Interview With Hechsher Tzedek Founder Rabbi Morris Allen

Rabbi Allen was part of a five-person crew that went to Postville in August of 2006 and then went back to Agriprocessors in September 2006 with 3 recommendations: 1) the Iowa Department of Labor be invited to do an audit of the plant which would have given Agriprocessors 18 months to respond to any of the findings; 2) all training be done in the vernacular – which for most workers was Spanish – and that all training materials be available in Spanish; 3) meetings be organized between senior management and the workforce, with a letter signed by the Rubashkins stating that there would be no intimidation or recriminations against workers for whatever they said at those meetings. The Rubashkins refused.

In Their Own Words
Rabbi Morris Allen of Hekhsher Tzedek
by Tricia Cornell • Heavy Table

In May 2008, immigration officers raided Agriprocessors, a kosher meat processing plant in Postville, Iowa, detaining and deporting almost 400 illegal immigrants, about half the plant’s employees. In June of this year the former plant manager, Sholom Rubashkin, was acquitted of the child-labor charges brought against him, but sentenced to 27 years in prison for bank fraud.

The raid, which has become such a landmark that some refer to it simply as “Postville,” caused two things to happen: a temporary widespread shortage of kosher meat across the country and a nationwide conversation about the true meaning of kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws.

One of the leading voices in that conversation is Rabbi Morris Allen, leader of the Conservative congregation Beth Jacob in Mendota Heights. He wants to add a new hekhsher — a certification mark — right alongside the K, U, and OU symbols stamped on foods prepared under rabbinical certification and according to the laws of kashrut. This new mark is called the Magen Tzedek — the star of justice — because it will certify that the food is not only ritually correct but also ethically correct.

Rabbi Allen’s organization, the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission, has released more than 100 pages of ethical guidelines encompassing wages and benefits; health, safety, and training; corporate integrity; environmental impact; and product development, which includes animal welfare. Earlier this month, they announced that they will work with Social Accountability International to develop metrics for certification and they expect to see the first kosher food bearing the Magen Tzedek within a year.

Producers will pay an application fee to cover the costs of Hekhsher Tzedek’s and SAI’s work (both are nonprofits), just as they pay the traditional kosher certifiers now. Some have noted that this could raise the already elevated prices of kosher foods.

We talked with Rabbi Allen about Postville, kashrut, and the meaning of what we put in our mouths.

Postville brought meat-processing conditions into the national spotlight, but do the roots of the Magen Tzedek extend back before the raid?

Our work began long before the raid! Our work on Hekhsher Tzedek began in 2006 as a result of a story on Postville in The Forward [a Jewish Magazine] in May of 2006. I was part of a five-person crew that went down in August of 2006 and then went back to Agriprocessors in September 2006 with three recommendations: One, that the Iowa Department of Labor be invited in to do a scan of the plant which would have given Agriprocessors 18 months to respond to any of the findings. Two, that all trainings be done in the vernacular, which is, by and large, Spanish, and that all training materials be in Spanish. And three, that a series of meetings be organized between senior management of Agriprocessors, basically the Rubashkin family, and the workforce, with a letter signed by the Rubashkins stating that there be no intimidation or recriminations against people for whatever they said at those meetings.

They refused all three of those points and it was at that point in the fall of 2006 that we decided that trying to address [food production facilities] individually was not a wise thing to do. The Rubashkins may have been in the news, but we had no way of ensuring that other producers of kosher foods were not employing some of the same tactics. So we began in the fall of 2006 thinking through how to develop some sort of systemic approach to the production of kosher foods.

There have been a lot of people who post-raid jumped on the bandwagon, but the reality was that there was a bandwagon to jump onto because of the work that we had already done.

Why is this the right moment to be addressing ethics in kosher food production?

It’s an interesting question. Clearly in the larger environment there is a greater awareness of food and food issues. One could say this is part of something that is in the air, as it were, in the larger environment. But for us as Jews, food has always been central to our religious self-definition. The kosher laws in Hebrew scriptures are central to our understanding of self for many Jews. We held onto kashrut as an act of the sacred, as a means by which we brought the sacred into our daily lives.

So, eating matters.

What we discovered was that while people always thought that keeping kosher meant that there was something really sacred about the food, all of a sudden we began to discover that ritually the sacred quality had been protected, but there were ethical lapses. Several years ago the jingo for Hebrew National was “We respond to a higher authority.” That’s part of what we came to understand: We had to guarantee that we really were responding to a higher authority. That’s what kashrut really means.

