18 Juveniles Arrested During Rubashkin Raid, Some As Young As 13

Here it is, buried in a story…

…published by the WCF Courier:

…Of the 389 administratively arrested, 62 were released on humanitarian grounds and 21 are being held on administrative charges. Of the 83 released on humanitarian grounds or held on administrative charges, 18 were juveniles ages 13 to 17 who were either released to a adult or turned over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.…

They were arrested in the plant, folks. 18 kids. On a school day. At 10 am.

Rabbi Yisroel Salanter had this thing about not using items for mitzvot, including food, obtained unethically. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled produce harvested by nonunion farm workers treife because those workers were exploited by their bosses.

Based on those arrests, Rubashkin employed illegal child labor. He also allegedly withheld money from illegal workers' paychecks for "immigration fees;" forced illegals to rent housing from himself and cronies, and then jacked up the rents; extorted workers; and paid then $5 per hour.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled non-union lettuce treife for less serious abuses than these.

Listen to me and listen to me good: Anyone who puts even one drop of Rubashkin meat in their mouths this Shabbos (or an any other day) takes their soul in their hands.

We were once slaves in Egypt – isn't that the story? And now we should enslave others so we can have a nice steak?

If you believe the Exodus happened, if you believe the story of Passover is true – stop eating any and all Rubashkin-produced and distributed products immediately.

Religious or not, believers or not, we all must do everything we can to make this world a better place. We should not profit from or enjoy the fruits of exploited, abused and extorted workers – even if doing so deprives you of your cholent or your rib steak.

[Hat Tip: State of the Jews.]

Comments

[uncle joe mccarthy]

if this allegation is true, and not only were they using illegals, but underaged illegals, this hearkens back to the pre union days as written about in the jungle.

how could a yid, whose parents or grandparents had suffered under those conditions do this?

[mother in israel]

http://mominisrael.blogspot.com/2008/05/another-cult-exposed-megirot.html

Have a good Shabbat.

[yidandahalf]

Let us not become comfortable thinking rubash-in has breathed his last. He is down, let us make sure he stays down. Let each of us do what he or she can, however small. Be mindful, tell everyone you can, pitch in a couple of bucks now and then, never give up. Above all don't buy rubash-in products and never cease believing the rubash-ins will fall. We will prevail until each and everyone of the abominations is on the bread line of their own soup kitchen in Brooklyn.

[Yidandthreequarters]

Let us not become distraught thinking rubashkin has breathed his last. He is down, let us make sure he doesn't stay down. Let each of us do what he or she can, however small. Be mindful, tell everyone you can, pitch in a couple of bucks now and then, never give up. Above all buy all the rubashkin products possible and never cease believing the rubashkins will rise again. We will prevail until each and everyone of the abominations who tried but failed to destroy the Rubashkins is on the bread line of their own soup kitchen.

Posted by: yidandahalf | May 16, 2008 at 06:50 AM

[John K. Diamond]

To "Yidandthreequarters",

You are an absolute abomination for what authentic Judaism stands for.

[yidandahalf]

John, don't let rubash-ins' mini-me's get to you. They can actually be quite fun at times and even informative. I especially enjoy how upset they sometimes get. One can almost see the spittle flying from their mouths - postively rabid. The ones visiting lately are not up to par though I must admit. No fear, since they can't keep away we ought to be in for some true postville wit soon.

[Shmarya]

PITA, Yidandthreequarters, People for the Ethical Treatment of Vegetables, R. Levi B., People Eating Tasty Animals, and more are all the same person.

I warned this person previously and told him to stop using different screen names. He did not listen.

Final Warning:

Choose one screen name and stick with it.

If you use multiple names – or no name – I will ban you and delete all your comments.

[yidandahalf]

Oh to Yid & 3/4 ( Nachman, Simone et al )
I did forget to ask you what happened to the big award the Golem was expecting for being the saviour of the Iowan infrastructure? Forgot about that have we? Well, where is it? Admit it, you need people like me out there in Postville, I could really make your day.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Shmarya: In my opinion, you have to be more consistent in enforcing the rules.

[PITA]

Oh to Yid & 3/4 ( Nachman, Simone et al )
I did forget to ask you what happened to the big award the Golem was expecting for being the saviour of the Iowan infrastructure? Forgot about that have we? Well, where is it? Admit it, you need people like me out there in Postville, I could really make your day.

