Kashruth Council of Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids COR |
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| Certifying agency | Kashruth Council of Canada |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Headquarters | 3200 Dufferin St, North York, ON M6A 3B2, Canada |
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The Kashruth Council of Canada, often called COR, is a group in Canada that checks if food is kosher. Kosher food follows special Jewish dietary laws. You might have seen the COR symbol on food labels. It means the food has been checked and is okay to eat according to these rules.
COR helps many places, like factories and restaurants. They work with about 1,000 different places. These places make over 70,000 products that Canadians buy. COR also has people called mashgichim (pronounced mash-GEE-cheem). These are experts who check the food. In 2014, about 70 mashgichim worked in local restaurants and catering. Another 30 mashgichim worked around the world, checking food factories.
COR also makes sure food is kosher at big places. These include the Rogers Centre, the Air Canada Centre, and the Toronto Zoo. In Toronto, COR checks 53 restaurants. They even have a special training program for their mashgichim. This program is approved by a college.
If people have questions about kosher food, COR can help. They answer questions by phone, email, text, and social media. For example, in April 2016, before the Passover holiday, they answered 10,000 questions!
How COR Started
COR began in November 1952. Before that, it was hard to find truly kosher meat in Toronto. There were no clear rules to make sure it was kosher. So, the Canadian Jewish Congress was asked to create a system. This system would make sure meat was properly kosher.
Forming the Rabbinical Board
In 1954, a group of rabbis was formed. It was called the "Vaad Hakashruth of the Canadian Jewish Congress of the Central Region." This group started with 12 rabbis. By 2017, it had grown to 26 members. In June 1956, the group changed its name. It became the Council of Orthodox Rabbis. This is where the short name "COR" comes from.
Protecting Kosher Practices
In the early 1960s, COR did something very important. They asked Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker for help. They wanted Shechita (pronounced shuh-KEE-tah) to be legal. Shechita is the Jewish way of preparing meat. COR succeeded, and Shechita became protected by Canadian law.
For many years, Rabbi Gedalia Felder led the Vaad Hakashruth. Later, in 2006, his son Rabbi Yacov Felder became the vice chairman. He then became the chairman, continuing his father's work.
See also
