I posted a few months ago about the discrepancy of kashrut agencies when requiring a hecksher for sake. I finally got around to emailing the cRc a few days ago to see why they required a hecksher. After an initial response which said nothing at all, I got a response which said next to nothing:

That was determined by info we received a few years ago, but it happens that we are in the process of reviewing that again, and it may change.

Well I guess that’s something. Sorta. I’ve decided (with the backing of my local rabbi and the star-k), that I do not personally require a hecksher on sake for the basic reason that it’s beer made from rice. This is a good thing too because I stopped into a Japanese grocery store last week looking for sake. They had a very large selection, including the two kosher brands I’ve seen. I asked the lady behind the counter for assistance, and while she barely spoke any English (which, IMO, only makes her that much more qualified to express an opinion on sake), she informed me that those two brands were pretty much the bottom of the barrel. Her non-heckshered recommendation was simply delicious.

Things I learned today:

1. The phrase “Abra Cadabra” (uttered by cheap magicians everywhere) is derived from Aramaic.
2. Dr. Ruth, the 4″7 sex therapist, used to be an Israeli sniper.
3. This 4 bedroom house in Georgetown selling for $375K is a typo.