Kosher Today

The Kosher Today Podcast, hosted by industry veteran Menachem Lubinsky, offers a comprehensive look into the dynamic world of kosher food. This podcast delivers breaking news, emerging global trends, and exclusive interviews with prominent industry personalities. Lubinsky, founder of Kosherfest and former editor of Kosher Today, brings his decades of experience to provide listeners with insider insights and personal commentary on significant developments in the kosher industry. Whether you're a professional in the field or simply a kosher food enthusiast, this bi-weekly podcast promises to be an essential guide to the ever-expanding kosher marketplace, where innovation continues to flourish.

Kosher Today is a arts podcast hosted by Menachem Lubinsky, with 19 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Menachem Lubinsky hosts Kosher Today, a arts show with 19 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #5

  Kosher Today - Ira Sacks

  Aug 20, 202648 minS2

  Kosher Today: Protecting the Kosher Symbol with Attorney Ira Sacks Host: Menachem Lubinsky Guest: Ira Sacks, trademark attorney representing OK Kosher and other kashrus certification agencies Episode Description Every day, kashrus agencies across the country are fighting a quiet legal battle: companies slapping a "K" in a circle on products that were never actually certified. On this episode of Kosher Today , host Menachem Lubinsky talks with veteran trademark attorney Ira Sacks about what happens behind the scenes when a kosher symbol gets misused — from innocent mix-ups after a company acquisition to outright counterfeiting. Sacks, who has represented OK Kosher since 2016 and built his career enforcing trademarks for major fashion and fragrance brands, walks through the mechanics of cease-and-desist letters, consumer alerts, and the surprisingly high stakes of a small circle-K on a product label. What They Discuss From fashion counterfeits to kosher law — Sacks built his career doing antitrust and trademark work at large firms, then brand enforcement for fashion and fragrance companies, before a connection through a jewelry company's legal officer led him to OK Kosher in 2016. Why people misuse kosher symbols — Sacks estimates a quarter to half of OK Kosher's cases involve genuine confusion (mistaking the circle-K for a generic kosher symbol, or for "keto"), while the rest simply calculate that the risk of getting caught is low. The value baked into a certification mark — as Menachem notes from a rabbi he once heard speak, misusing a kosher symbol isn't just a labeling error, it's effectively stealing the goodwill and trust that agency has built. How the process actually plays out — a cease-and-desist letter, weekly follow-ups, and often a public "kashrus alert" so consumers know a product is no longer certified, all while balancing accuracy to avoid business libel. Why lawsuits rarely happen — federal court judgments can take one to three years, so the real priority is getting a voluntary stop to new sales rather than chasing product recalls or courtroom wins. Passover crunches — mislabeled "Kosher for Passover" products create a race against the calendar, since the holiday's eight-day window can end before legal action ever catches up. Retail-level violations — cases involving restaurants and stores that keep using a certification mark after losing supervision, or after breaking down bulk kosher goods (like nuts sold from a barrel) into loose, mislabeled displays. Circle K vs. OK Kosher — a real (and lawful) point of consumer confusion, including an anecdote about a 95-year-old man convinced a Circle K gas station must be kosher. Consumers as the best line of defense — kosher shoppers, including former offenders turned informants, are often the first to flag a problem, making detailed complaint records valuable if a case ever reaches a judge. Repeat offenders and shell games — the same "scoundrels" resurfacing under new corporate names, or goods rerouted through different Mexican factories after one supply chain gets shut down. What damages actually look like — Sacks explains why untangling how much of a product's revenue is attributable to a kosher symbol (versus brand, price, or quality) makes damages hard to calculate, and why he aims to recover legal costs rather than punitive windfalls. Advice for agencies — register your mark with the U.S. Trademark Office, build a network watching for suspicious labeling, and think internationally, since certified products now travel worldwide and enforcement varies wildly by country. Notable Moments A story about a discount grocery chain that once argued a kosher symbol mistakenly printed on bacon couldn't be "confusing" to anyone — a case study in the legal standard of "likelihood of confusion." The tale of Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda demanding kosher pasta at a moment's notice, only to learn the plant that made it was already OU-certified. A vendor caught displaying five different kosher certification symbols at a trade show, unable to say which one — if any — actually applied to them. About the Guest Ira Sacks is a trademark attorney based in New York who has represented OK Kosher since 2016, along with several other kosher and non-kosher certification organizations. His practice focuses on brand enforcement, drawing on decades of experience protecting trademarks in the fashion and fragrance industries before shifting into kashrus law. About the Host For Menachem Lubinsky and Lubicom Marketing and Business Consulting Call 718.854.4450 or e-mail mlubinsky@lubicom.com This show was Produced and edited by thepodwaves.com Kosher Today is available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe for more conversations on the people and trends shaping the kosher food and beverage world.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #3

