I am searching for a Kosher cater and I keep coming across the word Hashgacha. Can some one please explain?!


Question: I work for a company in Cleveland, Ohio and my company hosts a training event once a month for employess for all over the US. This is the first time that we have someone who follows a traditional Kosher diet and while looking for some to cater for him I keep coming up with the word Hashgacha. Can someone please enlighten me? I tried to google it, look in the dictonary, etc. but I just don't know what it means. I am more curious now then anything! Thanks.

Answers: I work for a company in Cleveland, Ohio and my company hosts a training event once a month for employess for all over the US. This is the first time that we have someone who follows a traditional Kosher diet and while looking for some to cater for him I keep coming up with the word Hashgacha. Can someone please enlighten me? I tried to google it, look in the dictonary, etc. but I just don't know what it means. I am more curious now then anything! Thanks.
Hashgacha,means that a Rabbi or group of Rabbis are watching to make sure that all the food that is brought in to the vicinity is kosher even before it is prepared. Such as chicken, meat etc. Your best bet would be to ask this person which particular Hashgachot (meaning either one or a few) would be acceptable.

Kosher Meat and chicken may not be cooked with dairy in any circumstance and the animals must be slaughtered in a certain manner by a reputable Rabbi. Kosher food must be cooked in separate pots, that haven't been used for any other foods. Usually a vegetarian restaurant should be o-k, depending on the individual, as we also have laws on cleaning vegetables very well as to not eat bugs (not allowed for us) I know it probably all sounds very strange?

Usually the symbols Ou, ok (one within the other) and some others are o-k. There is a famous Yeshiva, Jewish boys school that you can call in your area if you have any more questions (I'm sure you can look it up)

Nice of you to do this, Good Luck!
Thank you all for voting, glad to be of assistance! Report It

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    • "Hashgacha" means certifying agent.

    A food product is said to be "under the hashgacha of" some agency or rabbi, which means that that agency or rabbi certifies that the product meets kosher standards.

    You may also encounter lists of foods that "require hashgachah" or "require reliable hashgacha". There are some foods that don't need certification, and others that do. The "lists of food that require hashgacha" are the foods that need kosher supervision.

    There's a lot of kosher food in Cleveland. You even have the first ever Kosher Subway! ( http://www.kosherblog.net/2006/04/03/ame... )
    "Hashgacha" basically means "supervision". "Hashgacha pratis," for example, means "divine supervision," or more loosely "divine providence". In relation to kashrus (kashrus/kashrut/kashruth = kosher dietary laws), hashgacha simply means kosher supervision.

    One who provides hashgacha is called a "mashgiach". Not all hashgochos are equal - some hold to stricter standards than others. In general, the stricter the better, since you don't know what standard this guy holds, you can't go wrong by appealing to the frummest (most religious) common denominator.

    Alternative transliterations from Hebrew to English include "hashgocha" "hashgachah" and "hashochah". Try searching for those.

    I don't know who does hashgochah in Cleveland, but for sure there have to be kosher caterers out there (I hear the JCC there even has a kosher Subway restaurant).

    Actually, here, this might be exactly what you're looking for: http://www.clevelandkosher.org/

    You can contact them with any questions you have, and it looks like they have a list of kosher restaurants and caterers.

    I hope you find this information helpful.
    Hashgacha means "supervision" - the supervision by those who make sure the rules of kashrut are being followed; they are called "mashgichim" (singular - mashgiach).

    The phrase "hashgacha pratis" literally means "personal supervision" - it expresses the notion of divine interest and regard for each individual human being.


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