What Rubashkin And His Rabbis Have Wrought

Saul Singer, the Jerusalem Post's influential editorial page editor and columnist writes:

I am an increasingly observant Jew. I don't imagine becoming fully Orthodox, but I'm a great believer in the power of the two institutions that kept Jewish communities whole throughout the centuries: kashrut and Shabbat.

I became attracted to kashrut, in particular, for two reasons: its ethical foundations and the way it brings Judaism out of the synagogue, elevating a mundane aspect of daily life. The ethical impact of kashrut is found most broadly in the simple idea that people, unlike animals, should not eat anything they want to. Automatically, this raises consciousness toward animals, as shown by the general Jewish revulsion for hunting. But the most concrete sign of kashrut's ethical basis are the laws of shehita (kosher slaughter).

The idea that it matters how an animal is killed was itself a breathtaking ethical advance for its times. In the ancient world, it was not uncommon to eat from live animals - a practice so abhorrent that its abolition became one of just seven Noahide laws that the Torah applied also to non-Jews.…

To me, if kashrut is not on the cutting edge of humanity toward animals, it's not kashrut. I would be happy to pay extra for "ethically glatt" meat. I have already stopped eating veal, and consider that decision part of my kashrut observance. Until I can be assured that shehita is being performed according to the full letter and spirit of Jewish law, I think I will have to avoid "kosher" beef as well.

Read it all here.

Comments

[Isa]

There are two types of veal or meat from a calf.
The calf that is amoung its mother and other animals living a normal life. Then there is the calf that is tied down in some pen and is not allowed to move around, the reason is so the meat is light colored. I once knew a pious schochet and he said about veal while shaking his head "Its not kosher", An animal in order to be kosher must not have anything wrong that would shorten its life, for instance the animal is shechted and they find a nail in the stomach- then the animal is treif. SO too a calf that has been tied down in a cage and can barely walk into the slaughter area- could it have a normal life after that? No, so it would be considered treif by some. Years ago, I was at my company's dinner and veal was served I just ask (discreetly) if anyone wants my meat in exchange for some of their vegies (don't exclaim back by saying the vegies are treif too) Anyway someone said "this is baby cow" and now alot of people (goyem) wouldn't eat that stuff and one of the women talked to a manager and said never serve baby meat again.
Isa

[FNU LNU]

It is sometimes worth remembering historical precedent. In the 18th and 19th century there were several terrible stories resulting from the bris, e.g. little baby boys contracting sexual diseases from the mohel.

Changes to the (form of the) bris were made and have been adopted by most Orthodox to this day.

The bris is far more central to the Jewish community then those practices here. The issues there were more serious then here but it is reasonable to ask why the so-called Jerusalem method of slaughter, e.g. cow flipping should remain halachically preferable in Israel. This goes into questions of humane animal treatment. This practice was more humane then what preceded it but there is very strong evidence that it is less humane then general US practices today. If it is to remain mandated there should we consider whether our own norms sanction this treatment so strongly that we will not allow it here regardless of Israeli requirements.

[FNU LNU]

Here is a question to consider: why was the Israeli Rabbanut willing to accept (or at least has not publicized its reprimanding concerning) deviations from its policies on electric shock, animals in the blood etc., but will not accomodate anything other then the cow being upside down? Does anyone know how this issue became so central to them?

People refer to this tradition as centuries old. But shechita is far older then that. Why is schechita being constricted in Israel to this one - now less humane - method?

[Shmarya]

See here for a partial answer:

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2004/12/rabbi_belsky_fr.html

[FNU LNU]

>The reasons for that are as follows:
>(a) it is easier for the ritual slaughterer to work
>with the animal upside-down,

Maybe. It is easier still to shoot the animal. That, of course, is prohibited halachically. Here we are talking about ethics - or the so-called 'spirit' of the law. Do our values allow us to cause the animal additional pain compared to other available halachic options? If they do, okay.

> b) it is faster or the ritual slaughterer to work
> with the animal upside-down,
Not true anymore. Those published reports you put up allege those turning boxes significantly slow down the line process.

> c) more animals can be processed per shift in this >fashion,

See #b
>d) the Chief Rabbis of Israel require upside-down
> slaughter. Only this type of meat can be exported to >Israel.

Thats whats up for discussion.

Again, my understanding is the OU does NOT prefer upside down slaughter, but does this to accomodate Israel. So we are following what for them is a chumra (of following the opinion of the Shach) by our slaughter being meykel. Am I misunderstanding?

[FNU LNU]

Anyway, the simple fact is it is unlikely the Israeli Rabbanut will change its ways. First, there is no public clamor, and second, if there were, they could fall back on their having a valid halachic reason for this (their historical reliance on the Shach).

Thing is, we don't live at the same time as the Shach. Our economics, both here and in Israel, are not the Shach's economics. Our ability to slaughter animals are not the same as his. What may have been machmir then is now questionably so.

Its become like kiyniyot perhaps ... followed ever more strictly long after the original halachically valid reason for it no longer exists (probably use of line crops).

A real shame.

[FNU LNU]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/10438330.htm

Flowers Foods settles kosher crust suit for $2.5 million

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - A food company accused of putting pig fat into what were supposed to be kosher pie crusts has agreed to give $2.5 million to charity to settle a lawsuit.

Flowers Foods, a Georgia-based company that once owned a Mrs. Smith's Bakery in Pembroke, didn't admit to passing off pie crusts containing pork lard as kosher, but the company agreed Thursday to a settlement in Wake County to end a class-action lawsuit filed this spring.

The company issued a letter of apology for what it calls an embarrassing incident.

The plant in Pembroke has closed and Flowers no longer owns Mrs. Smith's bakeries or makes pie crusts.

If the allegations are true, Orthodox Jews who ate the crusts inadvertently violated their religious principles while eating Mrs. Smith's pie crusts in 2000 and 2001.

Jews who follow kosher diet rules are strictly prohibited from eating pork products.

The Mrs. Smith's plant made regular pie crusts with pork lard, and crusts stamped kosher by the Orthodox Union, a New York organization that certifies kosher foods. The kosher crusts contained no milk or meat products.

In 2001, Raleigh lawyer Marvin Schiller heard the allegations of a plant employee that workers often substituted regular crusts for kosher ones when they plant ran out.

Schiller doesn't observe kosher rules, but he said he agreed to become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit out of respect for his Orthodox Jewish upbringing.

The lawyers in the case said it was impractical to find every Jewish person who had eaten a Mrs. Smith's pie crust, so they decided instead to give the settlement money to charity.

Schiller gets $2,000 from the settlement, but he said he will donate it to the neurology department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Flowers, which makes baked goods at 34 plants throughout the country, will divide $1 million in cash among five groups, including the Orthodox Union.

The neurology department will get a $100,000 slice, in addition to Schiller's contribution.

The company will donate $1.5 million worth of bread products to America's Second Harvest, a national charity that helps the needy get food.

[WesleyWes]

Interesting perspective.