Posted on 12/30/25
Baltimore, MD - Dec. 30, 2025 - When I walked into the STAR-K conference room on Wednesday, December 24, it resembled more of a party than a shiur. An array of colorful cans of soda and candy was scattered on the conference table. The 45 girls from Mexico and Panama, who happily chatted in Spanish while awaiting their customized presentation by STAR-K Kashrus Administrators Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and Rabbi Tzvi Rosen, are campers at the Yeshivas Ner Yisroel-based kiruv camp, Or Haner. It was founded in 1986 by Moshe Filler, z”l, a Ner Yisroel talmid and native of Mexico; today, the camp run by Rabbi Isaac Neuman.
The girls, together with their counselors, were very engaged in the interactive shiur, as Rabbi Goldberg showed a video of how STAR-K-certified Sour Punch Twists are manufactured and Rabbi Rosen explained how various chocolate products are processed.
Head Couselor of Or Haner’s girls’ division, Mrs. Shira Benhamu, shares, “We try to give these girls sparks of everything: chesed, fun, shiurim, a lot of music, a lot of simchas hachaim.”
For the 34 Panamanian and 11 Mexican campers, rising tenth graders who are on their “summer” vacation, STAR-K headquarters was just one unexpected stop of their 2-week Or Haner experience.
“There is a surprise trip every day,” notes Mrs. Benhamu. “So far, the girls have visited Mrs. Yaakov (Jenine) Shwekey’s Special Children’s Center in the Five Towns, attended a Bracha Jaffe concert, had a Q & A session with Rabbi Joey Haber at his home, and went to the water park at the American Dream Mall on Girls’ Night.
“I chose STAR-K as a stop because the girls are curious and want to learn more about kashrut, as you can see from the questions they asked the rabbis. Things like, ‘Can you drink coffee in any non-kosher coffee shop?’ ‘Which Slurpee flavors are kosher?’ ‘Why can’t you chew just any gum?’ When they understand how products are manufactured - when it makes sense to them - they don’t see kashrut as a burden. It makes them want to keep kosher with pride.”
The campers’ enthusiasm for learning was obvious from the several questions they asked the rabbis, and their sentiments expressed before they left for their next stop.
Margie Azran noted, “They explained the answers to our questions very clearly, so they were easy to understand.” Adela Saba concurs, adding, “I loved coming here and specifically talking about the topic of kashrut.”
Rina Shatah mentions, “I really liked this shiur because we each had different questions that no one could answer. For me, it’s important to know the laws of kashrut…Many people respect the laws, but they might have thought if something has certain ingredients the product is kosher – but no, it doesn’t work like that. Both rabbis explained this really well.”
Linda Tawachi remarks, “I really loved this experience because we explored everything about kashrut and we got to know the amazing STAR-K…Things we doubted for a long time, we finally got to know the answers to. And, by listening to each other’s questions we got to learn.”
Deborah Harari adds, “I got to learn about the different manufacturing processes – what is and is not kosher. I also really loved that we could ask a lot of questions. Learning about the process of making chocolate was also a lot of fun.”
Esther Ashkenazi concludes, “I loved to learn how they make the candy -- and how they explained it to us. The rabbis were so comprehensive, and they answered our questions about everything. I learned something new…that was very cool!”
“We are delighted that the camp keeps coming back for a Kashrus discussion year after year,” says Rabbi Goldberg. “They always show great interest, and it is a tribute to the good chinuch they receive in Panama and Mexico.”
Rabbi Rosen is equally amazed by these students. “I found the young ladies mature, inquisitive, engaged and serious about their Yiddishkeit. They were a most impressive group.”