  Kosher Today - Matias Averbuj

  Aug 13, 202639 minS2

  Kosher Today Podcast Kosher Wine & Jewish Life Across Latin America, with Matias Averbuj (Royal Wine/Kedem) Host: Menachem Lubinsky Guest: Matias Averbuj, sales lead for Royal Wine/Kedem in Latin America Episode Summary Menachem Lubinsky sits down with Matias Averbuj, who has spent the last decade building Royal Wine/Kedem's presence across Latin America — now covering 22 countries. Matias, who started as a single salesman after connecting with Lubinsky through a yeshiva network, walks through how the kosher wine and grape juice business (including crossover brands like Bartenura's "blue bottle" and Kedem grape juice) has grown into a serious commercial market that reaches well beyond kosher-observant consumers. The conversation doubles as a tour of Jewish communal life across the region — market size, religious observance patterns, tourism-driven Pesach demand, and the state of antisemitism country by country — with a special focus on Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. Key Topics Discussed Origin story: How Matias got his start in the kosher food business through a connection made by Menachem Lubinsky ten years ago, eventually joining Royal Wine as a salesman. Company footprint: Royal Wine/Kedem now sells in over 22 countries across Latin America, working with both kosher consumers and general-market supermarket chains. Crossover products: Bartenura ("the blue bottle") and Kedem sparkling/regular grape juice have become mainstream products, sold on supermarket shelves alongside non-kosher brands like Welch's. Panama deep dive: Home to roughly 15,000 Jews with very high kosher observance (80–90%), a large kosher supermarket, 40+ kosher restaurants, no local wine/food production (everything imported), and favorable tax policy drawing American and Canadian expats. Mexico: An estimated 50,000 Jews (mostly in Mexico City), with kosher demand also driven heavily by Pesach tourism in destinations like Cancún. Argentina: Roughly 250,000 Jews in Buenos Aires, with an estimated 40,000 keeping kosher; a well-developed communal infrastructure and, according to Matias, very low antisemitism. Brazil: A large but protectionist market — steep import taxes make imported products far more expensive at retail. Sao Paulo has the largest Jewish population, most of it Sephardic (Syrian origin). Venezuela: A community that has shrunk from roughly 20,000 to under 2,000 Jews, with most emigrating to Miami and Israel. Discussion of how the situation may shift following the fall of Maduro. Smaller markets: Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Peru, and Colombia (Bogotá) — small Jewish populations but often near-universal kosher compliance during Pesach specifically. Retail strategy: How kosher products are merchandised in Latin American supermarkets — often placed in "specialty" or "international" sections rather than a dedicated kosher aisle, plus the importance of in-store demos and social media support. Pesach logistics: The high-pressure seasonal push (planning starts around October) to supply hotels, tourists, and once-a-year kosher buyers, including matzah distribution to isolated communities. Jewish demographic trends: Which communities are growing (Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico) versus shrinking (Venezuela, Guatemala), and the role of Chabad throughout the region. Antisemitism: A comparative discussion of how Latin America compares favorably to Europe and, in the host's view, even parts of the U.S. Notable Quotes / Moments On Panama's unique kosher infrastructure: Matias describes it as feeling like "Miami or New York," with a kosher supermarket larger than most in North America and more kosher restaurants than many U.S. cities. On Venezuela's collapse: the community's drop from 20,000 to under 2,000 Jews is described as "a very sad story," with most departing for Miami and Israel. On merchandising strategy: kosher products are often shelved in "specialty" or "international" sections rather than kosher-labeled aisles, especially in smaller markets. Host's closing takeaways: lower antisemitism in Latin America relative to Europe/U.S.; strong crossover appeal of products like Bartenura and grape juice; near-total Pesach compliance in some communities despite low year-round observance. About the Guest Matias Averbuj leads Royal Wine/Kedem's sales operations across Latin America, based in Panama (previously Buenos Aires). Over ten years he has built a regional team spanning Argentina, Panama, and Mexico. About the Host For Menachem Lubinsky and Lubicom Marketing and Business Consulting Call 718.854.4450 or e-mail mlubinsky@lubicom.com This show was Produced and edited by thepodwaves.com Kosher Today is available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe for more conversations on the people and trends shaping the kosher food and beverage world.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #2

