Thursday, March 19, 2026

Thursday Rosh Chodesh Nissan March19 News Updates

                     ראש חודש ניסן תשפ"ו
Weather: 46° Partly cloudy warmer temperatures in the 60s and 70s are expected this weekend just in time for the arrival of spring on Friday.

ברכת האילנות today in eretz Yisroel with warmer weather 
Twelfth Yahrtzeit of Rav Elya Svei zt”l, Today, 1 Nissan

- Welcome home yeshiva bochurim as mesivtos and bais Medrash finish the winter zman. BMG will continue thru next week

- Zeh Vzeh discount coupons for yom tov shopping is a program created by a group of working-class yungeleit for hard-working class families. It was created to provide store coupons during seasons when expenses become extraordinary, especially before Yom Tov. Participating stores offer special coupons and discounts to give families a little extra push with the added expenses. This program is not funded by donations it’s simply stores choosing to offer discounts to people just like them who are working hard and supporting their families. apply HERE for Lakewood discounts.

- Stop & Shop on rt 70 Toms River/Lakewood closing permanently for good today at 6pm. Apparently Amazing savings will be opening a location there.

- Residents in Lakewood are facing ongoing nightly road closures and heavy traffic on Route 9 and James Street during the busy bein hazmanim, wedding season, and pre-Pesach shopping period. Construction continues with no clear explanations, updates, or timeline provided by township officials who often shift the blame on county and state.

- The Vizhnitz Rebbe of Lakewood/Yerushalayim Rav Lazer Hager shlita was involved in a minor accident yesterday while arriving at his father’s kever in Monsey for the yahrtzeit. Baruch Hashem, he was not injured and left the scene without needing medical treatment.

- New Jersey WIC Program has approved its first cholov yisroel infant formula, allowing eligible families to purchase Baby's Only Infant Formula. Assemblyman Avi Schnall called the move a “game-changer,” saying it will ease financial strain for families who previously had limited options while maintaining their standards.

- WIC now available small 4 oz yogurts pack of 8 Blendz strawberry or vanilla flavor due to lower sugar content. The 32 Oz flavored yogurts are no longer approved.

- Lakewood  frum radio stations for those back for bein hazmanim  Station 88.7 FM features Jewish music and English-language shiurim, joining 104.7 and 107.9 FM and giving local listeners three frum radio options while sitting in traffic.

- Gourmet Glatt pre Pesach dinner special  for $70 serves 10 includes 9×13 choice of chicken fingers/nugget sesame or poppers plus 2lb side with 1lb Cole slaw and cucumber salad available at all 3 locations. Order must be placed by 1pm.

-Police in Yerushalayim  were recorded forcefully removing an ultra-Orthodox protester with a baby stroller during demonstrations in Mea Shearim against construction of a light rail station on receiving  Yehezkel. The incident led to officers being summoned for questioning. Protests reportedly included families with children, and police used crowd-control measures such as batons and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators.

-An opinion piece on USA today argues that New Jersey’s school funding formula is inequitable despite spending about $26,990 per student, leading to school cuts, job losses, and rising property taxes. A report by Garden State Initiative urges reforms, calling on Mikie Sherrill to take action for a fairer, more transparent system.

- ICE officials are urging Ocean County to honor a detainer for a Lakewood man,from Mexico who faces charges related to the alleged assault of a minor. Authorities warn he could be released under New Jersey bail reform, while federal officials are pushing to keep him in custody pending the case.

- Giyus: In light of the difficult the persecution of the Torah world there will be a atzeres chizuk In the 'Beit HaShem' community in Givat Sokolov in Bnei Brak with the participation Rav Dov Lando shlita .

- United States Postal Service may raise first-class stamp prices from 78¢ to around 90–95¢, according to Postmaster General David Steiner, who warned the agency could run out of cash within a year prompting some to suggest buying Forever stamps now ahead of a possible increase.

- Clarification  updated Pesach Kashrus Alert on Xanthan Gum several kashrus agencies who give a hashgacha on products with Xanthan gum say they made a special production  for Pesach and it is Kosher Lemehadrin for Pesach they include Badatz eidah Hacharedis, Rav Rubin, Hisachdus, Kedassia, Tartikov, Nirbater,  kashrus Kiryas Yoel.

On the contrary  The Volover Kashrus Agency and others warns  that food products containing Xanthan Gum are NOT kosher for Pesach. Even if labeled “Kosher for Passover,” Xanthan Gum derived from kitnoyos is soaked in alcohol the same type used for chametz gamur making it forbidden. Do not use or consume Xanthan Gum during Pesach. Xanthan Gum It is used as a thickener and stabilizer for sauces, salad dressings, and in gluten-free baking. Other kashrus certifying agencies have not issued any updates on this

7 comments:

  1. - Pesach Kashrus Alert - Xanthan Gum - Until OU stark say it is aproblem then it isnt. I am sure there are plenty of heteterim on this. This sounds like a serious aino rou lkelev

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  2. Actually, an excellent article was written by Rav Weissmandel on the topic of xanthan gum. He explains why it is permitted Me'ikar hadin, and that it is at most a chumra to avoid it.

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  3. I think you have misunderstood the advertisements.
    The Kedassia and Nirbator have not joined, they still manufacture xanthan gum with a special run, but use the old alcohol.

    They are with the Hisachdus Harabbanim.

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  4. What's even more telling, to add to my above comment, is the Nirbater who is the brother of the Volover said it is ok l'chatchila. The above wording, only to add to the confusion, says that they made a special kosher lpesach run is of indeed confusing. On this product precisely is what the Volover Rav said not to use. No one suggested or entertained using a not kosher l'pesach type.
    So to clarify, the special kosher l'pesach type that seems to be referenced here, is precisely the product that is being contested. All agencies said it is mutar lchatchila, except the Volover Rav shlita.
    as always, ask your LOR, or gimme a call me

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  5. So this sounds like someone decided that this is asur without doing proper research?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To clarify as someone in the know, they did the proper research but rendered a decision based on a hashkafic consideration and less halachic.

      Delete
  6. He doesn't live here, he doesn't have a Bais Medrish here, he has NO chassidim here, so what exactly makes him Vishnitz Rebbe of Lakewood?? Lol

    ReplyDelete