Gebrokts Unpacked: Origins of the Minhag and its Applications

Welcome to the very first episode of Keeping It Kosher, where Rabbi Ezra Sarna takes us behind the scenes of the kosher world. This week, we are sitting down in the OU Kitchen with Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of OU Kosher—who oversees the certification of approximately 15,000 plants in 105 countries—to discuss the fascinating halachos, history, and modern realities of gebrokts.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Halachic Origins: What “gebrokts” actually means, where the minhag comes from, and the counter-arguments.
• Practical Scenarios: How to navigate a situation where one family member eats gebrokts and the other doesn’t.
• The 7 vs. 8 Days?: Why people in Chutz Laaretz (the Diaspora) are so machmir to keep gebrokts for seven days, but then stop for the eighth day.
• How the OU Prepares for Pesach: What the Pesach season actually looks like inside the OU. We discuss how they handle the crazy volume on the phone lines, and reveal the most common questions asked every year.

Whether you are navigating different family customs this Yom Tov or just want to understand the issue a little better, this episode provides practical clarity for your Pesach table.

Listen, Rate, and Subscribe! Got a question you want us to ask an OU expert? Let us know in the comments, reviews, or email us at KeepingItKosher@ou.org. Learn more at keepingitkosher.org.

Submit your kashrus questions to the OU Kosher Hotline at Kosherq@ou.org or 212-613-8241.