  Kosher Today - Rabbi Moshe Elefant

  Jul 29, 202651 minS2

  Kosher Today: Rabbi Moshe Elefant on Taking the Helm at the OU Host: Menachem Lubinsky Guest: Rabbi Moshe Elefant, incoming CEO of the Kashrus Division of the Orthodox Union (OU), succeeding Rabbi Menachem Genack Episode Description In a bit of breaking news for the kosher world, Rabbi Moshe Elefant joins Kosher Today to discuss his ascension to CEO of the OU's Kashrus Division after nearly 45 years at the organization. Host Menachem Lubinsky and Elefant trace the OU's history from its founding in the wake of a failed early-1900s push to unify New York's kosher meat industry, through the shift from paper index cards to a fully paperless, cloud-based certification system, to the modern realities of certifying factories in 107 countries — including the growing footprint of manufacturing hubs like China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. What They Discuss A changing of the guard — Rabbi Genack's retirement after decades leading the OU's Kashrus Division, and Elefant's succession into a lineage of rabbinic administrators stretching back to Alexander Rosenberg in the 1920s. The founding story of American kashrus — Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, New York's first and only chief rabbi, was brought from Europe in the early 1900s to bring order to a chaotic kosher meat industry, but was ultimately undermined by butchers and rabbis resisting centralized oversight, and died in obscurity. His failure taught the community that kashrus needed to be run by an institution rather than individuals — leading to the OU's founding in 1923, with Heinz as its first certified company. From index cards to the cloud — the OU ran entirely on paper records for mashgichim and client files when Elefant joined in 1987; today the organization is fully paperless, with online ingredient databases and self-service, OU-controlled certificate printing for client companies. Massive scale growth — the OU now certifies more than 7,000 companies spanning over 15,000-16,000 factories worldwide, up from a era when a single application from a Moroccan sardine factory was considered a novelty. Educating manufacturers — the shift from companies simply wanting "a rabbi to bless the plant" to R&D teams and food scientists who now understand kosher certification as a matter of ingredient science, not folklore. The modern kosher consumer — Elefant describes today's consumer as wanting both far greater variety (extensive wine selections, upscale restaurants, elaborate simchas) and the highest possible standard of reliable supervision, a shift from the more limited, "good enough" kosher landscape of earlier generations. How supervision actually works — roughly 90% of OU-certified factories don't have a full-time on-site rabbi and instead receive unannounced periodic visits, while restaurants and meat operations — where the kosher/non-kosher distinction carries much higher stakes — require full-time mashgichim and constant monitoring, including camera surveillance. Home-based caterers and social-media cooks — Elefant shares a story about being asked for an emergency, same-night certification for a home baker supplying a synagogue kiddush, and explains why the OU can't credibly supervise something baked overnight in a home kitchen with unverified ingredients. Consumer responsibility — a debate over whether food delivered through apps like Uber Eats or Instacart without proper labeling should be eaten on faith, and Elefant's view that consumers can't outsource all responsibility to certifying agencies. The volume of consumer questions — two OU rabbis work full-time just fielding phone calls, emails, and WhatsApp messages from consumers, a volume Elefant says has grown dramatically over the past decade (and spikes further before Passover). Global manufacturing challenges — certifying in countries like China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Korea, where local populations often have no religious framework for understanding kosher requirements, requires OU staff (including Cantonese speakers) stationed on the ground. Vaadim vs. national agencies — the OU's policy of only certifying local establishments (restaurants, bakeries, butcher shops) when invited by the local rabbinate or vaad, and how local vaadim rely on OU-certified meat, chicken, and wine as their baseline. Israel's more complicated landscape — unlike the U.S., where certification is voluntary and agency-driven, Israel's Rabbanut is a government body without consistent nationwide standards, leading the OU to expand cautiously into local Israeli supervision, largely at the request of tourists. AI and technology in kashrus — the OU is exploring AI to help answer routine consumer questions and using cameras in factories and restaurants as a complement to (not replacement for) human mashgichim. Trademark protection — the OU maintains a full-time attorney to handle unauthorized or mistaken use of its symbol, particularly in complex cases involving private-label manufacturing and company mergers or acquisitions. Growing alignment with the Hasidic community — Elefant describes a warming relationship between the OU and Hasidic consumers and institutions over the years, including being invited to give a shiur in a major Hasidic community. Looking ahead — Elefant's priorities as incoming CEO: keeping pace with global manufacturing complexity, making sure technology serves rather than undermines certification, and continuing his personal passion for Torah teaching and public kashrus education. Notable Moments The story of how Heinz became the OU's first certified company in 1923, and how an employee at Heinz is credited with designing the OU symbol itself. Elefant's account of the emergency phone call from a home baker's husband asking for a same-night hechsher, and his explanation of why that request was impossible to fulfill responsibly. A closing exchange about the long odds — and hopeful aspiration — of an OU-certified restaurant someday operating in Tehran. About the Guest Rabbi Moshe Elefant has served the Orthodox Union's Kashrus Division for nearly 45 years, joining in October 1987, and was named CEO of the division, succeeding Rabbi Menachem Genack. He is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable figures in the kosher certification world and is also known for teaching a popular daf yomi shiur to thousands of students. About the Host For Menachem Lubinsky and Lubicom Marketing and Business Consulting Call 718.854.4450 or e-mail mlubinsky@lubicom.com This show was Produced and edited by thepodwaves.com Kosher Today is available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe for more conversations on the people and trends shaping the kosher food and beverage world.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #1

