So, why is the much-ballyhooed "investigation" of alleged worker abuse at Rubashkin's Iowa plant taking so long to get off the ground? It is more than 3 weeks since the Forward broke the story, and the "investigation" has still not begun.
A source close to the happenings in Postville tells me the Conservative rabbis agreed to wait until Rabbi Sholom M. Rubashkin returns from an extended stay in New York. Rubashkin's son Getzel was married last week, and the sheva brachot (week of festive meals) isn't over until early this week. Rubashkin wants to be in Postville for the Conservative rabbis' visit, and the rabbis, who took way too long to decide an investigation was warranted, then agreed to wait for Rubashkin to return.
Rubashkin has had almost one month to coverup and prepare for this visit. He has had ample time to reward workers who help him and isolate those who have not. And into this "prepared table" will waltz the Conservative rabbis, whose leader seems much more concerned about preventing a scandal than he does with getting at the truth.
Another rabbi on the delegation wants to secure Rubashkin non-glatt meat at affordable prices for his community. Will this "investigation" do this for him? If it does, doubt the investigation's results.