Baltimore, MD - Sept. 27, 2024  -  With the approach of Rosh Hashana, when we partake of fresh fruits and other traditional foods, STAR-K reminds everyone about the need to check many of the items carefully prior to use.

Checking instructions for all Rosh Hashana Simanim are listed below.

For your convenience, we are also including information and links about Yoshon, as well as the Halachos of Fasting, Schach Guidance and Sukkos-related videos — basically all the information you need to prepare for the Yamim Tovim.

STAR-K wishes everyone a k'siva v'chasima tova and a sweet new year!

ROSH HASHANA SIMANIM CHECKING INSTRUCTIONS

APPLES/BEETS/CARROTS/POMEGRANATES: No checking required.

DATES*: Open a few dates in each container and visually inspect. If no insects can be seen, the rest may be eaten without further checking.

FIGS*: Open each one and check carefully for infestation (typically wasps, beetles or worms). NOTE: Figs are particularly difficult to check.

 * Checking instructions for dates and figs apply even if they have a hechsher, due to the possibility of improper storage.

GOLDEN RAISINS: 

Should not be used at this time due to infestation and the difficulty involved in checking them. (There is no concern with red (black) raisins or currants. Keep these properly sealed and store in a cool dry place, as improper storage can lead to infestation.)

BLACK-EYED PEAS:

Preparation

  • Dried peas should first be boiled in water. After they have been fully cooked, allow the peas to soak in the water for 2-3 hours. The peas will then swell and the peel will become translucent. Then check as instructed below. 
  • Canned or frozen peas may be checked straight out of the can/bag; there is no need to boil or soak.

Checking Instructions

  1. Inspect the peas for holes or dark-colored stains, as these may indicate an insect beneath the thin peel. 
  2. If there is a dark spot on the peel, remove the thin skin and check if there is a cavity with a bug in it.

NOTE: The black "eye" spot is not a sign of infestation. Similarly, orange-colored stains on the surface are not signs of infestation. Only dark or black stains are of concern.

LEEKS: 

Examine the outside for any leaf miner trails. Check in between the layers for thrips or other insects. 

SPINACH:

Check using the Thrip Cloth Method.

THRIP CLOTH METHOD:

  1. Wash the produce well. Fill a basin with warm water and a non-toxic dishwasher detergent so the water feels "slippery."
  2. Add produce to the basin and agitate vigorously in the solution for 15 seconds.
  3. Remove the produce from the basin and shake excess water over the basin. Set produce aside.
  4. Line a colander with a thrip cloth and pour the water through it.
  5. Place thrip cloth over a light box and check for insects.
  6. If insects are found, repeating steps 1-5. This can be repeated up to 3 times. If insects are still found on the third try, the produce should not be used.

GREEN CABBAGE:

For fresh cabbage: Separate all leaves and wash well. Then check using the Thrip Cloth Method.

For stuffed cabbage: After freezing the head, defrost and separate all leaves and wash them well. Then check using the Thrip Cloth Method.

For green cabbage only: If one does not have a thrip cloth, cabbage may be checked carefully leaf by leaf, using a lightbox or under a strong light.

HONEY: Pure honey does not need a hechsher (Clover, Wildflower, Blossom, Orange, etc., are types of honey, not flavors). Flavored honey needs a hechsher.

Click on any of the links below for downloadable PDFs and for additional Yom Tov-related information.

