Dear Parents,

1. URGENT:

   If your Mishloach Manot contained Pennysticks Brand Stick Pretzels please be aware that it was inadvertently purchased and is not pas Yisroel.

   We wish to thank the PTA Presidents, Mesdames Fish and Feig, for all their hard work and dedication creating the amazing Purim Mishloach Manot. We thank them and the volunteer parents for spending much time packing them.

2. We are creating a postcard to advertise our school. A photographer will be coming to The Hebrew Academy on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, and Wednesday, March 19, 2014, to photograph some of the children for the postcard. Should you wish your child/ren not to be on the postcard please contact the office by Monday, March 17, 2014 or contact Diane at (845) 634-0951

Please make sure your child is wearing clean clothes and in accord with the dress code.

Wishing you a most joyous Purim!

Please see the below for Kosher Information.

The following is a list of recommended Kosher Supervisory Agencies, whose products generally are acceptable for class celebrations, snacks, lunch etc. Today there are well over 100 Kashrut symbols that identify the Kosher Supervisory Agency that supervises the product. To keep things simple, we have limited the list to the following main companies:

1. The O-U
2. The O-K
3. The Chof-K
4. The Star-K
5. The KAJ

Please note that for celebrations in school, we use only milk products that are Chalav Yisrael.

Unless clearly marked as Chalav Yisrael, products under the supervision of the O-U, O-K, Chof-K, and Star-K usually are not Chalav Yisrael. Beware when there is a letter ‘D’ beside the kosher symbol – it is only permissible for school if it is also stated ‘Cholov Yisroel’.

Food packaging bearing a K only is insufficient: according to New York state law, anyone, Jewish or not, can put a K on their products, even without Rabbinical supervision! One must know who is ‘behind’ the K, and whether they are a certified, reliable kosher supervisory agency.

Foods without the original packaging is not acceptable.

Baked Products:

Baked products, for example cakes, cookies and pretzels must be labeled Pas Yisroel. Many products under the O-U such as Stella Dora are not Pas Yisroel and are therefore unacceptable to be brought into school. When in doubt, call the school.

Baked products may be purchased from the following bakeries:

• Zishe’s Bakery – Rt. 306, Monsey
• Frank’s Bakery – 51 Rt. 306, Monsey
• Glauber’s Bakery (behind Hatzlocho) on Maple Avenue
• Gruenbaums Bakery - Washington Heights (products may be sold in Wesley Kosher or Monsey Glatt (behind Jerusalem Pizza)
• Taam Eden Bakery – New Square
• Brill Bakery – Rt. 45
• Bakery in Rockland Kosher Supermarket

Ice Cream Cakes can be purchased from Oh Nuts! and Rockland Kosher Supermarket

PRODUCTS BY:

• Paskesz
• Liebers
• Gefen
• Kemach
• Kedem
• Kitov
• Beigels
• Yerushalaim Baked Goods (available in Costco)

Dear Parents,

Please be aware that all foods brought in to school for parties or situations where the food will be shared with other children in the class or school MUST conform with guidelines stated in the attached Kosher List. In addition, ALL FOODS MUST be shown to either Rabbi Kotlarsky or Mrs. Perline BEFORE being brought in to class.