Agriprocessors Asks Court To Stop Foreclosure

Here is what Aaron Rubashkin said in Agriprocessors'…

…bankruptcy filing:

…In the bankruptcy filings, the owner of Agriprocessors, Aaron Rubashkin, stated that filing for bankruptcy should halt that lawsuit temporarily while the company attempts to restructure, suggesting that Rubashkin wants to maintain control over the company. The filing says this is important because Agriprocessors “is instrumental in helping to maintain national availability for kosher meat and poultry products throughout the United States.”

“The Debtor is actively seeking new sources of financing and believes that it will be able to restructure its overall business,” Rubashkin’s affidavit said.…

[Hat Tip: The other DK.]

Comments

[sage]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Archie Bunker]

"Over the weekend, the company gradually shut down all of its operations in Iowa, leaving hundreds of people without work."

Is that true or is there still limited poultry kill and processing?

[yidandahalf]

Serious question, after 'restructuring' so they can get back on their "feed", who would work for these shandas?

[yidandahalf]

Actually meyer and Rev Ariel, should be the first two to put their money where their mouths are and help them out. But then again, they would have to actually perform labor and pay taxes.

[Red Sox Fan]

Here's another example of how Aish are a bunch of liars: On classicsinai.com, there's a link for 350 FREE online classes at Aish.com. When you click on it, they make you pay a monthly fee to get the "free" classes.

[Curious Postville Native]

Out of curiousity . . . Will the Jewish people resume consumption of Rubashkin products if they pull this off; or will the product remain "tainted" until the Rubashkins show remorse for the extensive suffering they have caused?

[steve]

Chabad has enough money in its coffers to bail out ten Rubashkins.

[Shmarya]

Out of curiousity . . . Will the Jewish people resume consumption of Rubashkin products if they pull this off; or will the product remain "tainted" until the Rubashkins show remorse for the extensive suffering they have caused?

Sadly, most kosher-keeping Orthodox Jews never stopped eating Rubashkin products.

[yidandahalf]

Steve, I have long wondered why they don't just run Agri themselves? Old loyalties to the Rubbishclan? What do you say?

[Laz-E-Boy]

Steve:
Chabad does not have "coffers". Each Chabad House is responsible for their own funding.

Educate yourself before you spout.

[Shmarya]

Chabad does not have "coffers". Each Chabad House is responsible for their own funding.

That is not completely true.

Chabad has central organizations that also have coffers.

[Archie Bunker]

Curious Postville Native,

Our family stopped eating Rubashkin a year and half ago and we know many other families who have also refrained for some time now.

The problem is that some organizational heads are corrupt and covering up for the Rubashkins. If the public had more information other than the lies they are being fed, the majority would not eat it.

Many rabbis believe it should not be eaten but whenever one of them dares speak up they are attacked by a mafia-like smear machine.

[steve]

They have plenty of money, just no unity or organization.

[Concerned Citizen 2]

So... Does anyone want to maybe think through things and come up with a logical reasoning behind the Chpt. 11 filing? You guys are all just puppets, completely manipulated by the media who are making the Rubashkins out to be devils of some sort... The fact is that the plant as it stands is a good facility with excellent equipment ready for production. There is no good reason to allow the bank to come in and liquidate assets- this would just result in the plant completely shutting down. And where does that leave us? With a local economy headed down in a nosedive. Agriprocessors has long been the economic heart that beats behind not only Postville, but a good portion of Northeast Iowa. The bankruptcy filing is to keep the plant intact until the company is bought. Don't let your silly misinformed grudges towards the Rubashkins make you think that having the plant shut down is a good idea. That's just pure ignorance.

[Mikha'el M.]

> Sadly, most kosher-keeping
> Orthodox Jews never stopped
> eating Rubashkin products.

If it makes you feel better, the Aishdas Avodah chevra/mailing list (http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/) had a discussion about this - more individuals than I could count spoke against eating Rubashkin's (with not a few very emotional outpourings about the very inhumanity of continuing to eat Rubashkin's), and ONE individual (ONE) upheld the propriety of continuing to eat Rubashkin's. I cannot tell you how many people simply stayed out of the discussion, but still.

[Al]

Curious: my family has also stopped buying Rubashkin product. To us it is simply not kosher. as for the bulk of jews ? I think there are a few things going on.

