Kashrut Explained
Kashrut (keeping kosher) is a set of laws that was given to Moses by G-d. Keeping kosher means following these many laws and not just simply refraining from eating pork or shellfish. Many people have tried to find the reasons G-d commanded that the Jews keep kosher but kashrut is one of many mitzvot from G-d that do not have any rational explanations. This does not mean however, that Jews can simply dismiss these laws.

The main purposes of Kashrut are:
1. to limit the number of animals the Jew is permitted to kill and eat;
2. to render the slaughter of the permitted animals as painless as possible;
3. to cause revulsion at the shedding of blood;
4. to instill self-discipline in the Jew;
5. to help sustain Judaism and the cohesion of the Jewish community; and
6. to raise the act of eating from an animal-like level.

The kosher animals that may be partaken of by the Jews (such as the cow, chicken, and certain locusts) must have certain characteristics. Land animals must have split hooves and chew their cud, fish must have both scales and fins, and birds may not be birds of prey. Even if the land animals are kosher, certain parts of the animal (the sciatic nerve and its adjoining blood vessels as well as the chelev) may not be eaten. The non-kosher animals that may not be partaken of by the Jews (such as the pig, rabbit, and eagle) do not have these characteristics. A shochet must follow certain laws regarding how animals are to be slaughtered and how the meat must be prepared in order for the clean animals to be considered kosher. The shochet must ensure that the animal has no broken bones and the knife being used must be totally free of any nicks or imperfections. The animal must have its throat slit in a specific area with one stroke to ensure the least pain for the animal. All the blood must be drained and salt is used to help ensure that any further blood will be soaked up before the meat is ready for purchase. In addition to these differences between kosher and non-kosher food there is the prohibition of mixing dairy and meat. This prohibition includes all milk-producing mammals but excludes fish. Originally fowl was not considered "meat" in the sense that fowl does not produce milk. However, rabbinic rulings have now prohibited mixing dairy and fowl.

The status of kosher, treif, and pareve also extends to utensils, plates/bowls, pans, cooking, cooking and cleaning surfaces, fuits and vegetable, and drinks such as wine, grape juice, soda, milk, and alcohol. All utensils, plates/bowls, pans, and cooking and cleaning surfaces must be rendered kosher in order for the food to retain its kosher status (see: How to make your kitchen kosher). The concept of bishul Yisrael demands that a Jew be involved in the cooking or processing of food in order for the food to be considered kosher. All fresh fruits and vegetables are kosher. However, it is important to thoroughly inspect them to ensure there are no bugs or worms on the fruits and vegetables since most of them are not kosher. When it comes to wine and grape juice, the process of mevushal ensures that the wine and grape juice is kosher. Cholov Yisrael is an ancient practice that involves a Jew being present from the time of milking from a kosher animal (such as a cow) until the time of bottling to ensure that the milk from the kosher animal will not be mixed with milk from a treif animal. In the United States, most rabbis consider all milk to be kosher because of the strict regulations placed on the milking industry.

The general rules of kashurt are:
1. Certain animals are forbidden;
2. Certain parts of the animals are forbidden;
3. All blood must be removed from the meat before it may be eaten;
4. Animals must be slaughtered in accordance with halachah;
5. Fresh fruit and vegetables are permitted but must be checked for bugs;
6. Meat (flesh of any animal) may not be eaten with dairy;
7. Separate dishes, utensils, cooking areas, and pots/pans must be used for meat and dairy;
8. Grape products made by non-Jews are forbidden.

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A Kosher Kitchen
The following steps are meant to be a brief guide. Please consult a rabbi when beginning the kosher process.

1. Begin purchasing only kosher products and separating meat and dairy.
2. Remove any non-kosher food/food products from the household.
3. Divide all kitchen products (food, storage containers, pots/pans, utensils, plates, etc.) into those that can be used after a kashering process and those that cannot be used. Remove those that cannot be used and replace them with items that can be kashered.
4. Divide the kitchen into a meat area and a milk area. Label drawers and cabinets to avoid mixing meat and milk items.
5. Consult with a rabbi and determine when he will be available to come to your home to finish the kashering of the kitchen.