Has there been resistance to the idea of an additional certification seal?

Sure. There’s always resistance by people who feel that somehow it’s a slight to their certification. There’s resistance because some people feel that this is not part of the traditional definition of kashrut. But I think that we have been successful in addressing those concerns. The major certifier of kashrut in this country, the OU, the Orthodox Union, has publicly said that they look forward to the day that a product certified by them will have our seal affixed to it as well.

We have worked to honor the people who do the work in the ritual certification and hopefully they will be able to honor our work in terms of the ethical aspects of certification.

What do you consider to be the real cornerstone principles of the Magen Tzedek certification requirements?

The way I would say this is that no longer will we be in the situation where we are more concerned with the smoothness of a cow’s lung than the dignity of a worker processing that meat. [The strictest kosher certifications require that the animal’s lungs be entirely free from lesions.]

To say it another way, the laws of kashrut are found in Leviticus chapter 11. In Deuteronomy chapter 24, it dictates how workers are to be treated. Leviticus chapter 11 is not written in large type and Deuteronomy chapter 24 is not written in small type, but ultimately they are written in the same size type and it is our responsibility to make sure that is the case.

How widespread do you someday see the Magen Tzedek becoming?

We think it will be pretty widespread! We think it will take time, obviously. But I think the fact that I and another rabbi involved in this project were two of the 50 most influential rabbis in America as identified by Newsweek in June is indicative of the fact that the larger American Jewish community has taken on an understanding of the work that we’re doing.

What are your plans for future growth of the seal? Will you take it outside the US, particularly to Israel?

There’s a little traction there, yes. We are very committed to making sure that we take this first step and succeed at this first step and once we are able to put this into the ballgame, as it were, it will take on a life of its own.

Comments

[A E ANDERSON]

If a Magan Zedek appears on a product, will the OU or OK allow their marks to appear alongside a Conservative mark, which to them represents kfira b'ikkar? That said, is there a sufficiently large univrse of Conservative Jews keeping kosher to make a Consrvative heksher viable?

[Not Fair Use]

Copy and paste the entire piece instead of linking to it? Hum. What kind of blog is this? Kinda rude.

[Gladys]

Funny, that. I didn't see anything in the new "ethics" hekhsher that would require Rubashkin to obey immigration laws, or stop smuggling illegal aliens, or stop dumping them on county social services when they get sick.

In fact, by requiring accommodation of illegals (Spanish language materials and training) it seems the rabbi is just trying to improve the illegal smuggling and employment process and, apparently, keep the price of kashered food low.

Why is he so against the American nation? Or is it just that all the nations are alike and their borders and citizenship are meaningless in halacha? Is the only "real" border in the world -- the only border for which G-d demands respect -- the border around Israel?

But perhaps I missed something.

[itchiemayer]

It's a nice concept, but the Federal Govt. already has laws on the books. I don't want Rabbi Allen to threaten Jewish businessesses for not following his guidelines on wages and benefits when laws are already in place. Now if his guidelines mirror Federal law, then they are not unreasonable, but I am still uncomfortable with the hechsher. If the individual states want to enforce laws which mirror Federal law, then I am all for that.

[Ed Emanuel]

This POS who calls himself Rabbi, is a self rightous anti chareidi biggot. He has nothing to with with hechsher, nor magen orTzedek.
There are halochos about a shochet a Conservative convert is posul & his shechita is traifa. An apikores is also posul.
This man means no good only bad.
Be patient to see all the scams & scandels he gets court up in.
Yes hechsher tzedek will be selling Kushere chazer fisselech too.
He will claim asid Chazir litoher has already come.
He is a bad person with bad intentions IMO.

[Ed Emanuel]

Mistake he gets caught up in. BTW he will be in court shamed in public, & finances investigated, because what goes round comes round. IMO

[Shmarya]

It's a nice concept, but the Federal Govt. already has laws on the books. I don't want Rabbi Allen to threaten Jewish businessesses for not following his guidelines on wages and benefits when laws are already in place

And what about situations when Jewish law is more strict than federal law?

Do you want Jewish law to be ignored?

Past that, as any number of stories posted here in the last 6 years have shown, having a law or regulation on the books doesn't mean the feds will enforce that law.

That lack of enforcement from George Bush is how we got the massive bank, mortgage and Wall Street crisis.

