Comments on: ShuferSal Deal – Givat Shaul, Kashrut Alert

By: Eliyahu

Eliyahu — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:17:22 +0000

My wife asks the question regarding vegetables: If the trumoht and ma`asroth of the vegetables are handled, what other issue is there? With fruits of course there is orlah, and there are also still a few shmittah issues, but what about pri adomah like tomatoes or watermelons? If we are unsure of this demai, then we can take our own for the sofek; what is the problem with buying this produce?

Is this just a jurisdictional dispute, or are there other kashruth issues to snare the kosher vegetable consumer?

Of course, we are staying clear of the bakery and pri ha`etz fruits, and we always buy only the sealed, “insect free” bags of greens, cabbages, etc., (which I assume are still okay from this store, since they are sealed at the factory,) but for potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, peppers, and melons, what other issue should cause us to avoid this store’s vegetables besides taking T & M?

By: Eliyahu

Eliyahu — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:50:46 +0000

BTW – I looked it up in a dictionary, and the name is correctly ShuferSal, not SuperSol. It comes from Shufra – plenty, and Sal – basket, i.e., a basket of plenty (or “cornucopia”), and NOT from the modern word “super” from “supermarket.” As further proof, the supermarket’s website is at http://www.shufersal.co.il.

By: Eliyahu

Eliyahu — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:44:50 +0000

As I reported previously with photographs, the same Belz heksher appears in the ShuferSal Deal store on Pierre Koenig, in Talpiot, also without any other sign from the Rabbinate. Two weeks ago I was in the store and there was still no other sign. (I pay attention because I check against the Belz list in red every time when deciding which produce we may buy there.) I would assume that the same situation applies to that store, too.

Thanks to your warning, we will be buying our produce from the nearby Rami Levi, instead.