Posted by: yidandahalf | May 16, 2008 at 10:23 AM

Well, you finally stumped me. or should I say all of me's.

What are you talking about??

[yidandahalf]

No can do. That is as far as I go on a blog. Sorry.
But do let us continue with the dialogue - what does your crystal ball say about the Golem's stomach problems?

[PITA]

No can do. That is as far as I go on a blog. Sorry.
But do let us continue with the dialogue - what does your crystal ball say about the Golem's stomach problems?

Posted by: yidandahalf | May 16, 2008 at 11:29 AM

The Golem's stomach problems?????

A hint, please, any hint.

[R]

This treatment of workers is worse than a clothes factory in India.
Shameful and disgusting.

[Stephen Mendelsohn]

BS"D

WHO-TV in Des Moines reports (http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8332288):

Child Labor Investigation

It turns out illegal immigration may not have been the only illegal thing going on at Agriprocessors in Postville. According to Dave Neil, the Iowa Labor Commissioner, his department has "an on-going investigation" into child labor and wage violations there.

According to Iowa law, people under the age of 18 are prohibited from working "in or about slaughtering and meat packing establishments." But rumors that teens were working at Agriprocessors and getting paid off the books had been circulating for months. No one will say just when the state and federal investigations into those rumors began.

What state officials will say is they're not getting much done on the case right now. "Due to this raid and the federal government confiscating all of those records, we're unable to complete our investigation at this time," said Neil.

That's exactly what the United Food and Commercial Workers Union was afraid of. Earlier this month the Union's Vice President wrote a letter to immigration and customs officials asking them to hold off on Monday's raid. The letter said "any potential ICE action could not only have a chilling affect over the existing workforce...ICE action could also result in employees leaving the plant...thereby interfering with the DOL's investigation that could ultimately uncover unscrupulous employer acts."

The one thing the raid did make clear is the investigation into child labor violations was warranted. Federal officials say up to a dozen minors were detained at the plant Monday between the ages of 13 and 17.
_________________________________________

This raises the ugly prospect that Agri is behind the raid as a form of CYA in order to evade even more serious criminal charges. After all, the Rubashkins are big GOP contributors.

[Fischer and Solomon family]

To you phony Ruashkin monster family and those that eat the helpless animals!
You are worse than Nazis which killed my parents families. At least they did it to exploit for the money, for labor.
You kill without training, feeling, midos, rachmanos, only to fress and put your fat asses down in peace at night.
This will come to an end, sooner or later, as more Jewish people like our families already not using your products, will make sure along with PETA marches, rallys that you stay out of business and stay down, the end of the horrors at your plants will end. If not, the hell with your KOSHER FOOD, if is only a phony crutch to make your rabbis and phony meshiaghs live more like parasites on welfare money and begging with pushkas.
Shame to be considered in the same religion with you!

[Ariel Sokolovsky http://www.metacafe.com/channels/Rabbi+Ariel/]

B"H
So Rubashkin possibly let poor Mexican youth work in his plant to help them support their families and it happens to violate some regulations.
Is that really so bad that he must be condemned by us for that too?
( see also Milton Friedman's Defense of Child Labor )
I understand it is Uncle Sams job to enforse his laws, so let him enforce them. Why do Jews need to become unpaid attack dogs for the Uncle Sam?
Did Uncle Sam ran out of money he creates out of thin air that he can't hire enough paid attack dogs to pursue his increasingly Socialist agendas?
PS. As far as what R. Moishe Feinstein or R. Yisroel Salanter said about food becoming treif because the company violated ethical or especially union rules (which are nothing but legalized extortion in the 1st place) It is hard to believe either one of them meant this as a binding ruling of Jewish law as Shmaryah seems to try to spin it.
Jewish law doesn't even have the so called "clean hands" doctrine thus it would be hard to imagine the source for making this takona out of thin air (not that I believe it was ever made).

As far as beating a worker with a meat hook and stealing few hours worth of pay from workers weekly paychecks week after week this is disgusting.
if true, and whatever supervisors who are responsible or the company itself should be punished and or pay compensation if they are did this this.
Shabbat Shalom everyone!

[yidandahalf]

To Those That Admire Rubash-in:
I am sure I am not alone in asking you to post here in list fashion the good attributes of this family. Include the good things they have done and are doing. We know about how they enable regular Jews to be able to afford 'kosher' meat. We also know they provide jobs for lots of rabbis. Please be specific and leave nothing out. We are patient and look forward to what you have to show us about this illustrious family.