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Kashrut Supervision Agencies
Note: This list is not meant to take the place of information from a rabbi regarding kashrut. Please check with your local rabbi to determine if a kashrut authority is accepted by the rabbi/community This is not an exhaustive list

Argentina
Achdus Yisroel - Moldes 2449 (1428), Buenos Aires Argentina (5411) 4-961-9613 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Daniel Oppenheimer
Rabbi Yosef Feiglestock - Ecuador 821 Buenos Aires Capital 1214, Argentina (5411) 4-961-9613 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yosef Feiglestock
U-K Kashrus Organization - Uriburu 774 4 B (1027), Cap. Fed., BsAs, Argentina (5411) 4951-8366 Rabbi Gabriel Yabra Rabbinic Director

Australia
Adass Israel Vaad Hakashrus Melbourne Australia - 24 Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea, Victoria, Australia 3183 P. O. Box 133, Balaclava, Victoria, Australia 3183 (61) 425 853 853 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yisroel Abelesz
Kashrut Authority of Western Australia (KAWA) - PHC, Freedman Road, Menora (08) 9271-0539 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi D. Y. A. Freilich
Kosher Australia Pty Ltd (formerly Melbourne Kashrut) - 81 Balaclava Road, Caulfield North, Australia 3161 P. O. Box 2247, Caulfield Junction, 3161 Australia (613) 9525-9895 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick
NSW Kashrut Authority - Suite 4, 58 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 P.O. Box 7206, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 (612) 9365-2933 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe D. Gutnick

Belgium
Bdatz Mehadrin (European) - Lamorinierstr 166, Antwerp, Belgium 2018 (324) 77369982 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi A. Berger
Kashrut Division of the London Bet Din (Belgium) - Begielei 140, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium 32 (0) 3 230 9182
Machsike Hadass - Jacob Jacobstraat 22 Antwerp, Belgium 2018 (323) 233-5567 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Eliyahu Shternbuch

Brazil
BDK do Brasil - Al Lorena, 1304 cj 1508, Cerqueira César, 01424-001 São Paulo, SP, Brazil (55 11) 3082-9295 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shmuel A. Havlin
Communidade Ortodoxa Israelita Kehillas Hachareidim Departmento de Kashrus - Rua Haddock Lobo 1091, S. Paulo SP Brazil (5511) 3082-1562 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi A.M. Iliovits
Rabinado Do Rio de Janeiro - 10970, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, JR, CEP 22020-970, Brasil (55-21) 22 56 35 87 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Jacob Israel Blumenfeld

Canada
Calgary Kosher (CK) - 1607 - 90th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2V 4V7 (403) 444-3158 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zev Friedman
Chief Rabbinate of Quebec - Kashrut Commission - 5850 Victoria Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H3W 2R5 (514) 738-1004 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Dr. David Sabbah
Grand Rabbinat du Quebec - 5850 Avenue Victoria, Montreal, Quebec H3W 2R5 (514) 738-1004 Rabbinic Administrator: Gad Ohayon
Jewish Community Council of Montreal - 6825 Decarie Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H3W 3E4 Tel: (514)739-6363 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Saul Emanuel
Kashrut Council of Canada(formerly known as Kashrut Council of Toronto) - 4600 Bathurst Street #240 Toronto, Ontario M2R 3V2 (416) 635-9550 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Kashrut Ontario Sephardim - 7026 Bathurst Street, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada L4J 8K3  (905) 669-7600 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Amram Assayag
Khal Machzikei Hadas D'Chasidei Belz of Montreal - 5361 Hutchison, Montreal, Quebec H2V 4B4 (514) 270-2460 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Wolf Ber Lerner
Montreal Vaad Hair - 6825 Decarie Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H3W3E4 (514) 739-6363 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Peretz Jaffe
Nova Scotia Kosher - 1504-3636 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M6A 2Y5 (416) 787-9747 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shlomo Z. Elazar Grafstein
Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia - 1100-1200 West 73rd Avenue Vancouver, B.C V6P 6G5 (604) 267-7002 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Feigelstak
Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut - 1780 Kerr Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 1R9 (613) 798-4696 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mitchell R. Cohn
Vaad Ha’eir of Halifax - 1480 Oxford Street, Halifax, Novia Scotia B3H 3Y8 (902) 422-1301 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Saul Aranov
Vaad Ha'ir of Winnipeg - C306-123 Doncaster Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3N 2B2 (204) 487-9571 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yosef Peretz Weizman
Vaad Hakashruth Adas Yisroel - 51 Brookview Drive, Toronto, Ontario M6A 2K4 (416) 783-1349 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Y. Y. Sofer, Rav Hamachshir, Rabbi Avrohom Kahn