That same lack of enforcement carried over to the USDA and Agriprocessors, as I reported at the time.

Further, Rubashkin's labor violations and abuses and OSHA violations and abuses took place in front of dozens of rabbis and mashgichim, yet no rabbi or kosher supervising agency acted to stop them.

Either the ethical laws of the Torah mean something or they don't.

If they do, we need to see those laws are followed, especially by companies that produce specifically Jewish products like glatt kosher meat.

[Shmarya]

This POS who calls himself Rabbi, is a self rightous anti chareidi biggot. He has nothing to with with hechsher, nor magen orTzedek.
There are halochos about a shochet a Conservative convert is posul & his shechita is traifa. An apikores is also posul.
This man means no good only bad.
Be patient to see all the scams & scandels he gets court up in.
Yes hechsher tzedek will be selling Kushere chazer fisselech too.
He will claim asid Chazir litoher has already come.
He is a bad person with bad intentions IMO.

Wow. For a minute there I thought you were talking about Malkiel Kotler or the OU or Rabbi Weissmandl.

[yidandahalf]

Allen wants some limelight and recognition. He has the bent of a minor politician with big dreams. A proposal for a sorry hechsher is as far as they have taken him so far. I suggest he move to California as soon as possible where he will find lots of applause and support.

[Ed Emanuel]

Wow. For a minute there I thought you were talking about Malkiel Kotler or the OU or Rabbi Weissmandl.

Shmaryahooo!
Gimmee your phone number, I know you have issuies. You didn't make it to take over the Lubavitcher Moshiach, I also learned in Lubab as a kid. I could help you, your rampage although entertaining, but has been going on for too long.
The fact the Rebbe thought Ethiopeans are not Jews, was his opinion, why can't you agree to disagree. No one is perfect even the Lubab Rebbe. What makes you think Allen is holy, he is evil spirited.
You don't have to get even with Chabad, nobody over there cares about anyone, but himself.
You say you keep halacha, how do you know what that is if you don't trust anyone?
You would have complained against Moshe Rabeinu, there were Jews who did, & Dovid Hamelech.
I have a lot bigger reasons to feel disgrunted than you, but I realize that no body is perfect, even Moses it says Vatechasereihu meat Mei Elokim.
Everyone needs to work on themselves, echod hamarbe ve echod hamamit uvilvad sheyechavein libo lashomayim.
Maybe you should have never tried the Lubab Tshuva way, but have you got a bad word you could say about the Rachmistrivka Rebbe in BP? Or the Skulena? They may not have big organizations, & there may be some no good people hanging around there, but they are OK.

[PeleYoetzElGiborAviAdSarShalom]

Since kashrut is quickly becoming irrelevant to most conservative Jews, perhaps the rabbis of hechsher tzedek should simply join their efforts with secular animal rights organizations. Unfortunately, this wouldn't afford them the opportunity to capitalize on the recent scandals in the orthodox community ( of which the orthodox community should absolutely be ashamed ) and make a publicity grab. If the conservative movement wants to have a voice in the business of kashrut, perhaps they should do the hard work of establishing their own kashrut supervision, which they can then withhold from violators of their standards both ritual and ethical.

[chaim1]

Certain shechita houses buy the cheapest animals and birds on the market (KJ) grown under the most terrible conditions.
Of course many are treifa because of this. ( i believe they all are). But they work on the assumption that even with the large amount of treifos, they make more profit than buying ones under proper conditions.

this is well known with the leg problems.
How is this new hechsher going to cope with that

[A E ANDERSON]

Heksher Tzedek appears to be nothing more than a front organisation for organised labour, a group labour can call on to bless, as it were, their position in the name of Judaism and force management to bend over in the name of religion.

[itchiemayer]

Shmarya:

1. Yes, halachic guidelines must be followed, even in those cases where they might be more stringent than Federal laws.
I am not knowledgable enough to know if and when this happens.

2. You can't blame Bush (or Republicans)for everything that ails this country.

3. You (conveniently?) were remiss in not mentioning the government's lack of enforcement with regards to immigration laws on the books. On this, I would agree that Bush shares in the blame along with most of Capitol Hill.

[jay]

So when R' Moshe Feinstein z'tl banned non-union grapes and other produce because of the exploitation of migrant workers, did he "force management to bend over in the name of religion" as well?

Any of the Orthoprax right wingers here remember Nach? Malachi 3:5?

"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against idolaters, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.

