Kashruth Alert: Not All Vodkas are Created Equal The kosher consumer, quite conscien- tious about kosher supervision, has been drinking vodka without Rabbinical supervision - unaware of its non-kosher potential. A "Kosher" product must meet all the requirements of strict Jewish law; all the ingredients must be kosher, including flavors, stabi- lizers, enzymes, etc- and it must be produced on kosher or "kashered" equipment. Although vodka is made of natural ingredients such as grains or potatoes, consumers have no way of knowing if additives are used to process the vodka's consistency, color or flavor. Some brands of vodka can be considered non- kosher. Many domestic vodka distilleries produce a va- riety of non-kosher spirits, in addition to vodka, using the same equipment. Until recently, sophisticated "kosher" consumers - so careful about everything they eat or drink - continued to buy vodka that did not meet recognized and responsible kosher certification. This issue has recently been addressed by The Finnish National Distillers, a wholly owned subsid- iary of ALKO, Ltd., producers of Finlandia Vodka. Determined to meet the sincere and real needs of consumers who were interested in the integrity of the (L-R) Chester Brandes, president of the Finnish National Distillers and Rabbi Moshe Bernstein, administrative coordina- tor of the Orthodox Union. Stock Exchange Takes Plunge Liquor store in Israel prominently displaying Finlandia Vodka, the brand that was chosen number one by 'mavens' in a vodka taste test. kashruth of all they pur- ultra modern plants chased, ALKO garnered where production of the international resources Finlandia Vodka takes of the Orthodox Union place. In conversation, (OU)- the country's most he makes numerous ref- respected kosher supervis- erences to the sincere re- ing organization - to assure spect everyone at ALKO all that Finlandia evinced in meeting his Vodka has met the Rabbinic requests to- strictest standards wards kashruth stan- by acquiring OU dards- from equipment to certification. enzyme formulations. Rabbi Chaim Fortunately, kosher Goldsweig, a Rab- consumer's standards - binic Coordinator need not be short- on international call changed. Companies for the OU, logged such as Finlandia Vodka considerable fre- have gone to the top of quent flier miles in the world to obtain the his multiple trips to highest kosher standards Helsinki and the - all one has to do is ask... Advertisement ROOTS Celebrate our RE-OPENING! OFF C.1) LU j / Mention this ad and get a Free Glaze (with min. $500 body work) MAXIECollision, Inc. 737-7122 \ Monday, March 1 G2 32581 Northwestern Highway,.Farmington 36 Month Paint Performance Guarantee Hills STATE FARM INSURANCE AT LU C.) CC F- LU Reg. Price Me ch. Collision Work ■ Theft Repair Unibody Repair ■ Industry Trained ■ Custom Paint (Si Colors Insurance Work ■ Minor/Major ■ All Makes & Models MA81LY1NJ. GOLD-AGENCY "I believe in personalized service" LU Roots 138 West Maple Ave., Birmingham • 647-6687 • AUTO • HEALTH • HOME • COMMERCIAL • LIFE • IRAs • BUSINESS' STATE FARM VI / 40) INSURANCE . 353.1400 26561 W. 12 Mile Road, Suite 203, Southfield, MI 48034 Jerusalem (JTA) — The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange took a plunge last week, with the leading share index going down 4 percent in a day of hectic trading. The slump follows a week of nervous ups and downs, which traders explained as being the result of negative statements by public offi- cials and reaction to declines on Wall Street. Earlier in the week, Jacob Frenkel, governor of the Bank of Israel, and Finance Minister Avraham Shohat cautioned. Israelis about overinvesting in the stock exchange, warning that the market was liable to- drop. Mr. Frenkel referred to the recent stock exchange buoyancy as "a bubble," and Mr. • Shohat pointed out that the exchange was "not an insurance policy." The slump was also linked to initial declines on Wall Street after U.S. President Clinton announced his new economic program. Although the New York slippage eventually halted, Israeli shares traded on Wall Street fell heavily.. A third cause of the Tel Aviv slump, according to brokers and traders, was a statement made by retired Supreme Court Justice Moshe Beisky in which he accused mutual fund direc- tors of manipulating share prices. Many Israelis who do not invest directly in the market put money into mutual funds, usually via their bank branch. Each bank naturally promotes its own funds. Mr. Beisky headed a com- mission that examined the Israeli money markets following the stock market crash in 1982. At the time, bank shares collapsed and the government was forced, in effect, to bail out the banks using taxpayers' money. •The former 'Justice 'main- tained that the central rec- ommendations of his com- mission were never implemented. Most specifically, Beisky urged that banks not be permitted to promote their own 'funds by offering incentives, such as giving customers ge- nerous credit in order to in- - vest in the funds. Mr. Beisky claims the banks 'are still far too closely linked to the stock market through their running of mutual funds.