Parents Outraged After Kashrus Standards Quietly Lowered at Oholei Torah Summer Program
Without prior notice to parents, Yeshivas Kayitz of Oholei Torah known as YKP, has made a quiet but troubling change: serving meat under the controversial “Lamed-K” Hechsher — a standard not accepted by many families who rely on Oholei Torah’s well-known commitment to the CHK standard year-round • Full Article
During the school year, Oholei Torah in Crown Heights maintains a policy of exclusively serving food under the CHK hechsher, the Kashrus certification trusted by the community it serves. But now, with students away from home in a mandatory summer program, that standard has been quietly lowered — without informing parents beforehand and after full tuition payments were collected.
This abrupt shift has raised serious concerns for many families who feel blindsided, and rightly so. It raises the question: why were parents not told in advance? And more critically — why was this decision made at all?
No Transparency, No Choice
Oholei Torah’s Yeshivas Kayitz is not an optional summer camp. For many talmidim, attendance is even required as part of the full yeshiva experience. Families enrolled their sons under the assumption that the food would reflect the same Kashrus standards they committed to all year. Changing the standard mid-course, without prior notification, strips parents of the ability to make informed decisions about their children’s food.
If this was a temporary necessity due to unforeseen logistics, why wasn’t that clearly communicated beforehand? Instead, we are being told after the fact — when it’s too late to act.
The Official Response Falls Short
In a message, Rabbi Blau explained that although they strive for CHK, the realities of running an out-of-town kitchen make it “not always practical.” He adds that “most” of the meat is CHK, and that they are using other so called “Lubavitch shechitos” only when needed. He assures that options exist for boys with “stricter preferences.”
But that raises serious issues:
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Why are the boys — many as young as 13 — being asked to self-advocate for standards that should never have been compromised to begin with? Putting a child in the position of having to ask for special treatment or feel “different” is unfair and inappropriate.
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If the CHK is available at all, why not simply serve it to everyone — as has always been done? The claim that CHK is “available for those who ask” undermines the argument that logistics were the issue in the first place.
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Since when is the standard of “other Lubavitch shechitos” equal to what parents expect from CHK — especially when the change is unannounced? This sudden shift, with no transparency, understandably leads to skepticism about the overall Kashrus standards being upheld, which includes Cholov Yisrael.
This Is About Trust
Parents entrusted Oholei Torah with their sons — spiritually and physically. When standards are lowered quietly, and only justified after objections arise, that trust is shaken.
This isn’t just about a Hechsher. It’s about transparency, accountability, and the responsibility a Mosad has to its families. Our standards should never be lowered because “it’s camp.” And certainly not without full disclosure.
We urge the leadership of Oholei Torah and the Yeshivas Kayitz to immediately restore full transparency to their Kashrus policies, return to the full CHK standard, and — most importantly — reaffirm their commitment to the expectations of the community they serve.
Anything less sets a deeply troubling precedent.
Rabbi Blau’s full response to staff (not to this article):
Please allow me to clarify:
At Yeshivas Kayitz, we are fully committed to maintaining high Kashrus standards — in line with Halacha and in the spirit of what Lubavitcher mosdos stand for. As such, we exclusively serve Lubavitch shechita.
In Crown Heights, we are absolutely committed to serving only CHK meat and dairy, regardless of availability or cost. However, when operating in out-of-town locations — such as our camp in Lakewood, Pennsylvania — it is not always practical to exclusively serve CHK. Fewer food distributors service our area, and those that do operate on a much stricter schedule and at significantly higher cost.
As such, while we strive to bring in CHK as much as possible (and most of our meat this summer is indeed CHK), we also rely — when necessary — on other trusted Lubavitch shechitos based on availability and logistics.
Similarly, All dairy products are strictly Cholov Yisroel and held to high standards, including products under reputable hechsherim such as the Vaad HaKashrus of Baltimore and brands like HaOlam.
This approach is similar to what a parent would expect when sending their child to CGI Montreal, to a mesivta in Brunoy, or to any other out-of-town Lubavitch yeshiva — where CHK may not be used, but the standards remain authentically Lubavitch.
I’ll also add that our kitchen always prepares additional options for boys who are particular, or have stricter preferences and food needs be it gashmiyus or ruchnius, Additionally, we have a designated space for talmidim with food sensitivities to prepare something independently if needed. (As a large yeshivas kayitz we have some talmidim, that dont eat chicken unless it is split, or dont eat turkey, or dont eat any meat products even under the CHK etc…Begashmiyus we have many talmidim that are gluten free, or other food allergies and sensitivities etc.. we try our best to be as accommodating as possible).