[A E ANDERSON]

Whenever management doesn't cave to the exorbitant demands of fat labour bosses with their phat slush and pension funds, labour starts whining and whinging about exploitation, widows and orphans.

[Cheskel]

This Morris Allen guy has zero in mind Jews and for sure not halacha.
I bet he officiates intermarriage and is in support of gay marriage. Its a disgrace that the OU will be on the same label.

Thousand of orthodox Jews will not touch a product that will have the Magen Tzedek label

[yidandahalf]

Horsedrek Tzedek is a liberal shreier front for alot of crap and that is all it is. It won't change anything, help anyone, or make a difference in anyway save to the capons who run it. It's like some absurd knickknick that can be brought out and dusted off now and then and it looks great in time for shnorr season.
Allen and the other capons should keep their mouths shut, get off their asses, and actually get out in the world and do good deeds ANONYMOUSLY.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

It's clear from the level of chutspa and invective in the comments that Rabbi Allen is on the correct path. While it remains to be seen if Hekhsher Tzedek will be an effective and/or successful effort, Rabbi Allen is to be praised for doing something that most of his detractors are not: trying to make a bad situation better.

[assist]

What is important? The message or the messenger?

[Maverick]

An interesting, well thought-out position, and a worthy goal. Unfortunately, politics will probably limit the magnitude and effect of the certification.
The companies that value profit over ethics will create a movement against the certification (for example, by saying it is a union ploy). This will likely resulting in many Ultra- (and some Modern-) Orthodox communities viewing the certification negatively, and supporting companies that do not have the certification, and only buying from these companies (said companies will probably be the same as mentioned at the head of this paragraph). This will result in some communities (blessedly) becoming greater in Bein Adam Lichavairo, and other communities fostering an opposite trend.

[ユダヤ人]

What a joke of the bum Rabbi Morris Allen, who is only de legitimizing the great government of the Unites States and saying to OSHA and other agencies that he can do a better job then them.

If this was offered the CEO of Heinz Ketchup I would tell Rabbi Allen to go to hell. What about Hechsher Tzedek for Rabbi Allen members that eat Tyson chicken, will here also be Magen Le Tzedek for Tyson and Purdue?!

ユダヤ人

[ML]

whah whah whah whah whah whah whah.

[Reader]

"There’s resistance because some people feel that this is not part of the traditional definition of kashrut."
How sad that ethical treatment of workers and animal can no longer be ASSUMED under a kosher certification and needs a separate hekhsher. It's even sadder that the so called "orthodox" public does not see the problem and continues to consume beef and chicken which is, in fact, treif.
Is this the Torah that they follow or have they turned it into something different and alien?

[Reader]

I meant to say "animalS" (plural).

[uzi]

Do any of the opponents of HT also oppose Uri Letzedek the organization founded by students of Rabbi Avi Weiss of YCT? They give a similar ethical seal to kosher restaurants across the US. Oh of course there would be no opposition to that organization because they're orthodox! Just say the real reason that you oppose the HT - it is an initiative of a Conservative Rabbi. Period.
If you don't like the idea, fine but be reasonable people. HT is not interested in replacing the OU, they are very clear about that. But what is wrong with knowing how your food is prepared and under what conditions?

@Cheskel - He absolutely DOES NOT officiate at intermarriages. And your comment helps make my point. Anything having to do with anything non-orthodox is verboten. How absurd.

[Lotty]

Ass hole Rabbi! Burn in Hell! Jew Hater!

[YMHammer]

If the Conservative Movement were truly interested in how employees and animals are treated, it should require its heksher for treif slaughterhouses and restaurants, the source of meat for more than 90% of its members.

[Yiam Brum]

Is this Rabbi concerned about the ethics of putting a man in jail for a 27 years for a crime that should of had a much, much less draconian sentence:a family man on his first offense. Did he mention one word of sorrow for the situation? What is this bragging about being one of America's most influential Rabbis? What is his part in destroying Rubaskin along with the Forward? How many "conservative" jews do you know that keep kosher nowadays? If you want to give a Heksher Tzeddik should't you be a mentsh yourself? Please everyone pray for Sholom!

[Shmarya]

Please.

Rubashkin stole more than $26 million dollars, perjured himself, obstructed justice, and committed a series of other crimes including money laundering.

He stole employees overtime. He shorted paycheck. He ripped off suppliers. He and his father illegally drove competitors out of business.

I think 27 years is too much, but the fault for that sentence lies with Rubashkin and his crimes.