KAJ Removed It's Supervision From Rubashkin, Rubashkin Press Release Spin

So KAJ did pull its supervision from Rubashkin for what appears to be a kosher-related issue. You would never know this from Rubashkin's press release, which makes it appear as if he fired KAJ, when in fact the truth seems to be completely opposite.

Without knowing the details of this kosher-related issue itself, it is impossible for me to comment about it further. So, until the details come out, we'll have to wait and wonder.

What seems clear, though, is one of these two parties is heavily fudging the truth. If history is a judge, that party would have to be Rubashkin.

My earlier post on this is here.

[Hat Tip: Archie Bunker.]

Comments

[Archie Bunker]

Someone appearing to be a kashruth insider posted on UOJ that CHK looks like it may soon follow KAJ's lead.

[Ma Rabbi]

KAJ makes no difference. All the Hashgachos are mere window dressing. Rubashkin put Rabbi Weissmandel in charge of the Kashrut 3 years ago when he came on board. Either you trust Rabbi Weissmandel and eat the meat or you dont. I personally am fortunate that I live in an area where I can buy David Elliot chickens which are far superior to Rubashkin both in Kashrut and quality.

[steve]

It's not about trusting Weissmandl, it's about trusting Rubashkin. Weissmandl trusts that Rubashkin is not switching labels and pulling off all types of other shenanigans, while he gives his hashgacha for the lowest type of kashrus standards. There is nobody supervising the labeling and distribution of the non-kosher meat, which is the bulk of their volume. Many insiders have questioned their high ratio of kosher vs. treife compared to other kosher slaughterhouses. It doesn't take a math professor to figure out that something doesn't add up. You surely can blame Weissmandl when the full story does come out, just like Rabbi Breslauer with the Shevach scandal. However, Weissmandl can claim that Ed Echad Neeman B'issurim, and therefore there was no need to have more rigorous standards and supervision. After all, the Rubashkins are ehrliche yidden, aren't they?

[George Hoffman]

Where is the October letter?, that should have more details.

[Isa]

Regarding:"""Many insiders have questioned their high ratio of kosher vs. treife compared to other kosher slaughterhouses."""
My question is: "what is the ratio???"

[Yossi]

The question remains: since KAJ has denied dropping Rubashkin, is this letter real or an internet fabrication. It needs verification before it can be taken seriously.

[Chaim Yankel]

This letter is real, it was recieved directly from KAJ. Just email them and ask kaj85@juno.com

[Anon]

It can be a major issue if KAJ is willing to stay on board until mid-april.

[still want to eat kosher]

Why wait till April 16, so Rubashkin can cash in on the Passover trade. I wouldn't eat matzos from a company whose hechsher is being taken away a week before Pasach.

[Shmarya]

The question remains: since KAJ has denied dropping Rubashkin, is this letter real or an internet fabrication. It needs verification before it can be taken seriously.

Right. Rocket scientist you are.

1. The letter is real.

2. Multiple witnesses say the head of KAJ spoke last Shabbos about dropping Rubashkin.

3. The only question here is why rabbis think it is okay to parse the truth.

[Yossi]

Shmarya, there's a simple answer to that rhetorical question of yours: there's a lot of traif in the kosher industry.

[steve]

My question is: "what is the ratio???"

Their ratio has been reported to be in the 60% range for kosher(not necessarily glatt). Most kosher slaughterhouses range from 30-35%.

[Isa]

Thank you Steve for informing me of the ratio.
60% is NORMAL which includes glatt and non-glatt.
Years ago at a slaughterhouse in Minnesota done by shocteem that one could trust the ratio was 60%. There were other places at the time where the ratio was 99%.
Big problem at the time was cows will pick up nails and other debris that will puncture the stomach-treif of course.

[R]

I don't buy glatt, i think it's a con.
If most kosher meat we see in the supermarkets are not kosher, then i think it would probably be safer and better to go vegetarian.

[Shmarya]

Their ratio has been reported to be in the 60% range for kosher(not necessarily glatt). Most kosher slaughterhouses range from 30-35%.

This is false. It depends on the quality of cattle purchased. Industry average for glatt is about 65%, last I checked.

[kosher meat veteran]

The ratio depends on the type of housing and freebees provided to Rubashkin's shochtim. His bodekeem have very big shoulders and get the job done, or they are history.

[Chaim Yankel]

Shmarya - Currently the vast majority of Glatt slaughter is only getting about a 35% glatt yield. This all depends on the season and quality of cattle.

It would be hard to find more than 1 glatt shechita getting 60%.

[Shmarya]

Simply untrue.

[R]

That's because they just stick glatt on a certain percentage and normal on another percentage.

[Michael Croland]

The new site layout looks terrific!

I especially like that you have a whole section related to Rubashkin. I'm guessing you noticed the Biggest Shonda/"Worst Ongoing Scandal" category in Jewschool's best-of-2007 post?

[Larry Lennhoff]

Kosher Today weekly update email:
New York... Each year many companies quietly replace their kosher certifications for a variety of reasons, most notably either to upgrade their 'hechsher' (kosher certification) or for monetary reasons. Sometimes, it does not pass quietly as the rumor mill works overtime in search of the 'real reason' for the change. Bloggers and their commentators can have a field day when a high profile company makes a change. That is what happened last week when AgriProcessor announced that it was removing the hechsher of the KAJ (Khal Adas Jeshurun). Agriprocessor announced that it was consolidating its kashrus supervision behind the Orthodox Union and Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandl of Monsey, NY. Rabbi Weissmandl, a well known authority in kashrus, was appointed three years ago to elevate the standards of kashrus in the whole plant and to specifically certify the production of products under the Supreme Kosher label, says an Agri press release. According to Sholom M. Rubashkin, 'the company made a marketing decision to expand the certification role of Rabbi Weissmandl to include products manufactured under the Aaron´s Best brand in addition to the longstanding certification by the Orthodox Union. While stressing that the change was not made for kashrus reasons, KAJ had planned for an orderly transition that would take effect in mid-April. This would also have allowed the prestigious community to find an alternate source of supply of meat. But when Agri learned that KAJ was set to announce the transition, it sought to preempt the KAJ announcement with its own ads and press releases, setting off a great deal of confusion, although there is no apparent change in the plans of Agri and KAJ

[Larry Lennhoff]

And another letter from the KAJ

[koosher v'yoosher]

This looks like a invite for STAR "K". They always eat the other hashgochas she-ryeim.

[Jonathan Loring]

Larry: Is there anyway that you or Sharmaya can post the 2nd letter from KAJ? My computer is not allowing me to link your bp2.blogger.com site. I would appreciate your help very much. Thank you.

[Shmarya]

It's just a letter from KAJ lay leaders explaining to KAJ members/shul goers that KAJ is dropping Agri as of April 2008 and KAJ is working on securing alternate sources of meat and poultry.

[Larry Lennhoff]

Jonathan:

Try this

[Larry Lennhoff]

The key point in the memo IMO is:

It is important to note that the termination of our Rabbinate's supervision is the result of differences and difficulties regarding the control of certain Agriprocessors facilities - no inference to the contrary regarding the kashrus of the products should be made.

[Archie Bunker]

http://yudelstake.blogspot.com/2008/01/confused-or-convinced.html

It is alledged that RUBASHKIN in no uncertain terms told KAJ not to release any of the other letters. We are refering to the OCTOBER 2007, JANUARY 2008 LETTERS PLUS ANY OTHERS. Guess why?