Jewish Scene
US rabbi aims to enhance kosher conditions
Associated Press
Published: 13.08.08, 07:19
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1. Inventing a new religion
Mike ,   Jerusalem   (08.13.08)
This poor misguided clergyman has clouded two issues here and is inventing a new religion. Kosher= is defined by the laws of the Shulchan Aruch, it has nothing to do with humanitarian issues. That is a whole separate area and yes we must abide by those laws but they have nothing to do with the Kashrus of a product. One can raise beef under the most humane, "green" and sanitary conditions and slaughter it in the most humane method and process it under the most humane conditions for the workers and it can still be not kosher!
2. A very moral rabbi
YOEL   (08.13.08)
Kashrut is something very complicate, and we need some rabbanim who look further, with good morality. I would like rabbanim to extend their checks even in China. Workers from China should get better salaries, as well as Shabbat, and everything linked to judaism... It's true that even in Israel, or what I know from France, people working in Kosher shops are not treated that good... In Judaism, we are also ordered not to forget we were slaves in Egypt. זכור כי עבד הייתם בארץ מצרים This is also a Mitzwa, and its observance contributes also to the "Kosher" of the products.
3. "Product prepared by a pregnant woman standing on her feet"
Aviva ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (08.13.08)
I assume this Rabbi Morris is not married, or if he is, that he has no children. If his wife was ever pregnant, I have to assume that he never sat down to eat a meal (especially a Shabbat meal) that she prepared while standing all day, barefoot, over a hot stove.
4. Conservative Meaninglessness
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (08.13.08)
Conservative involved in any aspect of Kashrus is meaningless since they do not adhere to the Halacha. Their entire reason d'etre is to undermine traditional Jewish Law and supplant it with a modified, man-made, weaker, and more lenient re-interpretation which, when all is said and done, is only aimed at making life easier for non-observant Jews. Who is there who wishes to observe Torah and its Laws and commandments with sincerity and integrity who would, in their right mind, have even the slightest trust in someone who is not fully loyal and committed to Jewish Law such as a Conservative "rabbi" to oversee Kashrus?
5. Kashrut
Kenneth ,   Skokie, USA   (08.13.08)
This is an instance of "feel good Kashrut but not necessarily real good Kashrut. The Conservative movement has lost any respect when they accepted specific Torah prohibitions such as homosexuality and as such can not be trusted in any Halachic area. If something is Kosher you need real experts to determine the status and if they want to look at social justice, fine just do not confuse the two.
6. Chilool Hashem
The Genius ,   nyc   (08.14.08)
The orthodox may know more about the technicalties of Kasruth, but seems the Conservatives know more about Chilool Hashem. The raid on the Kosher facility was a Chilool hashem. The Orthodox would not gve a certificate to a machlel shaboss, why give to a chilool hashem? Maybe something can be learned from the Conservatives.
7. #1 - The Rabbis already did that
amnon   (08.14.08)
The Rabbis invented Rabbinic Judaism. Adding more/wider fences around Torah is not an abberation, it is a feature of the ever growing burden of this man made religion.
8. Hypocricy
Eliot ,   Boston, MA USA   (08.15.08)
This Rabbi Allen wants to assure an ethical operation at Agri. that follows prevailing laws and customs in their business practices. All of this is to fall under the rubric of "kashrut". However, Morris' own blog consists of entire articles copied and pasted from major meida in flagrant violation of copyright and other intellectual property laws. Even "fair use" exceptions allow only for small excerpts of articles used in a review or other such "value added" composition. Tzedek? Heal thyself! I hate to say it but Allen smacks of self-serving smarminess with his promotion of this "hekhsher".
9. This is a no brainer...
Daniel ,   Austin TX.   (08.15.08)
I do not see what the big deal is here. There are already labour laws that must be followed. As Jews we are already bound to follow the law of the land. The fact remains that Jewish businesses should not be hiring illegal alien workers with no compromises. Doing so not only is a violation of the law, but it is done primarily to circumvent the countries labour laws in an effort to pay less than the worker deserves. It is against halacha to cheat somebody of his fair pay. There are plenty of American workers that can be hired legally and do just as good a job if not better than the illegal alien workers; however, Jewish business have to make an effort to hire such workers. My gosh, they might actually have to reduce their profit margins! What a travesty. We already pay overly inflated prices for kosher meat. Let it come out of their pockets. After all they were the ones that broke the law.
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