Ethnic Discord Erupts In Postville

The AP reports:

Growing discord over ethnic diversity in the community has resulted in cancellation of the town's festival.

The controversy erupted when City Councilman Jeff Reinhardt wrote a letter to the local newspaper in May 24. In it, Reinhardt addressed diversity in a manner deemed offensive by some residents of the community, which is made up of more than two dozen nationalities.

The controversy increased when the city's entire staff of 13 employees disavowed Reinhardt's remarks in their own letter to the Postville Herald-Leader.

In addition, the City Council cut funding for the Visitor's Center. That led to cancellation of the Taste of Postville, which highlights the city's many ethnic heritages.

The town --- population of about 2,300 --- changed significantly in the past 15 years, in large part because of Agriprocessors, a kosher meatpacking plant owned by Orthodox Jews. The company employs about 800 people, predominantly immigrants.

In his letter, Reinhardt said one group of residents "wants to isolate itself, by dressing a little differently, keeping their children out of our public schools and wanting a different day for the Sabbath."

He said another group "sends money back to other foreign countries and brings with it a lack of respect for our laws and culture, which contributes to unwed mothers, trash in the streets, unpaid bills, drugs, forgery and other crimes."

Another member of the City Council, Leigh Rekow, called Reinhardt's letter "rather bigoted" and a "slam against the Jewish people." And former Councilman Aaron Goldsmith, himself a member of the Jewish faith, said Reinhardt's letter represents "a primitive and hostile view" of Hispanics and other immigrants.

The Rev. Paul Ouderkirk, 73, a retired pastor from St. Bridget's Catholic Church, said Reinhardt's comments were unfairly critical of immigrants.

"They know there is a feeling in town that is against them," Ouderkirk said.

Council member Marlys Sowers, however, said Reinhardt's letter is based on fact.

"If you come to Postville, you will see the disrespect for the law he refers to," Sowers said. "These people get drunk and hit other people's cars. There's no driver's license, no insurance. Who pays for the property damage?"

Reinhardt said he was not referring to Postville's Orthodox Jewish community.

"We have six or eight different religions in town," he said.

Reinhardt declined to specifically identify which ethnic group he was targeting.

"If you are here illegally, you have already broken the law and shown disrespect for it," he said.

Several Postville residents say they saw the dispute coming earlier this year after the City Council cut funding to the Visitor's Center, prompting the resignation of its director, Nina Taylor.

Taylor directed the Taste of Postville and her resignation forced this year's event to be canceled.

"It was the council's attitude as much as the funding cut," Taylor said about her decision to quit.

A far cry from the idyllic village portrayed by Rabbi Zeilingold, his friend Dr. Carbonera and Rubashkin attorney Nathin Lewin, all in attempts to clear Rubashkin of credible charges of worker abuse.

[Hat tip: C-Girl.]

Comments

[mazeartist]

Shmarya-

what does this story have to do with the allegations against Rubashkin?

This story helps the Jews of Postville by showing how ignorant some gentiles are towards hasidim and hispanics.

[C-Girl]

I found the story interesting because it highlighted the fact that Postville is still in crisis; it's not all sunshine and roses, as Rabbi Zeilingold's "investigation" (and the backlash to Stephen Bloom's book) claimed.

As in any micro-environment, the introduction of what are called "invasive, non-native species" often has a profound effect. Agriprocessors does not exist in a vacuum.

While Agri. is not directly responsible for the actions of every Jew in Postville, nor for those of every immigrant laborer it hires, we need to keep in mind that these issues do stem from the processing plant. And as one is held responsible when one causes damage to another's property, it seems to follow that when one causes damage to a community, some type of restitution is in order.

[truthteller]

so somehow now ignorant racist comments directed at a variety of groups are the fault of chabad? can this be any more absurd?

do you ever take sides with jewish victims against non-jews or is it always the other way around?

[C-Girl]

As I see it, this is a case in which a group of people has become so powerful that they have managed to effectively thumb their noses at kashrus, halacha and derech eretz.

There certainly are Jewish victims here. They're the consumers who have seen glatt kosher hashgacha reduced to a rubber stamp, the ones who are wondering why no one is bringing up R. Moshe Feinstein's ruling that food produced under conditions of human or animal suffering is unfit to eat, and those who see violations of derech eretz as a profound aveira.

And while this issue is one that exists within *a* Chabad community, I do not see it as an issue with all of Chabad, or with the majority of its leadership. There's a big l'havdil there, so don't try to portray it otherwise, please.

I'm sorry this explanation is so inconvenient to you.

[Wallace Cole]

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