  Kosher Today - Jay Buchsbaum

  Jul 15, 202635 minS2

  Kosher Today, Episode 16: The State of Kosher Wine with Jay Buchsbaum Host: Menachem Lubinsky Guest: Jay Buchsbaum, Executive Vice President, Royal Wine Corp. (Kedem, Herzog) and widely regarded as the foremost expert on kosher wine Episode Description Alcohol consumption in America just hit a historic low — yet kosher wine sales are climbing. On this episode of Kosher Today , host Menachem Lubinsky sits down with Jay Buchsbaum to unpack why the kosher wine industry is bucking the national trend, even amid rising antisemitism, war in the Middle East, and a shrinking secular Jewish population. From the mashgichim who shadow European harvests grape by grape, to the surprising number of non-Jewish shoppers buying Bartenura Moscato and Kedem grape juice by the case, Jay offers a rare inside look at how kosher wine became a genuine culinary category rather than just a Kiddush staple. What They Discuss A shrinking market, a growing niche — U.S. per-capita wine consumption fell for the first time on record, driven by a 2023 WHO-backed study labeling alcohol a carcinogen, the legalization of marijuana, and the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Kosher wine sales, however, are still ticking up. Why observant Jewish life protects the category — Kiddush, Shabbos, weddings, and brissim keep kosher wine embedded in weekly ritual, and Jay points to a growing Orthodox share of the Jewish community and "cross-fertilization" with secular relatives as tailwinds. The J-curve — a statistical case that moderate wine drinking may still carry heart benefits, even as public health guidance has shifted. Sourcing from 17+ countries — including Argentina, Hungary, Italy, France, Australia, and New Zealand. Notably absent: Germany, out of sensitivity from the Herzog family's history. Why top European chateaux are finally saying yes — as their traditional markets soften, prestige wineries in Bordeaux and beyond are now producing kosher runs they once refused to make. What it actually takes to make wine kosher — unlike food certification, kosher wine requires observant supervision at every step from harvest to sealed bottle. Royal Wine fields more than 30 mashgichim across Europe, led by Menachem Izrailevich, their Paris-based "galloping kosher winemaker." Flash pasteurization vs. flash détente — the modern processes that replaced old-style boiling, and why Jay says they don't compromise quality. The Israeli wine boom — from the first standout Carmel Cabernet in the mid-1970s to today's 350+ wineries (39 represented by the Israel Wine Producers Association), and how Barkan, Carmel, and Teperberg lead the market. Buying Israeli wine as an act of solidarity — and Jay's caution that support alone won't sustain the category if quality and pricing don't keep pace, especially with a weakening shekel. The crossover phenomenon — Jay estimates roughly 70–90% of Bartenura Moscato drinkers aren't Jewish, and a significant share of Kedem grape juice at Costco goes home with non-Jewish shoppers. What's next — Jay's vision for kosher wine and food (think Sabra hummus, Toscanini) to break out the way the bagel did, becoming mainstream favorites rather than a niche category. Notable Moment Jay closes with a story about handing skeptics a bottle of Herzog Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet: proof, he says, that great kosher wine can change minds about what keeping Shabbos and kashrus actually looks like. About the Guest Jay Buchsbaum has spent his career building the kosher wine and food industry, working closely with wineries across the globe to grow Kedem, Herzog, and the broader Royal Wine portfolio. Outside of wine, he works as a strategic marketer advising businesses on growth, expansion, and M&A. About the Host For Menachem Lubinsky and Lubicom Marketing and Business Consulting Call 718.854.4450 or e-mail mlubinsky@lubicom.com This show was Produced and edited by thepodwaves.com Kosher Today is available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe for more conversations on the people and trends shaping the kosher food and beverage world.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #1

  Kosher Today - Jay Buchsbaum

  Jul 15, 202635 minS2

  <h1>Kosher Today, Episode 16: The State of Kosher Wine with Jay Buchsbaum</h1><p><b>Host:</b> Menachem Lubinsky <b>Guest:</b> Jay Buchsbaum, Executive Vice President, Royal Wine Corp. (Kedem, Herzog) and widely regarded as the foremost expert on kosher wine</p><p><b><br/>Episode Description</b></p><p>Alcohol consumption in America just hit a historic low — yet kosher wine sales are climbing. On this episode of Kosher Today, host Menachem Lubinsky sits down with Jay Buchsbaum to unpack why the kosher wine industry is bucking the national trend, even amid rising antisemitism, war in the Middle Ea...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Kosher Today. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.