OKay

"Okay" is a very common word. Its first usage was on March 23, 1839 by C. G. Greene, editor of the Boston Morning Post, to abbreviate the facetiously misspelled "oll korrect." Recently, it is increasingly being used as a pause filler like 'eh,' or 'uh, as in "I flew into New York, okay, and then..."

"Okay" has many meanings. It can be an endorsing verb: "I'll okay this if..." and it can be a plain mediocre "so so," passable but not the best, i.e. a 'b' not 'a' rep ort card. It is voiced in different tones and inflections: Cheerfully as in "Okay, that's fine with me," or resigned, as in "Okay, I'll take out the garbage."

It can express admission, sort of plea-bargaining "Okay, I was the one who did it." Or, it can be virtually meaningless, as in "Stop okaying me.' It is obviously related to the frivolous "Oakey Dokey," but on a more sophisticated level, it represents a psychological analysis that you're not a mental problem, as in "I'm okay, you're okay."

Okay, okay, I'm not an expert etymologist who researches every odd word's past and current usage around the world. Let's leave this trivial word stuff to William Safire's NYT Magazine articulations, and get on to a different OK that is more relevant and important.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe writes (Hayom Yom) that regarding physical matters we should be appreciative of what we have by looking downward to see those who have less than we, while in spiritual matters we should look upwards and aspire to those on a higher level.

Kosher observance combines both worlds, adding a spiritual dimension to physical food. So instead of just saying okay, making do and being resigned to basic tuna and matzah, it is laudable that the Kosher industry has grown beyond the basics and now certifies top-of-the-line gourmet products and elegant restaurants.

We all try to be a little more Jewishly conscious now during the High Holidays. Often, people who weren't Kosher before try a fresh start to Kosherize their home or menu, so here's important information on Kosher certification that is more than just okay. The OK Kosher Laboratories symbol now appears on very many food staples that help make kosher observance so much easier. Since it's founding 70 years ago, OK has served the kosher consumer by meeting the highest Kosher standards, earning itself a sterling reputation for reliability, quality and integrity. It is one of the world's largest and most respected kosher certifying agencies, with a widely recognized Kosher symbol on thousands of products.

OK is in the vanguard of an evolving food and beverage industry. As food manufacturing becomes increasingly complex and hi-tech, this commitment has driven them to overcome the enormous challenges posed by mass production and computer-age technology. Under the leadership of the late Rabbi Berel L evy, O.K. Labs emerged as the trailblazer in setting standards for the entire industry and its technological diversity. OK literally goes to the ends of the earth to research the sources and origins of certain oils, even examining the holds of the transporting tanker ships.

Using its extensive knowledge of food technology, O.K. Labs has developed innovative and creative approaches helping America's companies introduce thousands of new kosher food products, setting the stage for the modern-day explosion in kosher food. O.K. Labs is headed by Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, an international authority on kosher, supported by a professional staff of rabbis, food technologists, chemical engineers and inspectors fully conversant with the intricacies of Jewish law and food production processes.

Organized Kosher Laboratories provides comprehensive service to its client companies, to resolve, when possible, all kosher-related production problems. To properly evaluate the kosher status of ingredients; and to handle kosher-related packaging and marketing issues, O.K. inspectors go around the world, including Asia and the Far East.

OK Labs exhibits at the annual Institute of Food Technologists show, the nation's largest show of ingredient food products, showcasing a growing number of certified kosher companies. "We are proud that many kosher exhibitors at the IFT are OK certified," said Rabbinic Coordinator Chaim Fogelman. "We exhibit at IFT to assist our companies, and also serve as a resource for the show's thousands of visitors who want to know more about kosher."