The Vaad Hakashrus of Northern California , also known as Northern California Kosher, is a community service organization whose mission is the maintenance of a high level of Kosher quality supervision. The word "Vaad" in Hebrew means association. It is composed of Rabbinic and lay leaders providing kosher certification, supervision, and inspection for caterers, wholesale and retail food vendors, and food production companies in Northern California .
Currently the VAAD supervises 17 eating establishments, 22 food production facilities, 8 caterers who are always kosher, and has supervised over 120 events with over 40 different caterers, who are kosher upon demand. (A complete directory is available upon request)
Formed along the lines of similar organizations in Jewish communities throughout the world, the Vaad was founded in the winter of 1996 after discussions for several years regarding the need for improved kosher standards in Northern California .
The Vaad Standards equal, or exceed, those set for the kashrus world by the OU, the OK, and other leading kosher certification agencies. Consumers eating in VAAD establishments, or partaking of VAAD certified kosher foods, can be assured of standards that would be acceptable in any major kosher center around the world, be it New York, Los Angeles, or Jerusalem. Likewise, tourists from all over the world who come to see the wonders of Northern California, also feel comfortable, knowing that they can enjoy standards equal to what they have back home.
Because the VAAD is the major local, regional kashrus agency for Northern California it provides several benefits to local companies and community alike. 1) Cost is minimized, since all the Rabbis are local. 2) Communication is easy and many times several rabbis can be available. 3) Familiarity with the territory is assured, both in terms of geography, but politically, and economically as well. 4) Breadth of knowledge and input is provided from the various resources in the community and beyond.
The Rabbinic Administrator of the VAAD is Rabbi Levy Zirkind, Executive Director of Chabad of Fresno.He has been immersed in issues of kosher supervision for the last twelve years, and is respected nationally for his work by the OU, OK, Star-K, KSA and other national kosher supervision agencies. He received rabbinical ordination from Tomchei Tmimmim Lubavitch, in New York City, and is a member of Agudas Harabbonim of the USA and Canada .
The Supervision Coordinator, Ben-Tzion Welton, one of the founders of the VAAD has worked for several of the national kosher supervision agencies for over 13 years. (OU, OK, KOF-K, KSA, etc) He has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from City College of New York and Rabbinical ordination from Ayshel Avraham Rabbinical Seminary, in Monsey , New York .
The other rabbis on the Executive Board of the VAAD, and those supporting the VAAD,,are from kosher-observant institutions throughout Northern California . Together, they give the Vaad the strong community base in seeking the highest level of kosher supervision. These include:
Rabbi Yitzchak Feldman, Rabbi of Congregation Emek Braca, in Palo Alto , CA
Rabbi Hillel Scop, Director, Chabad of Southern Marin, Mill Valley , CA
Rabbi Noach Vogel, OU Representative and Director of the Almaden Torah Center , S. Jose, CA
Rabbi Shlomo Zarchi, Rabbi of Congregation Chevra Thillim, S. Francisco