PDF of the Rosh Hashana Simanim Checking Guide

STAR-K Insect Checking Chart

PDF of What Do Bugs Look Like Chart

PDF of Baltimore Establishments Yoshon/Pas Yisroel Chart

STAR-K Yoshon Info & Yoshon Alert Sign-up

Kashrus Kurrents Article about the Halachos of Fasting

STAR-K Yamim Noraim & Sukkos Video Channel

5785 Schach Mat Guidance

PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 26, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Sarah Heiman-Nadav, a’h, sister of Rebetzin Nechama (Rabbi Yissocher) Frand.Shiva will be observed at 21 Nowlan Place, Lakewood, NJ. 08701Rebetzin Frand will observe shiva in Baltimore all day Tuesday and Wednesday morningTuesday, September 30 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Wednesday – Erev Yom Kippur 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM בלע המוות לנצח
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 30, 2025  - The new school year is underway and Jewish Educational Services (JES) found a sweet way to show appreciation for the community’s educators: Back-to-School baskets brimming with snacks and supplies for the rabbeim and teachers. JES staff visited nearly every Jewish day and yeshiva school in Baltimore - including Ateres, Bais Yaakov, Beth Tfiloh, Bnos Yisroel, Cheder Chabad, Darchei Noam Montessori, Krieger Schechter Day School, Ohr Chadash Academy, Talmudical Academy, Tashbar, Torah Institute and Toras Simcha - delivering baskets and warm wishes for a successful year ahead. “These baskets are a small way to recognize our teachers, who put so much heart and energy into their students every single day,” said Yael Zelinger, JES Day Scho...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 30, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Dovid Schwartz (Clifton, NJ) and Rina Lipsky (Baltimore, MD) on their engagement! Mazel Tov to  Andrew & Cari Schwartz and Yaakov & Cookie Lipsky יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!   
PINNED
Scroll for more news
A Final Chesed in Loving Memory of Rav Dovid Frid Z'tl Dear Friends,  With profound sorrow, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Rav Dovid Z'tl. On behalf of the family, we want to thank all those who stood by their side throughout the years. You were an amazing team that gave Rav Dovid lifesaving care. May you and yours be blessed with health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year and always. For almost fifteen years, Rav Dovid was not only a beacon of strength and Emunah, but a true warrior, living each day with courage, dignity and deep devotion to Torah despite his struggle with the devastating and cruel disease, ALS. Unfortunately, years of 24/7 care, medical expenses and household needs have left enormous debts and there is no savings or insu...
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Read More
PINNED
Scroll for more news
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration ’s efforts to deport noncitizens for protesting the war in Gaza was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge William Young in Boston agreed with several university associations that the policy they described as ideological deportation violates the First Amendment. The ruling came after a trial. An email to the Homeland Security department for comment was not immediately returned. During the trial, lawyers for the associations presented witnesses who testified that the Trump administration had launched a coordinated effort to target students and scholars who had criticized Israel or showed sympathy for Palestinians. “Not since the McCarthy era have immigrants been the target of such intense repression for law...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 30, 2025  - The STAR-K establishments listed below will have a Sukkah on their premises during Chol Hamoed. Please note that space may be limited. Accents Grill/Serengeti Caramel’s Pizza Cocoaccino’s PizzaCroustille Cafe David Chu’s Goldberg’s Kosher Bagels Mama Leah’s Gourmet Pizza Taam Thai The Club Yesh Yossef's Laffa-Milia Other establishments may be open, but for takeout only. Please check with each establishment to confirm operating hours. STAR-K wishes the entire community a gmar chasima tova and a gut Yom Tov.
Nothing quite says "Yomim Noraim is here!" more than the Shul’s very first reminder announcing "Yomim Noraim Seats," which usually occurs a couple weeks before Elul even begins. Hashgacha has it that our very first "taste" of the Yomim Noraim is not the recitation of selichos, not the sound of shofar, and not even the delicious apples with honey...but rather, Yomim Noraim Seats! Yomim Noraim seats are an amazing part of Yiddishkeit, as they sort of just fall into a category of their own within Jewish symbolism. So important, valuable and integral  to our lives, the seating arrangements for Yomim Noraim are almost always run by committees—unsung heroes of Klal Yisroel who deal with everything from managing the sign-up forms, assigning seats, and collecting payments.&nb...
Parsha Hashavua
Daily Dvar Halacha – Sept. 29 / Tishrei 7 / What Kind Of Candle After Yom Kippur?