Colombia
Comunidad Hebrea Sefaradi de Bogota - Calle 79- N9-67, Bogota, Colombia (011) 571-256-2629 or (011) 571-256-2580 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shlomo Meir Elharar

Czech Republic
The Orthodox Council of Kashrus Mahara"l - Siroka 7. Street, 110 00 Prague-1, Czech Republic (972) 5-973-427 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Samuel Mardokhej

China
Kashrut Division of the London Bet Din (China) - Room 702, 26 Building, Shenjiang Grand City, 855 Nong, Yangsi Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China 200126 (86) 21 6852 2860
Kosher Certification Service of Hong Kong (HKK) - 8-B Albron Court 99 Caine Road, Hong Kong (852) 2540-8661 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi D. Zadok
Star-K Kosher Supervision - 1765 Hongqiao Road, Building. 52, Apartment 501, Shanghai, China 200336 (86) 21-6270-1387 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Amos Benjamin, Miss Amy Wang

Costa Rica
Rabinato De Costa Rica - Apartado Postal 1473-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica (506) 233-9222 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Gershon Miletski

Denmark
Machzikei Hadas - Ole Suhrsgade 12 DK 1354, Kobenhavn K, Copenhagen, Denmank (45) 3315-3117

England
Badatz Igud Rabbonim - (97) 2 25803588 Rabbinic Administrator:  Rabbi Yoseph Benhamou
Beth Din of the Federation of Synagogues - 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ (44) 020 8202-2263 Rabbinic Administrator: Dayan M.D. Elzas
Gateshead Kashrut Authority (England) - 180 Bewick Road, Gateshead NE8 1UF (44191) 477-1598 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Elazer Lieberman
Kashrut Division of the London Bet Din (England) - Adler House 735 High Road, London N12 OUS 44 (0) 20 8343 6246 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi J. Conway
Kedassia - The Joint Kashrut Committee of England - 140 Stamford Hill, London N16 6QT (44208) 802-6226 Rabbinic Administrator: Mr. Yitzchok Feldman
Leeds Bet Din - 7a Stainburn Parade, Moortown Leeds LS17 6NA (0532) 696902
London Board for Shechita - 401-405 Nether Street, Finchley N31YR (44181) 349-9160
Machzikei Hadass, Manchester - 17 Northumberland, St Salford M7FH (44161) 792-1313 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi M.M. Schneebalg
Manchester Bet Din - 435 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester 8 (44161)740-9711 Rabbinic Administrator: Dayan Osher Westheim
Rabbi Eliezer Schneebalg - Khal Machzikei Hadas-Edgeware, 7 The Rise, Edgeware, Middlesex HA88N5 (44208) 958-1030 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Eliezer Schneebalg
Sephardi Kashrut Authority - 2 Ashworth Road, Maida Vale, London W9 1JY (44171) 289-2573 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi I. S. Abraham
Rabbi Osher Yaakov Westheim - 15 Broom Lane, Salford M7 4EQ (44161) 740-9711 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Osher Yaakov Westheim

France
Adas Yereim of Paris - 10 Rue Cadet, 9e (Metro Cadet), Paris, France 75009 (3314) 246-3647 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Y.D. Frankfurter
Bureau De Certification Kosher Europeen - 60 rue Jean Claude Vivant, 69100 Villeurbanne France (0033) 04.79.88.39.82 or (0033) 04.78.24.79.57 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Daniel Alloun
Kehal Yeraim of Paris - 13 Rue Pave, Paris, France 75004 (33) 153-012644 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi I Katz
Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg (Chief Orthodox Rav of Paris) - 10 Rue Pavee, Paris, France 75004 (3314) 887-4903 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg

Germany
Rabbinat Hamburg, Germany - Hohe Weide 34, D-20253, Hamburg, Germany (49) 40-495475 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Dov Levy Barsilay

India
Star-K Kosher Supervision (India) - Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Mushell

Israel
Bdatz Mehadrin (Israel) - 10 Rechov Miriam Mizrachi 6th floor, Room 18, Rechovot, Israel 76106 (9728) 939-0816 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Rubin
Beis Din Tzedek of Agudas Israel Moetzes Hakashrus - 2 Press Street, Jerusalem, Israel (9722) 538-4999 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zvi Geffner
Beis Din Tzedek of the Eidah Hachareidis of Jerusalem - Binyanei Zupnick 26A Rechov Strauss, Jerusalem, Israel (9722) 624-6935 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Naftali Halberstam
Beis Din Tzedek of K’hal Machzikei Hadas - Maareches Hakashrus - P.O. Box 41109, Jerusalem, Israel 91410 (9722) 538-5832
Chug Chasam Sofer - 18 Maimon Street, Bnei Brak, Israel 51273 (9723) 618-8596
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Stern
Office of the Chief Rabbi of Bnei Brak - Yechezkel Street 3, Bnei Brak, Israel 51271
(972) 3-6164218 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe Y. L. Landa
Rabbi Moshe Landau - Bnei Brak, Israel (9723) 618-2647 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe Landau
Rabanut Hareishit Rechovot - 2 Goldberg Street, Rechovot, Israel, 76106
Rabbi Mordechai Seckbach - Noda Biyauda Street, 5/2 Modiin Illit, Israel
(9728) 974-4410 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mordechai Seckbach
Services International Kosher Supervision Ltd. (Israel) - P.O. Box 34108, Jerusalem, Israel 91340 (972) 2-6515361 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe Saadoun Shalita
She'erit Yisrael Kosher Certification - P. O. Box 3059, Bnei Brak, Israel (972) 3-579 8631/2 Rabbinic Administraotr: Rabbi Yekutiel Dershowitz
Star-K Kosher Supervision (Israel) - Rechov Miriam Mizrachi 7, Rechovot, Israel
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi David Stein

Italy
Rabbi Yossef Hadad - Via Pier Lombardo 16, Milano, Italy 20135 025514709
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yossef Hadad
Services International Kosher Supervision Ltd. (Italy) - Via Garibaldi 5, Torino 10122, Italy (39) 011-533938
Ufficio Rabbinico Di Trieste - Via San Francesco 19, Trieste, Italia 34133 (39) 040-371466 or (39) 040-372682 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Umberto Avraham Piperno

Mexico
Hoshgoche Charedis of Mexico "Koshermex" - Juan Luiz Vives 210/PB, Polanco Mexico D.F., Mexico (52) 55-1055-7150/1055-7151 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avrohom Resnicoff
Orthodox Vaad HaKashrus of the Ashkenazi Kehila in Mexico - Acapulco #70, 6th Floor, Col. Roma Norte, Mexico City 06700 52-(55)-5256-0095/0316 Rabinic Administrator: Rabbi Yejezkel Salamon, Moishe Aaron Wollenstein
Sistema Kosher - La Fontaine 229, Col. Polanco, C.P. 11560 (525) 250-203-9964
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Nissum Hilu

New Zealand
Kosher Certification Limited - P.O. Box 13783, Johnsonville, Wellington, New Zealand (64) 4-232-6367 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shmuel Zajac

Phillipines
Far East Kashrut - Makati Philippines (312) 528-7078 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Haim Talmid

Russia
The Rabbinical Court of Moscow - Bolshoi Spasoglinishchevsky per., 10, 101000 Moscow, Russia (7) 095 923-4788 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yitzhok Lifshitz

Scotland
Glasgow Bet Din - Falloch Road, Scotland G42 9QX 44141-637-5171 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi M. Rosin

Singapore
Kashrut Division of the London Bet Din (Singapore) - 37A Hong Kong Street, #02-280, Singapore 059676 65 6743 8706

Slovak Republic
The Jewish Religious Community Union of Jewish Communities in Slovakia - Koszia 211/11, Bratislava, Slovak Republic 81447 (4217) 312-167 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Baruch Meyers

