Jewish Scene
MK: Legislate regulation on kashrut system
Kobi Nahshoni
Published: 20.10.09, 15:05
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12 Talkbacks for this article
1. Take even a tiny bit of authority out of the Rabbis hands?
Randy   (10.20.09)
Even if giving it to the government of the Jewish State? Right. It'll NEVER happen.
2. Those who want super kosher food should pay for it
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (10.20.09)
To some Kosher is not Kosher enough . How many maschgichim are needed for all this , and why have we all to pay for them . Not enough that we are paying for their cheap buses , they want us to pay for their special requirements too .
3. Great - maybe the rabbinate will take kashrut seriously
Aryeh ,   NY USA   (10.20.09)
I am looking forward to the day when the Rabbanut will start applying better standards to its Stam Kasher poultry and meat and not treat it as the stuff that is worthy to feed those who have no standards. This means a lower hourly quota on chickens/turkeys slaughtered. Hourly breaks for Shochatim. Better Bedikot. etc.
4. More Regulation = Greater Corruption
Joe ,   Ramat Gan   (10.20.09)
Who wants Kashrut in Israel to run like the Conversion Courts? We survived for over 2500 years without a centralized bureaucracy, why do we suddenly need one now?
5. Kosher
Marilyn ,   USA   (10.20.09)
With the Kosher Agriprocessors in the USA, it was a place that made a lot of money, yet underwent extreme neglect and was charged for multiple violations, etc. It's like where were all the supervisors and inspectors during all of this? Didn't anyone care? This occurance should be enough to make people from the entire Kashrut system rework things.
6. don't pay the maschgichim direct to avoid abuse
johanna from tsfat ,   tsfat   (10.20.09)
here is tsfat the restaurants pay the rabbinate and the rabbinate pay the maschgichim. this means there is no conflict of interest which can obviously occur if the restaurants pay these supervisors direct. therefore the maschigichim don't need to worry about their jobs if they find something amiss in a restaurant. tsfat also has a good training course for the maschgichim. as well as doing spot checks on restaurants and cafes on a daily basis, they also check restaurant food supplies such as grains, beans, peas, seeds, etc for bugs. even if people don't hold by halacha, customers don't want bugs and flies etc in their food. so the restaurants are paying for a service that they receive. it's not just money for old rope.
7. Marilyn # 5 Get Your Facts Straight
Yerach ,   Jerusalem,Israel   (10.20.09)
There was never a question about the kashrut Agriprocessors stop making bubba maasehs. Both the OU & Badatz of Crown Heights said the kashrut was fine. The Jew-haters from PETA were making problems when there were none. Allegedly they hired illegal aliens & that is for a cour tto decide if they did or didn't but the kashrut was & is beyond reproach!!!!
8. #7
Marilyn ,   USA   (10.21.09)
With this company, it like broke about every rule in the book, (thus numerous organizations and the government and the lawsuits) and they hurt us. They probably broke Kashrut laws as well. (As could see they were so good about following rules). It is time with this to figure out what went wrong and try to fix it.
9. Bottom line: what they do is not kosher
5th generation ,   Israel   (10.21.09)
All these businessmen in black hats need a refresher on Leviticus and the teachings of the Rambam, and some analytical thinking for which they taxmoney to sit on their yashvans. Very little that comes out of the present system that bears any resemblance to the original intentions of kashrut, and that hurts everyone - physically and culturally - not just the religious.
10. # 8 Marilyn please don't let facts get in the way
Yerach ,   Jerusalem,Israel   (10.21.09)
Again both the Badatz of Crown Heights & the OU said that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the kashrut. But I suppose you who most likely do not keep either shabbat or kashrut know better than the rabbanim. Again the only supposedly real problem was allegedly hiring illegal aliens which has not been proven in a court of law. What you are doing is so un-Jewish pre-judging fellow Jews. Ever hear of motzee shem ra & rechilut? How disgusting!!!!!
11. Kosher slaughter
MortonNarrowe ,   Stockholm, Sweden   (10.21.09)
Is it not time to reconsider controlled electric stunning prior to shechita? The New Zealand system has been approved by Swedish opponents of cruelty to animals. It is already employed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other stringent moslem countries, which have the same prohibitions as we, against the slaughter of a nevelah (already dead animal). This new technology makes the book Edut Neemana obsolete. What about Israel? Do Jews not avoid Tsaar Baalei Chayyim? (cruelty to animals) Our religion says that we must, but, in reality, we do not.. Business comes first. MN, Stockholm
12. #10
Marilyn ,   USA   (10.22.09)
It's hard to figure out all the charges because there were so many and from different organizations. Not expecting someone from Israel to entirely understand, however this plant has been woven into American history. With the animal cruelty-this was obvious. They violated the HMSA. (And it wasn't just Jewish-the USDA was also caught on tape taking gifts, failing to report violations and committing other acts of misconduct at the plant). As far as the actual slaughter, some of the Rabbi's saw these tapes and immediately said it was not Kosher, but then they changed their minds. KAJ Kosher certification was able to terminate it's relationship with the plant. Then there were the charges involving workers-of blocking a union, not paying workers, firing those who complained about the conditions or wages, illegal deductions, health and safety issues and on and on. Then there was the pollution issues and waste dumping. Then there were the illegal immigrants. Then there were the child labor violations. Then there was the public relation company identity theft. Then there were charges of bank fraud, money laundering, making false statements. Then there were the food safety problems. Then there were other allegigations made such as intimidating rivals with threats of physical violence, collusions with suppliers to withholding supplies from competitors, etc. I'm not Jewish, but I know how Kosher slaughter is supposed to be, and this isn't it. It's a good time to start demanding something more.
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