[uncle joe mccarthy]

ariel,

as many of the labor laws you now spit upon came about as a result to how your parents and/or grandparents were treated when they came to this country, i find your attitude quite disturbing.

union rules are legalized extortion? well, 10 hour workdays without breaks, no benefits, and pay below a living standard is tantamount to slave labor...and that is why the unions were created in the first place.

you decry socialism, but how many of your aquaintances or friends are employed either directly or indirectly in some business that gets funding from the united states government. (ie...the old age home biz)

you are right, we should not be attack dogs for the gov...we shouldnt because we shouldve done it ourselves.

for too long has our community looked the other way when we have seen other yidden involved in less than kosher business practices.

what agriprocessors has done is a chillul hashem, and it should not be ignored.

[Ileen Ensley]

It is against Jewish law for Jews to reprimand other Jews publicly! I am appalled that anyone would take pleasure in tearing apart an individual, family or business in such a savage fashion! Aren't we hated enough by too many people in the non-Jewish world for us to be sending out boomerangs that might likely G-d forbid, hit us in the face?
I have met some of the Rubashkins at a simka and although they wouldn't remember me, I remember the goodness and kindness that emanated from them. Whatever they are being accused of should be investigated by an honorable group of rabbis, such as those in Chicago, to clear their good name.
On the subject of some immigrant workers being under age, what would they be doing in poverty in Mexico? How many Jews were denied entry to the United States fleeing from the Nazis? This country is based on people coming from everywhere to a better life. Perhaps people should be more concerned with all the outsourcing that companies are doing, manufacturing products in India and China, and then,hiring people there to do our "customer service" by telephone! Where are those jobs going to? That is a far greater concern. Instead of worrying so much about all the people who want to come to the USA, let us focus on keeping our workforce occupied and not laid off!
As for being Jewish, we are one, a braid that includes all of us, reform, conservative, orthodox, and even the most private believers of us, who are unafiliated with a shul. We are one. When we dare to hurt another of us, we are hurting ourselves simultaneously. G-d bless us all.

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

Why do Jews need to become unpaid attack dogs for the Uncle Sam?

I don't think that's the issue. Our religion compels us to obey the laws of our respective hosts countries. Why would you condemn your co-religionists for rebuking (which is a mitzvah in the Torah) Jews engaged in inappropriate behavior?

[state of the Jews]

<>

There have been many, many attempts to talk sense to the Rabushkins. They turned a deaf ear to all. Their were a great many practical solutions given to them but they knew better. Their arrogance is simply astounding.
They may take a few pennies from the money they stole from workers and give it to tzedakah but that doesn't make them saints.
The problem is we let them get away with it. Where were the hechsher organizations who are supose to guard our interests? They were told about most of the problems but didn't want to risk the loss of income - it is Chilul HaShem and a shonda.

[Ileen Ensley]

I am condemning no one. I stand by what I said. I am, however, questioning if the author with the self-nomer "state of the Jews" is even Jewish, and not an Arab, by the phrasing and spelling of words within your sentence structure.

[Ileen Ensley]

By the way, kindness is the highest good. If you are Jewish, please be kind.(and if you are not Jewish, be kind) The situation should only be examined by a Beth Din and ultimately we are all judged by G-d. Most of us have a number of flaws that need much of our attention to correct. If the Rubashkins are truly found responsible of malintent, then a quiet correction of the situation is in order.

[Robin]

As far as what R. Moishe Feinstein or R. Yisroel Salanter said about food becoming treif because the company violated ethical or especially union rules (which are nothing but legalized extortion in the 1st place) It is hard to believe either one of them meant this as a binding ruling of Jewish law as Shmaryah seems to try to spin it.

From an adherent of a religion (not judaism) whose every practiced is spun out of what some rebbe said (or even didn't say) and who have completely ceased practice of the basic 13 priniciples of faith, this is really rich! Tell us where the practice of gebrochts comes from?

[state of the Jews]

Yes. I'm Jewish. I lived in Israel for five years and spent the better part of my adult life working for the good of the Jewish People.
So tell me Ileen Ensley do you think meat produced by 13 to 17 year-old children can be sold as kosher?

[Amused - Not]

Shmarya,

You have hit an all-time low, even for you, allowing the garbage posted by Fischer and Solomon family @ May 16, 2008 at 05:19 PM tp remain posted on your blog. If you leave it there you are making it obvious that those who write that you are just an insane have you figured out perfectly.

