Hashgacha
Question
Dear Rabbi, Based on the message regarding the indian restaurant, I would infer that you do not believe Rabbi Spivak is reliable. I know he is a controversial figure in terms of hashgacha (and, of course, is villified by the O-U, Star-K,etc.) but I have never seen any basis for doubting his religiosity and suspected that he was getting the Rabbi Ralbag treatment by his competitors. He is supposedly a Rosh Collel and appears all the time in the Jewish Press next to so-called gedolim and rashei yeshiva. Do you know that he isn't reliable, or are you just playing it safe out of doubt?
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiChas Veshalom! I have no idea who Rabbi Spivak is. I was responding to the person's specific question. I haven't got a clue. When I know something about a person claiming to be a Talmid Chacham, I shought it from the rooftops. I first say Leshem Yichud! I don't even think I have heard of him before. If he is an observant Jew, and he tells you how he lights the fires or whatever, he is to be trusted. He doesn't even need to be a Gaon. (I didn't say he's not a Gaon). AA