I’ve started volunteering for Lighthouse Kosher in NYC
Here’s why you should too.
How kosher certification should be
A couple of month ago, I began volunteering to help organize a network of folks to support Lighthouse Kosher in NYC. Lighthouse K is a kosher certification agency led by Rabbi Barry Dolinger, the YU-ordained rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in Providence. Their business model is certainly unique:
- Their funding comes from the community rather than as a tax on restaurants (they don’t charge restaurants a fixed fee for kosher certification)
- They only certify vegetarian and vegan restaurants and food products
- Spot-checks are done by local volunteers
Nearly every time I describe this business model, the reaction is some form of, “Now that’s how kosher certification should be!”
Needless to say, a cadre of like-minded foodie friends have joined me in helping Lighthouse Kosher get off the ground in NYC with everything from restaurant spot-checks to reaching out to restaurants that might be interested in going kosher.
Lighthouse K goes above and beyond the traditional requirements of an Orthodox kosher certification agency:
They’re strict on food…
- The pilot light is lit by a member of the Lighthouse K staff
- Fruits and veggies are checked for bugs
- Cooking wines and wine vinegars are checked to make sure they’re certified kosher
- No outside food is allowed, both by patrons and staff
- Certifications expire before and renew after Pesach
… and they’re strict on ethics too:
- Chocolate and coffee products must be free of human trafficking
- Safe and sanitary working conditions are required for all staff
- There must be no evidence of human trafficking/forced labor
(They have a partnership with Uri L’Tzedek’s Tav HaYosher)
A potential conflict of interest… and an opportunity
There have been many occasions when restaurants have offered to cover the cost of my food, or to invite me to a special event with free food. While I’m not a traditional journalist or food critic by any means, I still prefer my posts to be as objective as possible. Restaurants’ lobbying for positive reviews by way of free goodies would get in the way of that goal, so I’ve always declined the freebies.
Those days are now in the past.
When I post about restaurants, I’m no longer neutral, so-to-speak. When I post restaurant updates or share photos from a recent meal, it’s important to me that folks know that I’m a volunteer for Lighthouse K, but not only because it’s a potential conflict of interest. My hope is that they—you—would be inspired to volunteer, donate (check out their Lighthouse Keepers campaign), or simply choose to eat at a restaurant that’s certified kosher by a mission-driven organization that values good food, sustainability, ethics, and community.
