Rabbi Mordechai Leib Cofnas Z'L had been involved in Kosher certification for over 25 years. North West Kosher (NWK) was established in 2012 when Rabbi Cofnas relocated to Manchester on his retirement after serving as Rav of Liverpool Kashrus Commission and of the Liverpool Jewish Community for over 30 yrs. North West Kosher operates in conjunction and under the direction of the world renowned MK Kosher certification of the Manchester Beth Din.

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Following the guidelines laid down by the revered Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss ztl Av Beis Din of the Manchester Beis Din (1950 - 1970) and afterwards Av Beis Din of the Eida Hachareidis Jerusalem (1979-1989) the Manchester Beis Din does not grant Kosher certification to retail products containing Cholov Akum (Unsupervised milk) Avkas Cholov Akum (Unsupervised milk powder) or retail products produced on the aforementioned production lines.

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Whilst there are many Poskim (Expert Halachists) who do allow these ingredients in products in the first instance Dayan Yehudah Osher Steiner of the Manchester Beis Din & Rav Hamachshir of Manchester Kashrus MK continues to uphold the decisions of Dayan Weisz ztl in not granting such certification.

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In order therefore to facilitate the needs of many companies who use unsupervised milk & milk powder in their products as well as for parev products produced on milky lines the NWK certification is employed.

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There are also occasions, from time to time, where an issue arises with a product, and we wish to bring it to the consumer’s attention. For example, if a company make pancakes that contain onions that have been through Linas Layla (being left overnight without salt or oil). Although there are some reasons to be lenient, especially as it’s made in an industrial setting, still we realise that some consumers would wish to be strict, and therefore we  would place the NWK symbol on the packaging.

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Following the untimely passing of Rabbi Cofnas z'l North West Kosher has appointed Rabbi Reuven Chevins as it's Rav Hamachshir. 

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Rabbi Chevins studied at Hasmonean High School and Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah (Rav Zvi Kushelevsky), and received Semicha from Rabbi Zalman Nechemya Goldberg z’l and Rabbi Kolitz (who was then Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem). He worked in various positions in education for over fifteen years – taught Kodesh in JFS High School, did outreach at the JLE, and taught and mentored at the Boys Clubhouse.

 

Rabbi Chevins has now been involved in Kashrus for over ten years.

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NWK, which is fully administered by the Manchester Beis Din, is of the highest standard of Kashrus and is proud to certify some of the largest brands of food production.

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