Kosher Foods

Three years ago, Eli Malol, a 27-year-old Encino real estate agent, decided to start keeping kosher. Consequently, McDonald's, Carl's Jr. and the rest of America's fast-food standbys were off limits. If Malol wanted a burger, he would make it himself at home. Then several months ago, a friend called Malol from his car. Did he know about the glatt kosher place at Ventura Boulevard and Woodman in Sherman Oaks?

The controversial Emes kosher meat store has reopened its doors, but owner Semion Rachshtut says that customers who once clamored for beef and poultry are staying away in droves despite a maverick rabbi's blessing. After a two-month layoff forced by the alleged discovery in his dumpster of an empty poultry box from a non-kosher supplier, Rachshtut went back into business three weeks ago at the shop on South La Cienega Boulevard near the Fairfax District.

Please tell Larry Smith that if he's looking for a choir director to teach his team the Michigan Fight Song, I would be happy to accept the position at no charge. However, I can't start the job until Jan. 2. JOHN ELG (USC '78), Choir Director, Mission Viejo High

The bread is unleavened, but the price can be anything but kosher. As Jewish households prepare for the Passover holiday, grocery shoppers are finding some very unholy news at checkout stands: The price of matzo has risen in some cities across the country. A five-pound package of the wafer-like crackers is selling for as much as $13 in stores from Los Angeles to Denver to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Back in 1989 when Noah Alper opened his first Noah's New York Bagels shop in Berkeley, he decided to keep things strictly kosher. Now, to the chagrin of many kosher Jews, the chain, which Alper sold in 1996, has gone treif. In other words, Noah's is no longer kosher.

The city of Los Angeles and local Jewish organizations worked out an agreement to resume a kosher meals program for senior citizens on the Westside and in the San Fernando Valley that was cut off in February after the previous caterer failed to meet health standards. Leaders of Jewish groups said Monday that they would come up with extra money for the program, which relies on federal funds but must be supplemented by private donations because of the cost of kosher meat.

Take note of that oily film floating on the surface of your plastic foam cup of coffee. It represents the cutting edge of American Jewish-Muslim cooperation. So do plastic ketchup bottles and even steel food containers. The reason is animal fat. Specifically, it's the tallow-derived oils used in the manufacturing of those items.

Behind a spotless glass counter, owner Moshe Zelig wraps meat for customers at his Orange County Kosher Market, doing swift business this week as Jews from Orange County and beyond stock up before the High Holidays that begin Friday with Rosh Hashana.

B. Manischewitz Co., a leading matzo maker, has agreed to be acquired by the Los Angeles investment firm of Levine, Tessler, Leichtman & Co. Arthur E. Levine said Thursday that his firm agreed to pay $40.5 million, or $762.75 a share, for the Jersey City, N.J., company. Besides matzot, the firm produces other kosher baked goods and soups, and licenses its name to a wine maker.