Ask the Rabbi Title tzedakah Question Back in June there were two letters posted in certain shuls from the vaad not to give to people collecting without a certificate from the vaad. Is this still the vaads position? If so why are the local rabbanon not enforcing it in their shuls? Shouldn't all the local shuls have the letters posted? I respect and comply with the vaads request but i feel very guilty not giving even a shevah prutah to a yid who puts out his/her hand. Please advise thank you Answered by: Rabbi Schwartz Dear Mr. Englard, Thank you for your question. 1. To quote the letter that was posted, "We ask the community to please participate...when approached by a solicitor, please request for him/her to present their Vaad Hatzedakos certificate." We do ask for participation, but in no way do we demand that you deny anyone even a "shava prutah". Of course each person should exercise at their own discretion. 2. All shuls were sent this letter. Although most of the Rabonim in Queens are behind this project and encourage it, old habits do die hard. It takes time for something of this magnitude to take root among the public and amongst the Baalei Batim. Please continue to request a teudah. Almost all of the collectors who have come to us have said that the system allows them to collect more as it keeps out the non-legitimate causes. With Best Wishes, Rabbi Chaim Schwartz Return. Question of the Week pet food Question I have heared that pet foods may require hashgacha. Is this true? why must animals eat kosher? Answer Halacha recognizes two types of forbidden substances. Isurei Achilah, forbidden food from which benefit may be derived so long as they are not eaten and Isurei Hanaah, substances from which we may not benefit in any way. Nearly all pet food contains non-kosher animal proteins. However, it is important to note that while it is certainly forbidden to prepare or serve these pet foods with kosher utensils, one is permitted to feed them to his animals. Check the ingredients! Many pet foods contain beef protein as well as a milk derivative such as casein, rendering the mixture Bassar V'Cholov, a classic example of Isurei Hanaah, which we may not feed to our animals.It should be noted that chicken protein combined with a milk derivative is Bassar V'cholov Derabanan-which is not considered Isurei Hanaah and may therefore be fed to Jewish-owned animals. Most pet foods contain Chometz, another example of Isurei Hanaah. They should not remain in Jewish possession during Pesach.Due to the complexity of the many ingredients one should not rely upon a reading of the ingredient panel or an inquiry with the company to detirmin if a given pet food contains chometz. For year-round use I cannot say that hashgacha is a requirement-provided that the ingredients are checked for Bassar V'cholov. However, the use of an approved product will certianly rule out the danger of unwittingly purchasing a Bassar V'chalav product (the lables are quite similar) and benefiting from it-an Issur D'oraysoh. Evanger's brand of dog and cat foods is approved for pets by the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Though it is not kosher,the CRC certifies that it is free of Bassar V'chalav and Chametz.