If you have any further questions or concerns, I’d be more than happy to speak directly.
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what about the crc milk that was served for close to 2 weeks, even after many complaints where voiced.
OT YKP served the boys לk and a lot of parents are upset
that’s why every camp and yeshiva should be under a recognized hashgacha. otherwise, it’s obvious they will buy whatever is cheaper.Besides the kashrus questions that come up all the time on a commercial kitchen
the David Elliott poultry farm is 44 mi away from camp
As much as we would like everything to be CHK, and of course in CH we expect nothing less, I would agree with Rabbi Blau on this. I’m old enough to remember that when Reb Zalman Shimon made the case against buying satmar products, Kedem, Shufra etc., he clearly stated that this was only for CH where there were alternatives and did not apply to shluchim in ערי השדה. He was unwilling to put those chumras even on Shluchim who at the time were as outraged as every member of CH at what was going on.
CGI chayolei serves exclusively chk, there are the same logistical concerns yet they make it work. Thank you r yossi Langsam and chayolei admin
is lamed Kay a lower standard than chk?
Would Mr. Blau eat these products in his house?
“If you have any further questions or concerns, I’d be more than happy to speak directly.”
Az s’tut vey, shreit min!!!!!!
Lk was instituted to fight(make an alternative to) CHK, why would anyone be ok with that
That comment about Rabbi Dworkin’s 80s on Satmar hechsherim being only for Crown Heights specific if true,and not for the rest of the USA, that probably made sense when finding kosher food nationwide was a real struggle.
But today, with kosher stores in major cities, supermarkets chains carrying kosher items that would listen if told to bring CHK meats and better supervised products, UPS, Amazon, overnight shipping, meat websites etc, if you want kosher, you can get it anywhere at the highest level.
The real problem, though, runs deeper. When CHK pulled out of Agri, Agri simply created its own supervision, clearly designed to cut costs and avoid stricter CHK oversight. And what’s truly concerning is that some “camps” and others are buying from them.
This reflects a troubling trend: the fierce competition between hechsherim is forcing many to become more lenient, fearing businesses will simply jump to the next agency that allows them to do what they want.
This race to the bottom lowers kashrus standards across the board.
That’s precisely the reason why we must support CHK. They are striving to maintain high standards, refusing to fall for these pervasive leniencies.
For communal institutions, especially camps, it’s not just about preference; it’s about upholding the highest possible standard to include everyone. We need to help ensure such hechsherim can continue to operate with integrity. Honestly all camps and schools should have CHK supervision.
It can be understood that the camp decides to accept a general standard and prefers not to be subservient to a specific hechsher.
In this case, this is very different:
1. Because the camp is an extension of the school, it is assumed they follow the same standards as in the school.
2. Because the camp is mandatory for students, and accepts only students from the school, it is considered an extension of the school. There’s no reason to make a distinction between the standards at the school and the standards at the camp. Would it make sense to change the standards when going away for a Shabbaton? That would be ridiculous.
3. The bigger issue here is the fact that the wool was pulled over the eyes of parents. Transparency is the key for success. I don’t think any parents in their right mind would think that the standards have changed simply because they moved in the summer to camp. It’s unfair to change standards without communicating.
4. What is the most relevant over here is the fact that in contrast to other certifications, the particular certification they decided to serve is one that has been outright forbidden by the local beis din. Who in their right mind would serve students who primarily come from a particular community with food which is deemed unacceptable (more correctly, unkosher) in the eyes of the local rabbinate where the students come from?
5. This pits students against the school. I am sure that if the students would call their local rabbis in CH they would be told not to eat the food. Why would they create this conflict unnecessarily?
Not to be subservient to a specific hechsher? to have an hechsher means to be subservient or to have integrity and values and not to put themselves in a nisayon position like in this case either by pricing, not being organized on time etc?
Im sorry but everyone should have the CHK and this problem creates a good opportunity. It would be the best idea to clear up the situation.
It’s truly insane the way they lie about the “accessible CHK to those who want”. This is totally not true we are all forced to eat this horrid LK not Badatz Crown Heights approved hechsher, or not have any meat for the rest of the summer! If parents don’t make a true tumult about this NOW then this can spread to during the year even in crown heights!!! OT must be held accountable for this grave travesty!!!