1) If the OU says its kosher and ok to eat, then to most people its ok to eat it. Unfortunately, the OU makes lots of money saying its kosher and is not motivated to shut it down.. the person who would make that decision is the person who would loose their job ! A friend of mine who is a kosher caterer witnesses so many breaches of the laws of Kashrut (kosher) that he confronted his Masgiach (person who certifies food as kosher based on watching and guiding food preperation in accordance with the laws) that he confronted this person and asked why he does not shut production down at certain catering halls. Sadly, the mashgiach gave my friend an education telling him that "my job is not to make sure you the food is kosher, its to say its kosher"... how sad that this is what things have come to.
2) Many people, even Rabbi's like to keep their heads way up their asses in an attempt to hide from harsh realities and avoid making hard decisions. I can tell you that every local NY rabbi or kosher food establishment I called as recently as 12 weeks ago, gave me one of two replies: 1) I know nothing about this issue so it must not be a problem. Of course they made no effort to explore the issues I suspect because they trust the OU. 2) Its all propoganda created by anti-semites who are out to destroy the Rubashkins.

Personally, and I like meat... worst case is jews dont have meat for a while.. it won't kill us. One key learnng for the OU and other certification comapnaies is to promote competition and not limit the number of companies thay certify as a means to protect their customers. We live in america.. its a free market.. its not the OUs place to limit the number of slaughter houses or restaurants in any area. In most cases, competition has proven to be a good thing.

[Al]

Concerned: My we are condecending today :(

[steve]

Concerned Citizen 2,

I am not only a concerned citizen of this great country, but a concerned Jew. I have been extremely concerned regarding the business that the Rubashkins have been conducting out of Postville for several years. The employee abuses, the animal cruelty, the environmental, health and safety violations, and above all, the lack of kashruth standards and accountability, has led myself on other "concerned citizens" to conclude that the business must be shut down. The only viable alternative would be for a group of reputable businessmen to buy out the business and run it with integrity by obeying both civil law and religious law. For that to happen at this point is highly unlikely, therefore the sooner the business is officially shut down, the better off society as a whole will be. The town of Postville must look to the future and move on. The negative publicity and the abuse perpetrated by the Rubashkins and their cohorts will not be missed.

[Curious Postville Native]

[Agriprocessors has long been the economic heart that beats behind not only Postville, but a good portion of Northeast Iowa.]

That kind of thinking is what got us into this out of control, full-blown mess!

[Archie Bunker]

What's with the wide range in these numbers?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081105/NEWS/81105016/-1/ENT05

The company says it owes between 200 and 999 creditors $50 million to $100 million, according to records filed in U.S. District Court. Agriprocessors lists assets of $100 million to $500 million.

The company's board of directors met Tuesday and decided to file for bankruptcy a day before a scheduled hearing on a lawsuit from the company's largest lender, First Bank of St. Louis.

Among the company's largest creditors are Jacobson Staffing Corp.on, of Des Moines, which Agriprocessors owes $845,000. The company owes $806,970 to Weyerhaeuser Paper Co. of Chicago.

Other creditors include Alliant Energy, Postville Farmers Co-op and USDA
Food Safety and Inspections.

Sen. Mark Zieman, R-Postville, was not surprised to learn about the bankruptcy.

"I haven't understood why they didn't do it before," he said. "They've got creditors all over them."

Zieman said he talked with Agriprocessors management over the years about paying bills to construction companies, trucking firms and other businesses who did work for the plant.

Tom Dietrick, who owns Dietrick Turkey Farm in Cedar Falls, said Agriprocessors owes him money for a flock of 20,000 turkeys that Dietrick could not deliver to the plant following the raid.

The plant couldn't accept the turkeys because they didn't have enough workers to process the meat, Dietrick said. The 79-year-old turkey farmer sold some of the birds to other buyers, but the turkeys were older and Dietrick did not recoup his losses, he said.

[Archie Bunker]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/assets/pdf/D2121874115.PDF

People should protest to the judge that Rubashkin does NOT meet the "strictest kashrus" qualifications like it says in this affadavit.

The list of creditors starts here.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/assets/pdf/D2121875115.PDF

And continues here.

It looks like Rubashkin even stiffed the Algemeiner Journal, fellow Lubabs.

[enough is enough]

" With a local economy headed down in a nosedive. Agriprocessors has long been the economic heart that beats behind not only Postville, but a good portion of Northeast Iowa."
First of all what heart? Second of all does it beat? Third of all NE Iowa? This is rather funny since they have bused in people with criminal records, shelters, Palau, Solmalians and whomever else is down on their luck. Bring them to Postville becuz the "good ole souls" will contact the churches and food pantries and they in turn will cloth and feed them while they screw the employees out of every deduction imaginable from their checks. Hey but it don't end there! Now lets file bankruptcy and screw every other honest hardworking company of money due to them. In the meantime the Rubashkins will try to find investors, within their control, and re-organize and start the whole damn process over again!! I don't get why you people think we should be grateful!?!?!?! Let's not forget they have RUINED their reputation, integrity and good standing in Iowa. Let's not forget they have RUINED OUR reputation in Postville also, and that will take many, many, many years for this town to recover. This company needs to be sold piece by piece, I don't care if the machines are new, they need to repay ALL their debts so these people don't go under along with them, otherwise our section of Iowa will be paying for the bad debt of these criminals in the long run. Whom in their right mind would ever do business with them again if they knew Rubushkins would be involved? Have you EVER heard any apoligies or remorse for what they have done at our expense??? All I see are a bunch of arrogant drunks drinking vodka and mountain dew, getting some good laughs at the expense of others. SELL THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!