South Africa
Cape Town Bet Din - 191 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town, South Africa 8001
(2721) 461-6310 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi D Maizels
Kashrut Department of the Bet Din of Johannesburg - P.O. Box 46559, Orange Grove, 2119 (27) 11 485-4865 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Y Baumgarten

Switzerland
Bet Din Adas Jeshurun - Freigulstrasse 37 8002, Zurich, Switzerland (411) 201-6746 Rabinic Administrator: Rabbi Pinchus Padwa
Jewish Community and Central Synagogue Kiev - 29 Shekavizkaya, Str Kiev, Switzerland (38044) 463-7087 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi B. Bleich

United States
Association for Reliable Kashrut - 104 Cumberland Place, Lawrence, NY 11559
Phone: (516) 239-5306 Rabbinic Administrator:  Rabbi Shlomo Ullman
Atlanta Kashrut Commission - 1855 La Vista Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 (404) 634-4063 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Reuven Stein
Rabbi Yechiel Babad (Tartikover Rav) - 5207-19th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204
(718) 951-0952/3 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yechiel Babad
Bais Ben Zion Kosher Certification - 30 Mariner Way, Monsey, NY 10952 (845) 364-5376 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zushe Blech
Baltimore Beit HaMidrash -
Bdatz Mehadrin (USA) - 1140 Forest Avenue, P.O. Box 172, Lakewood NJ, 08701
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Y Shain   (732) 363-7979
Bet Din of Crown Heights Vaad HaKashrut - 512 Montgomery Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225 (718) 604-2500 UPDATED
Beit Din Hameyuchud L'inyonei Kashrut of the Central Rabbinical Congress - 85 Divisions Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 384-6765 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yitzchok Glick
Rabbi Zushe Yosef Blech - 30 Mariner Way, Monsey NY 10952 914-364-5378 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zushe Yosef Blech
Blue Ribbon Kosher - 2716 Kipling Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-3651 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Baruch Clein
Central Rabbinical Congress of the U.S. and Canada (Hisachdus HaRabanim) - 85 Division Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 384-6765 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yitzchak Glick
Certified Kosher Underwriters - 1310 48th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Phone: (718) 436-7373 Rabbinic Administrator:  Rabbi Pinchos Horowitz
Rabbi Zevulun Charlop - 100 E. Mosholu Parkway, South Bronx, NY 10458 (718) 365-6810 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zevulun Charlop
Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc) - 2701 West Howard, Chicago, IL 60645 (773) 465-3900 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Sholem Fishbane
Chof Kosher - (718) 263-1574 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Solomon B. Shapiro
Cleveland Kosher - 3695 Severn Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 (440) 347-0264 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shimon Gutman
Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit -
Dallas Kosher - 7800 Northaven Road, Dallas, TX 75230 (214) 739-6535 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Sholey Klein
Rabbi Yehoshua Hershel Deutsch (Freiminer Rav) - 1712 57th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204 (718) 234-9514 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbu Yehoshua Hershel Deutsch
Diamond K - 100 Woodcliff Road, Brookline, MA 02467 (617) 469- 5000 Rabbinic Administrator:  Rabbi Mordechai Eckhaus
Earth Kosher - 3510 SW Vermont St, Portland, OR 97219 (503) 977-5052 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zecharyah Goldman
Flatbush Community Kashrut Organization (Kehilah Kashrut) - 1294 East 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11230 (718) 951-0481 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zechariah Adler
Florida Kashrut Services - 642 Green Meadow Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751 (407) 644-2500 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Sholom R. Dubov
Rabbi Yonah H. Geller - c/o Congregation Shaarei Torah 920 NW 25th Avenue, Portland, OR 97210 (503) 226-6131 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yonah H. Geller
Rabbi Shlomo Gissinger - 170 Sunset Road, Lakewood, NJ 08701 (732) 364-8723
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shlomo Gissinger
Rabbi Avraham Zvi Glick - 34 Brewer Road, Monsey, NY 10952 (845) 425-3178 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Zvi Glick
Heart "K" Kehila Kosher - (323) 935-8383 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avromon Teichman
Rabbi Nussen Naftoli Horowitz - 1712-57th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204 (718) 234-9514 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Benzion Halberstam
The Houston Kashrut Association - P.O. Box 35225, Houston, TX 77235 (713) 398-0267 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yehoshuah Wender
The Florida 'K' - 708 Lake Howell Road, Maitland FL 32751 (407) 644-2500 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Sholom B. Dubov
Igud Hakashrut of Los Angeles (Kehilla Kosher) - P.O. Box 480739, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (323) 935-8383 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Teichman
Indianapolis Beit Din - 1037 Golf Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260 (317) 251-5573
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Grossbaum, Rabbi Shlomo Crandall
Indianapolis Orthodox Board of Kashrut - 6510 Hoover Avenue, Indianapolis, IA 46260 (317) 253-5253 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Grossbaum, Rabbi Shlomo Crandall
