By Joseph Marshall
Late last week, the MK removed certification from the Benny & Fils restaurant for violation of their kashurus standards.
Yaniv Cohen, one of Benny & Fils owners took to his own Instagram and explained that the dispute with the MK centered around their use of Bridor baguettes. He shared a letter from the MK where the restaurant was instructed to stop using the baguettes because they were no longer considered pas Yisroel (baked by a Jew). Benny & Fils, who had been using the baguettes for 20 years, refused. After numerous warnings and phone calls ignored by the restaurant, the MK removed their certification.
Today, in an instagram post, the MK explained that previously Bridor baguettes (certified MK) were par baked, therefore requiring the consumer to bake it to make it edible, that final step allowed the bread to be pas Yisroel. Due to a change in the production process, the baguettes are now fully baked at Bridor, elminating the requirement of the consumer baking them, therefore they can no longer be pas Yisroel.
Benny & Fils is now certified by the KSR Kosher Certification.
This is a totally ridiculous statement that actually makes the MK look even more pathetic.
It’s also, simply, untrue. When you buy the bridor baguettes, they come white as snow. Only after you bake them do they become toasted on the outside. And this is precisely the Heker the Shulchan Aruch relies on to make bread Pat Israel, even if fully baked by a non jew.
The VAAD is not above the Shulchan Aruch. Everything they base their “standard” on is rooted in Shulchan Aruch.
See Yore De’ah, siman 112.