[Archie Bunker]

On page 9 of the 2nd document, how is it that Rubashkin owes money to CRC-Chicago? Did they not reimburse one of their Gilligans from the 3 hour tour?

[Anon]

--Chabad does not have "coffers". Each Chabad House is responsible for their own funding.

Educate yourself before you spout.--

Chabad has coffers precisely because each chabad house is reponsible for its own funding. The central organization doesn't have to fund local operations.

Educate yourself before you spout.

[Concerned Citizen 2]

Al- I will be this way every day until intelligent opinions are formed by people who are fully aware of the entire situation.

Steve- I agree with you partially. I'm not sure how many times you've been to the plant (if ever), how many times you've met any of the Rubashkins (if ever), or if you're basing all of your thoughts and opinions on the media twist of things, but I will tell you that "the employee abuses, the animal cruelty, the environmental, health and safety violations, and above all, the lack of kashruth standards and accountability" are not even close to as bad as you seem to believe they are. Everyone loves a good story, and apparently what makes a story good is enhancing the "bad" aspects of it. With this in mind, newspapers, TV stations, and hate-filled sites like this one, run by the oh-feel-so-sorry-for-me-I've-been-slighted Shmarya, make sure to do just that- enhance all the bad to profit themselves. I'm not going to say everything has been done perfectly by the Rubashkins and their "cohorts", but to make them out to be terrible people is quite the judgement to make on a group of mostly good hearted and hard working people. As far as what I agree with you on, at this point it would be best to have the business bought by reputable businessmen who will run it "with integrity by obeying both civil and religious law". You seem to feel that such a situation would be highly unlikely? This is interesting as well, considering the current setup of the plant and the current situation. This is a perfect buy low time for anyone who can afford it.

Curious- Do explain. As a Postville native, are you telling me that the town and surrounding areas were better off before Agriprocessors? No. And do you think that it will be better off with them gone? Again, most likely no.

Just remember, not forming your own opinion by using your head and multiple sources of information and instead listening to one skewed viewpoint and making it your own because it's popular is the formula that brought Hitler to power...

[Concerned Citizen 2]

[First of all what heart? Second of all does it beat? Third of all NE Iowa? This is rather funny since they have bused in people with criminal records, shelters, Palau, Solmalians and whomever else is down on their luck. Bring them to Postville becuz the "good ole souls" will contact the churches and food pantries and they in turn will cloth and feed them while they screw the employees out of every deduction imaginable from their checks. Hey but it don't end there! Now lets file bankruptcy and screw every other honest hardworking company of money due to them. In the meantime the Rubashkins will try to find investors, within their control, and re-organize and start the whole damn process over again!! I don't get why you people think we should be grateful!?!?!?! Let's not forget they have RUINED their reputation, integrity and good standing in Iowa. Let's not forget they have RUINED OUR reputation in Postville also, and that will take many, many, many years for this town to recover. This company needs to be sold piece by piece, I don't care if the machines are new, they need to repay ALL their debts so these people don't go under along with them, otherwise our section of Iowa will be paying for the bad debt of these criminals in the long run. Whom in their right mind would ever do business with them again if they knew Rubushkins would be involved? Have you EVER heard any apoligies or remorse for what they have done at our expense??? All I see are a bunch of arrogant drunks drinking vodka and mountain dew, getting some good laughs at the expense of others. SELL THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!]

You are a sad sad soul. I appreciate your passion but that might be the most idiotic thing I've read on here, and that is saying something. Wow

[Archie Bunker]

Page 11.

It looks like Rubashkin stiffed Weissmandel too! Serves him right.

Page 12.

They stiffed Stefansky out of his Dagim tuna fish without paying.

Page 16.

Hasofer in Crown Hts

Page 18.

They didn't pay Gal / Gabay.

Page 22.

Rabbi Teichman / Kehilla Kosher of LA

Page 23.

Kupczyk Travel Agency in Boro Park

Page 25

Menachem Lubinsky got screwed!

Page 43

CHK / Osdaba

[Archie Bunker]

November 05, 2008 15:31 EST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The owner and managers of the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant are scheduled to go to trial next April on more than 9,000 charges alleging child labor violations at the plant in Postville.

Trial is scheduled for April 20.

[Archie Bunker]

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/11/05/business/local/10737921.txt

[State of Postville III]

Enough is enoug is right. Postville does not deserve or need a business like this. It has been said for some time we were being taken advantage of by these folks. There is hope where there is life and believe it or not there is lots of life left in this town to resume our lives and support the legitiment businesses and industry. It will be like a new town after the houses are bulldozed and people return to build anew. As the expression is "don't let the door hit you in the a-- when you leave."