International Kosher Supervision -
Iowa Kosher Supervision (Chai-K) - 943 Cummins Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 277-1718 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yossi Jacobson
Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate -
Rabbi Benjamin Kaplinsky -  802 Roosevelt Court, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 327-3238 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Benjamin Kaplinsky
Kashrus International - 512 Montgomery Street, Brooklyn, New York 11225 (718) 773-7700 Rabbinic Administrator: Yossi Brook
Kashrut Council of Lakewood -
Kashrut of the Central Rabbinical Council -
Kashrut Badatz Mehadrin USA (Double U) - 1140 Forest Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701 (732) 363-7979 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Y. Shain
Kashrut Commission of Greater Hartford (HKC) - c/o Beth David Synagogue
20 Dover Street, West Hartford, CT 06119 (860) 236-1241 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yitzchok Adler
Kashrut Council of Lakewood, New Jersey - 750 Forest Avenue #66, Lakewood, NJ 08701 (732) 901-1888 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avrohom Weisner
Kashrut Laboratories -
Kashrut Supervision Service -
Kay Kosher Supervision -
K'hal Adath Jeshurun (Breuer's) (KAJ) - 85-93 Bennett Avenue, New York, NY 10033 (212) 923-3582 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe Zvi Edelstein
K.O.A. Kosher Supervision - 72 Ascension Street, Passaic, NJ 07055 (973) 777-0649 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shlomo Isaacson
Kof-K Kosher Supervision - 201 The Plaza, Teaneck, NJ 07666 (201) 847-0500
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zecharia Senter
Kosher Certification Service - 401 North Laurel Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-1433 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Eli Frankel
Kosher Overseers - P.O. Box 10209, Beverly Hills, CA 90213 323-870-0011 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Chaim Hisiger
Kosher Supervision of America - P.O. Box 35721, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (310) 282-0444 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi A. Tzemach Rosenfeld
Kosher Supervisors of Wisconsin - 3100 North 52nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53216
(414) 442-5730 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Benzion Twerski
Kosher Technical Consultants - 4537 Winding Brook Drive, Bensalem, PA 19020-7805 (215) 745-3773 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avraham Menashe Esses
Rav Shmuel Dovid Krausz (Udvarer Rav) -
Lakewood Kashrut Organization -
Rabbi Yitzchok Lebovitz - P.O. Box 939, Woodridge, NY 12789 (845) 434-3060
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yitzchok Leovitz
The Lehigh Valley Kashrut Commission -
Louisiana Kashrut Committee - P.O. Box 556606, Metairie, LA 70055 (504) 957-4986 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yossi Nemes
Louisville Vaad Kashrut -
Metropolitan Kashruth Council of Michigan - 6533 Post Oak Drive, W. Bloomfield, MI 48323 (248) 855-4324 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Jack Goldman
Midtown Board of Kashrut -
Minnesota Kosher - 7430 W 27th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55426 (952) 922-0522
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Aryeh Geretz
Rabbi David Moskovitz - 46 Embassy Road, Brighton, MA 02135 (617) 734-5359
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi David Moskovitz
National Kashrut - 101 Route 306, Monsey, NY 10952 (845) 352-4448 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yaacov Lipschutz
Natural Food Certifiers - 119A South Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 (845) 426-5098 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Reuven Flamer
New Square Kashrut Council - 21 Truman Avenue, New Square NY 10977 (845) 354-5120 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Aron Goldmunzer Shlit"a
Organization of Orthodox Kashrut Supervision -
Organized Kashrut Laboratories - 391 Troy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 (718) 756-7500Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Don Yoel Levy
Orthodox Rabbinical Council of San Francisco - 1851 Noriega Street, P.O. Box 22491, San Francisco, CA 94122 (415) 564-5665 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Jacob Traub
Orthodox Vaad of Philadelphia - 7505 Brookhaven Road, Philadelphia, PA 19151
(610) 658-1967 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Aaron Felder, Rabbi Shlomo Caplan
Portland Vaad HaKashruth - 76 Noyes Street, Portland ME 04103 (207) 773-0693
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Isaac Yagod
Quality Kosher Supervision -
Rabbinic Administrator of Upper Midwest -
Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) - 613 S. Olive Street, Suite 515, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (213) 489-8080 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Nissim Davidi
Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington - 7826 Eastern Avenue, NW LL8, Washington, DC 20012 (202) 291-6052 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Hillel Klavan
Rabbinical Council of New England - 177 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 426-2139 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger
Rabbinical Council of Orange County & Long Beach -
Rabbinical Kashrus Council - 21 Truman Avenue, New Square, NY 10977
(845) 354-5120 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi C.M. Wagshall
Rhode Island Kashruth Commission - 275 Camp Street, Providence, RI 02906
(401) 331-9393 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mitchell Levine, Rav Hamakshir
Sephardic Rabbinical Council of America -
South Palm Beach Vaad (ORB) - 5840 Sterling Road #256, Hollywood, FL 33021
