Newsletter

Dearest friends and community members,

As the Yashan season comes to a close, Rabbi Yoseph Herman of the "Guide to Chodosh", has informed us of the dates that Chadash products are estimated to be reaching the shelves. The cutoff date I will be observing this year is August 27th.

FREE: Scroll down for a FREE chapter on Yashan from Rabbi Yonatan's book "Yehi Shalom"!

What is Yashan?

In simple terms, Jews are only allowed to eat products of the five grains (wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oat) if they have been harvested, or at the very least planted, before the previous year’s Pesach (Passover). This means that all grain must have been in the earth before Pesach in order for it to be Kosher, or "Yashan" (literally: old [grain]) for the following year. All grains which have been planted after Pesach, are not Kosher, or "Chadash" (literally: new [grain]) until next year’s Pesach has passed.

Halachah or Custom?

It is important to note that these Halachot are not a Minhag (custom), not Rabbinic in nature, nor a minority opinion. These rules follow original Jewish teachings of the Torah, Talmud, Rambam and Maran HaShulchan Aruch. Sepharadic (and some Ashkenazi) communities throughout the ages have strictly observed these laws of Kosher, and we at Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim are proud to uphold these traditions today.

Kosher Guidelines

We therefore ask of all our friends and members: please be considerate of these Kosher guidelines when cooking, baking or purchasing food for the community. All grains and flour you purchase by August 27th are still Yashan, so there is still time to stock up! Also, Ralph's in La Jolla, as well as the groceries in Los Angeles, provide a variety of Yashan products throughout this period until Pesach.

Simple Formula

Yashan = Acceptable = All grain products (cookies, cakes, bread, flour, etc) purchased by August 27th; or purchased after August 27th with special Yashan certification.

Chadash = Not acceptable = All grain products (cookies, cakes, bread, flour, etc) purchased after August 27th without special Yashan certification.

Help With Yashan

The Rabbanit and I are stocking up on Yashan ingredients for the coming year (until Pesach). We also have flour for our personal and communal use which can be borrowed in case of need. Please do not rely on us, as we have ran out in previous years.

If you bake often for Kiddush or Bet Knesset events, please stock up on flour from Costco and perhaps we will be able to reimburse you for a reasonable amount of flour.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, I am available like last year for your every need. Please call or text (858) 752-1025.

Wishing you a beautiful summer in the merit of this precious Mitzvah!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yonatan Halevy

We give below the final estimates for the upcoming Chadash season. These are based on the US Department of Agriculture harvest reports and preliminary information from mashgichim. The dates are identical to our starting estimates of last year.
 
We expect the Chadash grain started to appear in products as follows:

1. Freshly baked items using spring wheat, including breads, challahs, bagels, rolls, pizza and some cakes and cookies may be Chadash in the Midwest after the PURCHASE DATE of July 29. Elsewhere in the US, this date would be Aug 12.

2. Packaged foods from spring wheat may be Chadash after the PACKING date of Jul 29, or the PURCHASE date of Aug 12.

3. Noodles and pasta may be Chadash after the PACKING date of Aug 13 and the PURCHASE date of Aug 27.

4. Barley, such as pearled barley, may be Chadash after the PACKING date of Aug 9 and PURCHASE date of Aug 23.

5. Oats: Oats in all products, including cereals, may be Chadash starting with a PACKING date of Jul 20, PURCHASE date of Aug 3. 

6. Barley malt (also listed in the ingredients as “malt”) may be Chadash as of the packing date of Nov 15 for beer and Dec 15 for other packaged foods. Package codes should be checked after the purchase date of Dec 15 for beer made from barley malt and Mar 15 for malt in other products.
 
Please note that the early starting date for oats is a Chumrah (stringency), based on the start of the oats harvest which is already on the way now. However, many cereal companies keep old oats in storage and start using Chadash later. General Mills (Cheerios, etc) usually starts at least 1-2 months later. Quaker some years started this early, other years later. To be sure, purchase oats cereals for storage now. It is too early now for mashgichim to be able to find out the oats starting date for this year for specific companies.

Click here for a free chapter on the laws of Yashan from Rabbi Yonatan's book, Yehi Shalom