[Dr. Dave]

Is Mr. Obama's (illegal alien) aunt in Postville?

[Archie Bunker]

Rubashkin obviously made sure to pay the OU and Nat Lewin who are not on the creditor list.

whats wrong Concerned Citizen 2, the truth hurts?, not for the rest of us to clean up their mess. Furthermore I am not sad one bit, I am elated that they are getting whats due them! WOW

[Archie Bunker]

Barack Osama's illegal alien aunt is living in public housing in Boston on the taxpayer dime.

Call the Obama Campaign and ask that he personally refund the money she's stealing from us.

thanks State of Postville 111 for backing me up. I think Postville residents are not going to shut up NO More! The bulldozer can start at the plant as far as I'm concerned, good riddons.............

[Curious Postville Native]

[Curious- Do explain. As a Postville native, are you telling me that the town and surrounding areas were better off before Agriprocessors? No. And do you think that it will be better off with them gone? Again, most likely no.]

[Curious Postville Native]

Concerned Citizen 2:

Are you asking me to respond . . . or responding to your own question?

[steve]

are not even close to as bad as you seem to believe they are

It's bad enough to cause an international chillul hashem that has spanned close to four years now and it's bad enough that it has caused a countless number of well meaning Jews to unwittingly eat treife labeled as "glatt kosher". At this point, I am through debating the Rubashkin scandal with apologists and people with ulterior motive$. I had enough of that this past summer debating here with Getzel who repeatedly denied and lied about every charge. Let justice take its course and let the business self implode. 'Nuff said.

[Toast]

Archie,

Weissmandels income is very substantial and Rubashkin pays because the profits make it worthwhile. The expense for the OU must be far greater.

Rubashkin needs both of them.

I can't understand why he would pay the OU and not Weismandel.

Rubashkin is ruthless and hew will and does screw everyone he possibly can.

The only one who doesn't;t get screwd by Rubashkin is if and when Rubashkin simply can't do it for whatever reason.

The fact that the OU is the only exception is very significant and should be looked in to, if they are not perhaps partners in crime somehow or covering up for each other.

[Yochanan Lavie]

As I've said before, my (MO) shul rabbi explicitedly said we should not eat Rubashkins or bring it into the shul. The concerns are suffak nevailah and not paying workers on time (a major sin according to the Rambam).

[Concerned Citizen 2]

Curious- Explain your comment. Obviously my questions were rhetorical, but go ahead and tell me how you assume things will be better without the plant.

To Whomever wrote: (whats wrong Concerned Citizen 2, the truth hurts?, not for the rest of us to clean up their mess. Furthermore I am not sad one bit, I am elated that they are getting whats due them! WOW)

The truth? Not really. But keep believing everything you hear. Jealousy is a nasty trait, and it shines through every word you say.

[Archie Bunker]

Shmarya's old friend Zeilengold is not owed any money either. There seem to be various hands scratching each other.

[Concerned Citizen 2]

And by the way, "good riddons"! Way to really show off your intelligence. Simple misspellings are a sure-fire way to give your argument more legitimacy...

[Curious Postville Native]

Concerned Citizen 2:

It is never a good thing when any industry relocates or closes However, from a business vantage point, Agriprocessors hasn't been lucrative for several months; and is now taking a toll on other business interests as well as the community.

[yidandahalf]

The OU needs to be thoroughly exposed and dismantled.

[Curious Postville Native]

CC2:

Is that you Getzel?

[Archie Bunker]

Associated Press
2:57 PM CST, November 5, 2008

GORDON, Neb. - A Gordon slaughterhouse run by Agriprocessors has closed because of the financial problems the kosher meat company is having.

The phone number for the Local Pride LLC plant that Agriprocessors ran was disconnected Wednesday.

And Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of the Orthodox Union, said the Local Pride plant in Gordon closed several days ago when Agriprocessors lost its line of credit because the company couldn't afford any new cattle.

[Yochanan Lavie]

CPN: Maybe 5Wankers is trying sockpuppeting again.

[yidandahalf]

Getzel is thoroughly addicted to this blog. He rationalizes it by telling himself it's to help his family's empire. But the truth is otherwise. He simply cannot leave off. On a good day he merely lurks, but then the monkey on his back murmurs in his ear and the game is up. He was probably the most vigorous wanker in Yeshiva but now he blogs.

[Curious Postville Native]

[tell me how you assume things will be better without the plant.]

CC2:

I never made any such statement.

I merely pointed out that--Agriprocessors has NOT been the economic heart that beats behind not only Postville, but a good portion of Northeast Iowa, which is what you posted.

Agriprocessors is only ONE among many in a lengthy line of business interests that have provided economic support to and for this community and the surrounding area.