshiva with many years experience in kashrus”, dont trust my hechsher because I flaunt those qualifications. They are meaningless. Even if I am an expert in the relevent halachos, if I have a poor system to manage those standards, my knowledge is useless.
“. You are concerned with the kale, ask them how they check it for bugs. Ask them how they enforce their standards.”
From the Web site -on the costs page, it seems that they do Yotze Venichnas. That doesn’t work for bugs. Yes you call them, but I wouldn’t bother.
Mdg,
Me too
A tip that I find works most of the time is pouring undiluted vegetable wash (or soap if you use that instead) and let it soak in the water for half an hour then wash 4 more times
Usually does the trick
They “strive to do everything according to halacha”!? How often do they succeed?
In all fairness I believe that they are striving to do the best. For example, they probably ask the restaurant to use prewashed kale. From what I’ve seen, the majority of prewashed vegetables are clean. However for most of us that is not enough.
Concerning kale, i have only checked and washed fresh kale.
I am not happy that they would certify a Jewish owned business on Shabbos. To me this is a deal killer.
The vast majority of manufactures of kosher food with kosher certification are open on Shabbos.
Other than tzinius, I cannot think of another area of hashkafah that is so personally subjective as kashruth. If you have an established relationship with a LR/P, than it should be a simple question of asking their advice (and taking it). Otherwise, you may ultimately be happy with how they wash their kale but then freak out when you discover their standards for checking for small worms in salmon are really inadequate. There is no “perfect” hashgacha. Many consider chasideshe hashgachos to be the gold standard, but that is certainly not a universal view.
Many years ago I spoke to Rabbi Schwarcz about this. He certifies Jewish-owned businesses that are open on Shabbos, by setting them up with a heter mechira. On Shabbos the business is owned by a nochri, and the Jewish former owner is not allowed to set foot there. Al pi din this is 100% permitted, IF the business is not publicly known to be Jewish-owned.
He also makes a point of occasionally visiting his places on Shabbos, so they don’t think Shabbos is a “free day” when the rabbi will not come and they can do whatever they like.
Ikc is not recommended and not held by the orthodox community
He now certifies tbe 2nd Ave Deli. That should tell you about his level of reliability. It’s also known to be Jewish so a shtar mechira wouldn’t help.
How is a kosher restaurant open on shabbos (you pre-book meals) any different to a kosher hotel? or a frum caterer, catering a simcha (often all 3 meals + kiddush)?
Would you not buy from a kosher certified business <b>because</b> it has a hashgocha to be open on shabbos, or are there other issues?
I would assume this hashgocha (and any like it) caters to people & places that dont have any other kosher options, but it may not be acceptable to frum yidden, especially when there are other better options available.This is a mamish kosher hashgocho under the auspices of a talmid chochom.
What is Gabe?
Ikc is Definitely not held by anyone frum.@Gabe, the best hashgocha out there is from Rav Gabe M Troller.
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