JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Rita’s Ice of Jackson Township is under new ownership and officially reopened on Friday.
The restaurant will now be New Jersey’s first Kosher Cholov Yisroel Rita’s location. Rabbi Avi Schnall, the New Jersey Director of Agudath Israel of America spoke today on behalf of the new ownership of the take-out ice cream store. Rita’s in Jackson has always been Kosher, but now they are certified Kosher Cholov Yisroel.
“I think today is a symbolic day. It’s not just another Rita’s…it’s something that the Orthodox people will come and enjoy,” Schnall said. “It’s symbolic of the growth of the community of Jackson that there is a need for a Kosher Cholov ice cream store.”
The store is located on County Line Road across from Bagel King, a former Burger King restaurant that was turned into a Kosher bagel, breakfast and coffee shop.
What is the difference between OU-D and OU-D Cholov Yisroel?
Milk has Cholov Yisroel status when the milking and bottling is done under the supervision of a reliable Jewish person who ensures that the milk is only coming from a kosher animal. In general, the OU follows the opinion of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, and others, that government inspection of dairies is equivalent to a Mashgiach’s supervision, whereby the status of the milk from these dairies is halachically equivalent to that of Cholov Yisroel. Not all Poskim accept the position of Rav Moshe, and those who follow the more stringent opinion should only use OU products which are specifically labeled Cholov Yisroel, an indication that the milking and bottling were supervised by a Mashgiach.
