Rubashkin has dropped KAJ supervision of its products. According to VIN, which is quoting from a Rubashkin press release given to them by Agriprocessors today, this is a "consolidation."
However, it appears all the other kosher supervisors remain on Rubashkin's payroll – Crown Heights Kosher, Maragreten, etc., and Rabbi Weissmandl's "Supreme Kosher." Rabbi Weissmandl replaced KAJ as the lead kosher supervising agency almost three years ago. KAJ was simply used as the haredi stamp of approval on retail packages bearing an OU as the primary kosher supervisor.
What appears to have happened is Rabbi Weissmandl has decided to allow his Supreme Kosher stamp to appear alongside the OU. Rabbi Weissmandl had long refused to allow this. It seems in return for changing his mind, Rabbi Weissmandl both moves out KAJ and gets more money.
Note the slap at KAJ and the OU from the press release:
Rabbi Weissmandl, a well known international authority in kashrus, was appointed three years ago to elevate the standards of kashrus in the whole plant…
This may very well be a Rubashkin response to KAJ's move a couple of years ago when it put its stamp on Empire chicken.
The OU is the only kosher certifying agency that has put any pressure on Rubashkin to comply with humane slaughter law and standards.
Note the above slap at the OU and then, this, also from Rubashkin's press release:
Rabbi Weissmandl, son of the legendary hero of hatzoloh in World War II, Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl zt”l, is Rav of the Nitra kehilla in Monsey, the author of many scholarly Torah works on kashrus and other subjects, and a respected authority on glatt kosher and other aspects of kashrus. The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services. Its kosher certification mark, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 400,000 products manufactured in 80 countries around the globe.
Rabbi Weissmandl is depicted as a scholar who is the son of a hero. The OU is depicted as a social service organization without mention of any scholarship of its leaders.
UPDATE 1-1-08 11:PM – It seems there may be another layer to this story. Comments like this are popping up on various blogs reporting the story, including here:
I heard from a member of the washington heights community (aka KAJ) that their leader Rabbi Gelley made an announcement last shabbos after mincha that the KAJ is giving Rubashkin until april to get their act together or their dropping their supervision. (as a side note, KAJ hasn't actually been doing any supervising at all for months rather relying on the OU & accepting payment for their endorsement). It seem like rubashkin preempted them & fired them first to save face.
The throat-ripping at Agriprocessors took place under KAJ's watch. But KAJ then had a different head of shechita, Rabbi Chaim Kohn. Rabbi Kohn, a Ger hasid, permitted throat-ripping against the wishes of others in KAJ and the OU. He was quietly removed in the wake of the first Rubashkin PETA Scandal.
Rubashkin then brought in Rabbi Weissmandl, in part to shore up the plants failing reputation and in part to gain control over another market.
Rubashkin could not drop KAJ then because Rabbi Weissmandl would not allow his kosher seal to appear on commercially available meat and poultry with the OU.
It seems that now, as KAJ began to move to withdraw from Agriprocessors, Rubashkin was able to convince Rabbi Weissmandl to change his policy and put his kosher mark on products with the OU.
More on this as it develops.
UPDATE 1-2-08: A KAJ letter to Rubashkin, dated 12-28-07 reiterates an earlier decision made in October of 2007 to stop supervising Rubashkin products because of what seem to be kosher-related issues. You can read the letter here.
The entire press release is posted after the jump.
December 31, 2007 Agriprocessors Consolidates Kashrus Supervision in Marketing Move Postville, Iowa…Agriprocessors, one of the world’s largest purveyors of glatt kosher meats, moved this week to consolidate its kashrus supervision behind the Orthodox Union and Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandl shlit”a, the Rav of Nitra of Monsey, NY. Rabbi Weissmandl, a well known international 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. 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.” The combination of the two hechsheirim, explained Rubashkin “will position the plant to be under the strictest kashrus guidelines of the Torah and Chasidic world.” In making the announcement, the Rubashkin family pledged to continue “to do its utmost to provide consumers with the highest quality products under the strictest kashrus guidelines.” Agriprocessors also expressed its gratitude to Khal Adas Jeshurun for its past certification of products produced buy Agriprocessors. In accepting an expanding role, Rabbi Weissmandl praised the Rubashkin family “for its uncompromising support for the highest standards of kashrus and for granting supervising rabbonim the full autonomy they need to provide the ultimate kashrus.” Rabbi Weissmandl, son of the legendary hero of hatzoloh in World War II, Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl zt”l, is Rav of the Nitra kehilla in Monsey, the author of many scholarly Torah works on kashrus and other subjects, and a respected authority on glatt kosher and other aspects of kashrus. The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services. Its kosher certification mark, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 400,000 products manufactured in 80 countries around the globe.