(305) 534-9499 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Manish Spitz
Star-D Kosher Supervision - 122 Slade Avenue, Suite 300, Baltimore, Maryland 21208 (410) 484-4110 Rabbinic Administrator: Dr. Avram Pollack
Star-K Kosher Supervision (California) - P.O. Box 67076, Century City, CA 90067
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Joel Weinberger
Star-K Kosher Supervision (Maryland) - 122 Slade Avenue, Suite 300, Baltimore, Maryland 21208 (410) 484-4110 Rabbinic Administrator: Dr. Avram Pollack
Star-K Kosher Supervision (New York/New Jersey) - 645 8th Street, Lakewood, N.J. 08701 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shmuel Heinemann
Star-K Kosher Supervision (New York - Young Israel) - 3 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
Rabbi David Stavsky -
Rabbi Shlomo Stern (Debraciner Rav) - 1641 56th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204
(718) 853–9623 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shlomo Stern
Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum (Nirbater Rav) - 1617 46th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204
(718) 851-1221 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum
Rabbi Nuchem Ephraim Teitelbaum (Volover Rav) - 58085-11th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225 (718) 436-4685 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Nuchem Ephraim Teitelbaum
Texas-K  - Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc) - 2701 West Howard, Chicago, IL 60645 (773) 465-3900 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Sholem Fishbane
Tri-Sulom Beit Medrash Kehilas Yaakov -
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations (OU) - 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 (212) 613-8241 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Menachem Genack
United Mehadrin Kosher (UMK) - 1001 Prior Avenue, South St. Paul, MN 55116
(651) 690-2137 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Asher Zeilingold
United States K -
Upstate Kosher Supervision -
Vaad of Lancaster - c/o Congregation Degel Israel 1120 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 397-0183 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shaya Sackett
Vaad Hakashrut of Buffalo - 105 Maple Road, Willamsville, New York 14221
716-634-0212 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe Taub
Vaad Hakashrut of the Capital District - 877 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
518-489-1530 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Dr. Moshe E. Bomzer, Rav Hamachshir
Vaad Hakashrut of Dallas (The DK) - 7800 Northaven Road, Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 739-6535, Fax - (214) 739-4635 Rabbi Sholey Klein, Kashrus Administrator
Vaad Hakashrut of Denver (Scroll K) - 1350 Vrain Street, Denver, CO 80204 (303) 595-9349 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe Heisler
Vaad HaKashrut of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway - 597A Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 (516) 569-4536 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yosef Eisen
Vaad Hakashrut of Kansas City -
Vaad HaKashrut of Kansas City - 9900 Antioch Road, Overland Park, KS 66282 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi David Fine
Vaad Hakashrut of Kehal Machzikei Hadas of Belz -
Vaad Hakashrut of Luzerne County - 242 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1012 (570) 825-6619 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Meir Rosenberg
Vaad Hakashrut of Massachusetts -
Vaad Hakashrut of Mechon L’Hoyroa - 168 Maple Avenue, Monsey, NY 10952
(845) 425-9565 ext. 101 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Y. Tauber
Vaad Hakashrut of Miami-Dade (Kosher Miami) - PO Box 403225, Miami, FL 33140 (786) 390-6620 Rabbinic Administrator: Manish Spitz
Vaad Hakashrut of Northern California - 2520 Warring Street, Berkley CA 94704-3111 (510) 843-8223 Rabbinic Administrator: Ben-Tzion Welton
Vaad Hakashrut of Richmond, Virginia - 6300 Patterson Ave., Richmond, VA 23226 (804) 288-7953 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Zvi Ron
Vaad Hakashrut of Rochester -
Vaad Hakashrus of Tidewater - 420 Spotswood Avenue, Norfolk VA 23517 (757) 627-7358 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yosef Friedman
Vaad Hakashruth of Wilmington - c/o Adas Kodesh Shel Emeth Congregation Torah Drive and Washington Boulevard, Wilmington, DE 19802 (302) 762-2705 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Sanford Dresin, Rav Hamachshir
Vaad Hakehilot of Memphis -
Vaad Harabanim of Flatbush - 1575 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230 (718) 951-8585 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Meir Goldberg
Vaad Harabanim of Florida -
Vaad Harabonim of Greater Detroit and Merkaz (K-COR) - 16947 West Ten Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075 (248) 559-5005 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Yosef Dov Krupnik
Vaad Harabanim of Greater Seattle - 5100 South Dawson Street#102, Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 760-0805 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Aharon Brun-Kestler
Vaad Harabanim of Massachusetts -
Vaad Harabanim of Queens - 185-08 Union Turnpike, Suite 109, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366 (718) 454-3529 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Nachum Katz
Vaad Hoier of Cincinnati -
Vaad Ho'ir of Columbus, Ohio Inc -
Vaad Hoeir of Saint Louis - 4 Millstone Campus, St. Louis, MO  63146 (314) 569-2770 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Y. Y. Florans
Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandel - 1 Park Lane, Monsey, NY 10952 (845) 352-1807 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandel

Venezuela
Union Israelita de Caracus - Avenida Marques del Toro #9, San Bernadina Caracas, Venezuela 1011 (528212) 552-8222 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Chaim Raitport

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Forbidden Foods - Maachalos Assuros
a) Forbidden Types of Animals

We are commanded to know the signs that distinguish the types of animals that it is forbidden to eat from the types that are permitted, as it says "And you shall distinguish between the clean animal and the unclean and between the unclean bird and the clean"1; and it says "And to distinguish between the unclean and the clean and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten".2,a Anything that comes from a forbidden animal (milk, eggs, etc.) is forbidden.b ... continued

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Slaughter - Shechitah
a) Slaughtering

If one wishes to eat the meat of a permitted animal or bird he must first slaughter it, as it says "[If you say `I shall eat meat'...] you shall slaughter from your cattle or sheep... as the deer and gazelle are eaten, so shall you eat it"1; and it says "[If any man...] hunts quarry of animal or bird that may be eaten he shall spill its blood".2 After it has been slaughtered one may not eat from it if it is still quivering, as it says "You shall not eat upon the blood".3 Fish and locusts do not require slaughter, as it says "Could sheep or cattle be slaughtered for them and suffice for them? Could all the fish of the sea be gathered for them and suffice for them?"4; and for locusts it says "As the locust is gathered".5,a It is rabbinically forbidden to slaughter anything in the Temple other than a sacrifice, as it says "If the place that Ha-Shem your G-d shall choose... is far from you, you shall slaughter...".1 It is also forbidden to derive benefit from non-sacrificial meat slaughtered in the Temple.b ... continued

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