Comparing abuse of a cow with the use of our brothers and sisters for 'medical' experiments tells me everything I need to know about the writer. He sees Jews as nothing more than cows, probably because he himself spends his life living like one, chewing and re-chewing his anger at G-d as a cow chews its cud.

If you let it remain there it means you are not offended and sickened by what this behaimah wrote.

[Isa]

Hey Amused-Not
How about abuse of workers at $5.00 @ hour??

Here in Houston ICE busted a pallet repair outfit for hiring illegals...
But some of them were making up to $10.00 @hour
They were given pneumatic driven tools and gloves.
At least they were paid some sort of a decent wage.

At $5.00@hour and under those conditions (meat hook in the head and all)
It is plain and simple slave labor

[Shmarya]

You have hit an all-time low, even for you, allowing the garbage posted by Fischer and Solomon family @ May 16, 2008 at 05:19 PM tp remain posted on your blog.

I don't edit comments, unless the commenter uses different names to try to make it look like he has support, or if he impersonates other comments or someone else.

It's not my job to censure people. Lots of comments attacking me are posted. I don't censure them.

[Shmarya]

As far as what R. Moishe Feinstein or R. Yisroel Salanter said about food becoming treif because the company violated ethical or especially union rules (which are nothing but legalized extortion in the 1st place) It is hard to believe either one of them meant this as a binding ruling of Jewish law as Shmaryah seems to try to spin it.

Rabbi Feinstein's ruling was a pesak din, a legal ruling.

[Amused - Not]

I'd also let comments made me slide pretty freely. I have every right to do so.

No one has the right to be so forgiving regarding the deaths of our parents.

We need to be careful when speaking of the Holocaust. We'd all be careful if we were speaking to 1,500,000 children. Let us be as careful with what we say about them.

I suppose what really bothers me is that no one else seems bothered by such filth. Says something about your readership and what it says isn't very flattering.

Not to them and not to you.

[Shmarya]

It's not a comparison I would make, to be sure.

Still, I'd say my readers look at you as someone who goes very easy on Rubashkin and his rabbis while he looks for the faults in everyone else.

Isa:

It isn't my job to help you understand the difference between cruelty to workers and using babies for sadistic 'medical' experimentation.

Your parents obviously did a real crappy job of raising you. Ask them to pay the bills for the shrink.

[Amused - Not]

Isa:

It isn't my job to help you understand the difference between cruelty to workers and using babies for sadistic 'medical' experimentation.

Your parents obviously did a real crappy job of raising you. Ask them to pay the bills for the shrink.

[Amused - Not]

It's not a comparison I would make, to be sure.

On the other hand it doesn't seem to bother you or your readers very much either.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Still, I'd say my readers look at you as someone who goes very easy on Rubashkin and his rabbis while he looks for the faults in everyone else.

Posted by: Shmarya | May 17, 2008 at 10:44 PM

I don't 'go easy' on Rubashkin. I don't know him. I haven't seen him stand trial. I have heard he is a rotten SOB. I have heard he isn't. Most likely he is somewhere in between, likely not dead center either.

However, if every word you have written about him is true, which I also believe will at trial be proven to be somewhere between true and false, comparing his treatment of animals and low paid workers is nothing less than sick.

The statement speaks volumes about the writer. The silence of all the 'regulars' is deafening.

As for how your readers see me, the opinions of those who do not understand that equating the torture, starvation and wholesale of children with the crimes with which the Rubashkins have been charged is disgusting beyond words are of no concern to me. Worrying about the opinions of the insane is the greatest proof of ones insanity.

[yidandahalf]

The mindset of Agriprocessor's administrative people, the Judenrat, the Jewish Police, the enablers of the Holocaust,and of modern day corrupt haredi rabbis is in no way unalike. Stop playing the 'the Holocaust is untouchable' card, Amused - Not and go learn. We all have family members who perished in Europe during the na-i era. The psychology that permitted this existed long before the Third Reich and it exists today. If you are unable to see this, you are categorically within the ranks of the enablers. You and likeminded Jews are the enemy within to Judaism today. We have the opportunity to clean up our act ourselves. Unless we do outsiders will do it for us. People like Shmarya are attempting to illuminate the dangers of this but as in times past, deaf and blind people like you jump up to thwart reason and truth.
Judaism is so fragmented today that the cry of 'mesirah' really has no connection to self criticism. Yet that is the first hue and cry taken up when more enlightened Jews step up to the plate. You are ineffectual, misguided, and deluded and your remarks only strengthen the guardians of the truth.

