Do You Recognize These Kosher Symbols?

Kosher symbols can be difficult to spot on a food label, and may even appear in non-obvious places. For the most part, kosher symbols are simple to identify. On your kosher cruise, however, you may run into one occasionally that you might not recognize.

Before we get to know them, it's first important to understand what kosher foods are. Koshering is a process through which a rabbi supervises the preparation of meat and dairy products, and supervises the preparation of a group of people before it’s declared as hechsher (kosher certified). It has a lot of complicated rules and labeling, with numerous kosher certification agencies all over the world using different symbols. As of now, the most common labeling is from Orthodox Union.

Here is a list of common kosher symbols that you might run into on your next Jewish travel expedition.

OU - if you see this label on a food product, it is labeled as kosher pareve. This means it contains no meat and no dairy, not even its derivatives.

OU-D - indicates a kosher dairy product. It contains dairy ingredients or dairy derivatives.

OU-DE - this means that the product may not be necessarily dairy, but was processed on the same equipment processed with dairy.

OU-M - can also be substituted with the OU-Glatt symbol. This refers to kosher meat/dairy-free meat. Watch out for this symbol if you’re vegan.

OUT-OF- this symbol indicates a kosher product with fish ingredients.

OU-P - means that this product is kosher for Passover.

There are still a lot more symbols to look out for, but these are the common ones you can find. For a complete list of symbols, you may check these kashrut agencies.

3 Delightful Milk-Based Kosher Recipes for Summertime

Summer is right on its way, and you know what that means: amazing new recipes. After the melancholy of winter and the calm of spring, the summertime can really spark your creativity when it comes to culinary matters. Kosher tours might have tasty dishes, but you’re not on a kosher tour yet, so why not make something tasty now! Really, Summer is the perfect time of year to lighten up the house and cook some delectable delights. What will you make? How do you go about it? The answer is simple - with creativity! To make things simple, let’s narrow the scope of your kosher meals to milk-based foods. Here are some delicious kosher dairy recipes for the summer days ahead. 

Miri Rotkovitz’s Dairy Spinach Lasagna (via The Spruce Eats)

There’s a lot of kosher lasagna options online, from meaty dishes to cheesy delights. This particular spinach lasagna recipe uses the natural creamy goodness with the unique taste of spinach, a combination that’s bound to give your taste buds a trip through a river of flavor. 

Getting hungry? Fret not, here’s the recipe!
https://www.thespruceeats.com/kosher-spinach-lasagna-2121451 

Potato Cheese Casserole via OU Kosher

Potatoes are just one of those absolutely filling veggies that we enjoy in meat, dairy and even parve dishes. From shepherd’s pies to casseroles, potatoes are an essential ingredient in many delicious kosher dishes. Speaking of casserole, have you ever wanted a cheesy and filling meal for your summer weekends? Feast your eyes on this potato cheese casserole recipe, a creamy and unforgettable delight that’s bound to satisfy you.

Get the recipe here!
https://oukosher.org/recipes/potato-cheese-casserole/ 

Leah Koenig’s Creamy Malabi Recipe (via My Jewish Learning)

There’s a lot of exquisite dessert options to be discovered in the various culinary cultures of the world. Because the Jewish people have traveled far and wide, encountering different cultures and living alongside them, such culinary cuisines can sometimes be made kosher and enjoyed by the local community. Like seasoning, other cultures affect kosher cuisine, such as the malabi. This lovely pudding has the scent of flowers and the creamy taste of vanilla, a comfy dessert for any summer occasion. 

Get it here:
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/recipe/malabi/ 

Kosher Tour Destinations in Portugal

 The Iberian Peninsula is a place in Europe where many things meld together. As a crossroads of sorts, Iberia is where the cultures of Africa and Europe meshed, and the three Abrahamic faiths collided on almost equal footing. As such, the countries of the Iberian Peninsula, namely Spain and Portugal, are places rich in Jewish history and heritage. That’s why they’re the sight of many kosher tours in the past.

In the near future, when it’s safe for you to travel again, why not check out some of the great cities that the Iberian Peninsula has to offer? Let’s begin with Portugal. A European nation of even temperatures and complex histories, Portugal is a premier destination for many Jewish travelers interested in finding out about their history. Here are some great and fascinating cities to watch out for in Portugal

Lisbon

The capital city of Lisbon is an old and much-respected hub of commerce and industry. This city is full of ancient and eye-catching architecture, from both Christian and Muslim sources. In addition, its fascinating history is entwined with that of the Sephardic Jewish people, both good and bad. If you want a good start to your journey, consider Lisbon. 

Porto

Porto is an exquisite city, the second-largest in Portugal. It is a hub of trade and a place of heritage, one that sits on the banks of the wondrous Douro River, a favored destination for kosher river cruises. This locale is well known for its port wine, along with the aforementioned places of heritage. It’s also home to a variety of significant and historically important synagogues, such as the Kadoorie Synagogue. 

Belmonte

The quaint destination of Belmonte is the home of a group of Crypto-Jews in Portugal, known as the Belmonte Jews. Ever since the cruel enactment of forced conversions in Iberia, the Belmonte Jews have hidden from the rest of the world by becoming an insular community that hid their Judaistic faith from outsiders. It was in the early 20th century that they were rediscovered by Samuel Schwarz, and they would later reveal themselves to the wider global Jewish community in later years.