Read More
Towson, MD - Seot. 30, 2025  - Towson University gave the all-clear after a bomb threat forced the college to evacuate a building and close a parking garage Monday morning. The university said it received a bomb threat for University Union, prompting the temporary closure of the building and the nearby Union Garage. University Union and Union Garage reopened just before 1 p.m. following a sweep from Towson University Public Safety and the Baltimore County Police Department. "Remain clear of the area - further than 500 feet from the building," the university said in an alert posted atop its website at the time. "This is not a drill. Follow all instructions from authorities." All other nearby buildings, including Burdick Hall and the Liberal Arts building, remain...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 30, 2025 - Think Yom Kippur is all about what you can’t do? In truth, it can hand you the keys to everything you need. There are simple freedoms most of us barely notice: choosing what to wear, stepping outside when we wish, being with people we love. When those freedoms are taken away, their value comes into sharp focus. This is the story of Elliot (name changed), a Jewish young man who has spent his late teens and early twenties in a juvenile facility. Over the years, as his longing for freedom grows, so does his interest in learning more about his people and his Yiddishkeit (Judaism). Over the years since we’ve been learning together, he has come to the point of daily Tefillin and davening, observing kashrus, and keeping Shabbos and Yom Tov. At...
SimchasSimchas Simcha
A Timely Re-reading of a Blog from Last Year“A prayer offered without intent (Kavanah), is like a body without a soul.” When the rabbis taught us that lesson, they were encouraging us that when we recite our personal and public prayers, rather than merely reciting the words, we should garb them with our own personal meanings and thoughts. Just as our clothing choices help us stand apart, so do our contemplation and intent transform even standardized prayers into deeply personal, unique offerings. Avinu. Malkeinu. Our Father. Our King. Who is unfamiliar with this powerful refrain, chanted, and pleaded, and cried over and over during the High Holiday season? Who isn’t moved by our supplication to G-d, both in His identity as our Father, and in his role as our King? So w...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 30, 2025  - Officials at Baltimore-area universities are investigating threats received to their campuses. Towson University issued an emergency notification Tuesday morning, saying it’s evacuating the University Union after receiving a bomb threat. Anyone inside the building should evacuate and clear the area. “This is not a drill. Follow all instructions from authorities. All other individuals should stay away from the area of University Union. If you are not on campus, stay away until notified of an ‘all clear’ from campus officials.” Anyone with information is asked to call the Towson University Police Department at 410-704-4444. Morgan State University said it received an email threat indicated a possible explosive device at...
Nichum AveilimNichum Aveilim Aveilim
US President Donald Trump told reporters today (Tuesday) that the Hamas terrorist organization has three to four days to respond to the 20-point peace plan he unveiled yesterday. "We're gonna do about three to four days. We'll see how it is," Trump said. "All of the Arab countries have signed up, the Muslim countries have signed up, Israel's all signed up. We're just waiting for Hamas." "Hamas is either gonna be doing it or not, and if it's not, it's going to be a very sad end," he added.
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 30, 2025 – 8:19AM – (BJL) An accident at Park Heights and Clarks Lane is causing delays.Avoid the area  
Job Listings Jobs
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 30, 2025 - A Project Baltimore investigation has uncovered that Maryland taxpayers, in 2024, gave public schools hundreds of millions of dollars to educate students whose whereabouts were unknown. It’s late September. And Maryland public schools are busy – not just educating students but counting them. In Maryland, most of a school’s funding is based on the number of students enrolled on one day, September 30th. The students counted on that day largely determine a school’s funding the following year. But a Project Baltimore investigation is raising serious questions about that process. We’ve learned, in 2024, taxpayers gave hundreds of millions of dollars to schools to educate students who could not be found. State Delegate Kathy Szel...
Tel Aviv, Israel - Sept. 30, 2025 - Hamas, along with other Palestinian groups, is leaning toward accepting US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, an informed source told CBS News on Tuesday. After arriving at a response to the proposal, the Palestinian groups will reportedly present it to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Wednesday. the report follows a previous AFP report on Tuesday, which stated that Hamas has “begun a series of consultations” to discuss US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, citing a Palestinian source close to the terror group. JPost Videos The plan, which was backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, would see the terror group disarm and release the remaining 48 hostages. "Hamas has begun a se...
Classifieds Classifieds
Southern Entrance to Jerusalem, Israel - Sept. 30, 2025 - Two individuals were lightly and moderately wounded on Tuesday in a ramming attack at the al-Khader Junction on Route 60 near the southern entrance to Jerusalem. Magen David Adom ambulance teams tended to them and evacuated them to Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem hospitals. According to the initial investigation, the terrorist rammed his vehicle into two civilians who were standing at a hitchhiking stand. Armed civilians opened fire and neutralized the terrorist. The incident occurred near the Tunnels Checkpoint, one of the main arteries connecting Gush Etzion and the capital. The circumstances are still under investigation. Military and police forces are currently at the scene, and additional forces are being dispatched to t...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 29, 2025 - When the calendar flips to Oct. 1, Marylanders will see hundreds of new laws go into effect, touching nearly every part of daily life. These laws impact family life, tenant rights, immigration protections, hospital billing, criminal justice and even traffic safety. Below is a breakdown of some of the most impactful changes and how they could affect Marylanders. Family Law and Child Custody Child Support Adjustments (HB 1191 / SB 548) Parents who owe child support could see a new deduction when their income is calculated. When courts calculate child support, they don’t just use a parent’s raw income: they use something called adjusted actual income. That’s the parent’s income after subtracting certain allowable de...
Chesed Chesed
Washington, D.C. - Sept. 29, 2025 - “Mr. President, First I want to thank you for graciously hosting me once again in the White House. And second, I want to thank you for your friendship and for your leadership.From Jerusalem to Tehran, from the Golan Heights to Gaza, you've proven time and again what I've said many times. You are the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. And, Mr. President, you and I both know it's not even close.While you focus at home on making America great again, your leadership abroad is changing the world for the better, ending wars and advancing peace. I believe that today we're taking a critical step towards both ending the war in Gaza and setting the stage for dramatically advancing peace in the Middle East, a...
More articles