[yudel]

The argument that non union workers are just trying to support their families on the surface seems like a plausible point but reality is that it is not.

Non Union workers are exploited period.In fact they are near indentured servants in the agribusiness world.
Long ago Cesar Chavez began the first union movement to get workers certified in the vineyards of the Central Valley in California.
The battle fought was long and very violent. The union members were completely non-violent and the agribusiness thugs brought violence and murder to the farmworkers who fought for representation.

Now to the point. In agribusiness across the board illegal aliens suffer under horrific conditions to make a living. While illegals should be able to get green cards and work in America the only example of non union members in the agribusiness industry in california to reject the union was up in the Napa and Sonoma high end vinyards in California. The growers vowed to fight the union. They wanted flexiblity and to defeat the union they offered workers three to four dollars a more to stay non union and brought in a benefit package. In other words the outbid the union.
That is the only case I know about as i was one of the non union farmworkers back then.
The workers were thrilled and i too was overjoyed to get a decent wage for incredibly hard work.

Everywhere else illegals suffered terribly. No exceptions. There is no pass to be given here to these allegations.

Don't bring into the discussion the oppression of illegal workers into the discussion as some act of mercy. None of you writing have any experience toiling in the fields or in processing factories. It is hell even with a union. The work is unbelievably difficult and the union or regularly hired workers who get a quasi living wage do not compare to the suffering of illegal workers.

All these workers are hard working ,family men and women with a high cultural ethic and warmth as well as love for America.

The illegal workers situation falls under a different pervue. We must find a good positive way to welcome these workers into the American work force period. No one else will take these jobs. They will to find their way to the American dream. Fathers,mothers,older chidren work those jobs and pool their money to get by and do a bit better in terms of survival.

Yes my comments here are verbose. Beyond the headlines is a legacy of tragedy for all these hard workers. No one works harder than those in the fields or processing plants. Trust me.I lived in that world and the work made me strong but in the end wrecked my back. And as a side note ...these workers are the best group of caring ,ethical,family centered people. In spite of the misery there spirits and warmth never dampened.

[Isa]

To Amused-Not and others
I worked on a scientific instrument at Iowa Beef Processors and got a small cut on my head. What I saw at the medical office was shocking!! Blood soaked shirts, bandages etc just like a MASH in a war zone.
$5.00 @ hour for this sort of work is SLAVE LABOR

[yidandahalf]

One suggestion for the Agri sympathizers and wannabe rubash-in ass lickers. You should all go out there and work for him until he gets his ducks in a row. Volunteer and get him out of this labour shortage and what have you. Since his pocket book is reputedly bigger than his big heart I am sure he will be grateful and reward you all very well. As they say 'talk is cheap' so lend him a hand.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Yid: fools rubash-in where angels fear to tread.

[one of many]

i just read this, and thats absolutly terrible!!!
employing children??? and withholding there wages??? and these people are still hold the title of being called Jewish???

where is the honor is that?
if it was the Watchtower in brooklin New York, known as the former false prophets, they would have disfellowshiped this family immidiatly after media coverage of the story! whats holding back the other side in Brooklin New York? I wonder?? very stange sitiuation

[Ileen Ensley]

To "yidandahalf" : How dare you refer to any of the Jewish people as "judenrats?" This is blatant hatred of the Jewish people. You can go to hell. And what is your real name, by the way? You hide behind a screen name, and feel very safe there, don't you! No one should be entitled to their "opinions" when they don't identify who they really are.

[Yochanan Lavie]

"Judenrat" is a thing, not a person. It is a German word meaning "Jewish town gov't." Yid&1/2 is not calling anyone a rat in English.

The Judenrat was the quasi-self governing body of Jewish notables in the Nazi ghettoes. Sometimes, they were quislings who thought appeasing the Nazis would save at least part of the Jewish people, or maybe their own asses at the very least. Chaim Rumkowski was the most notorious example; he became a self-important "king of the Jews". But some members of the Judenrat played a double game, and passed off info to the underground on the sly, at the risk of their own lives. Ultimately, appeasement didn't work, and the Judenrat members met the same fate as everyone else. But in all fairness, they were appointed by the Nazis and you didn't get to say "no" (unlike the Kapos, the Jewish police who volunteered).