FailedMessiah.com

Agri Star Refused Temple Grandin's Request For Transparency Because Rabbis Didn't Want It

In a 2010 letter to PETA, Agri Star's owner, Hershey Friedman, says it can't install 24/6 video monitoring of the animal handling areas of the plant and its grounds or of the slaughter floor area because the Postville plant's rabbis thought having cameras looking over their shoulders would hinder their jobs.

Jewish Healthcare Charity Settles Medicaid Fraud Suit For $47 Million

A Jewish healthcare charity founded by the Bertha Alperstein, the wife of Talmud scholar and Rabbi Abraham Alperstein, almost a century ago in his honor has agreed to repay $47 million to the State of New York and the US government to settle charges of Medicaid fraud. CenterLight Healthcare, previously the Beth Abraham Family of Health Services, was founded as Beth Abraham in 1920 to serve as a nursing home for the Jewish poor. It reportedly admitted this week to having over 1,200 ineligible members in its Medicaid-sponsored long term care plan.

Kosher Industry PR Flack Argues Medical Marijuana – And Water – Both Need Kosher Supervision

"…I have long learned that even the most benign products like water do need certification because of the complexities of modern mass production. Second, in a generation that is seeking to ingest everything kosher, why not offer the kosher certification, especially if the manufacturer seeks and desires the kosher certification as a marketing tool? …I wonder whether those whose knee-jerk reaction is to mock the kosher certification of a product that on the surface may not require kosher certification are in fact doing a disservice to kosher as a whole.…"

Iconic Manhattan Modern Orthodox Synagogue Threatens NYC’s Most Prominent Kosher Restauranteur That It Will Have The OU Pull Its Kosher Supervision Unless The Restauranteur Withdraws A $1.8 Million Civil Suit Against It

Lincoln Square Synagogue, the iconic Modern Orthodox Upper West Side congregation founded decades ago by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, allegedly told Joseph Allaham, the owner of Prime Grill and several other high-end kosher eateries in the city, that if he doesn’t withdraw his $1.8 million civil suit against Lincoln Square Synagogue, it will make sure that all of those eateries and their related catering operations lose their Orthodox Union OU Kosher supervision.

Israel Spends About $770 Million Annually On Kosher Food Supervision, Driving Up The Cost Of Food By 5%, Finance Ministry Says

Sources in Israel’s treasury reportedly estimate inflated costs from the official state chief rabbinate’s kosher supervision monopoly costs Israel 300 million shekels (just under $77 million) per year alone. The chief rabbinate's kosher supervision of fresh produce adds about 1 billion shekels ($255 million) per year to that figure.

Kosher Pot To Be Sold In NY

It’s official. There’s now kosher-certified pot and you’ll be able to buy it in New York next month – provided you have a doctor’s prescription and don't care that the kosher supervision is completely unnecessary.

Haredi Rabbinical Committee Wants To Hire Inspectors To Inspect “Kosher” Cellphone Stores

The demand to employ inspectors was made after several incidents in which cellular stores in haredi neighborhoods that claim to sell only kosher devices were caught selling unauthorized devices or were caught tampering with so-called kosher devices to remove Internet and camera blocking code. Those stores had rabbinic supervision but circumvented it – in part because there is no active inspection protocol from the rabbis, the Rabbinical Committee for Communication Affairs claims.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s Son Indicted On Public Corruption And Fraud Charges

Rabbi Avraham Yosef was charged with two counts of fraud and breach of trust for using his official position as chief rabbi of Holon to force businesses to pay for the private kosher supervision service owned by his father and brother, the Badatz Beit Yosef.

Haredi Rabbis Ban Sidewalk Cafés, Grab-And-Go Fast Food

“We have a duty to warn and alert the public to the phenomenon which has spread in our city: the cheap culture of eating while walking in the street. This was considered cheap behavior of the fringes of society or the weak-minded until a few years ago, and the public would treat [the practice] as such."

Rabbi Milton Yehoshua Balkany Loses Tax Appeal Because He Is “Completely Unreliable,” NY State Tax Panel Says

"…We note that Rabbi Balkany’s testimony is insufficient to overcome petitioners’ inadequate documentation, given the Administrative Law Judge’s finding that the Rabbi’s credibility was “completely unreliable,” a finding to which we defer…"

Sefardi Haredi Chief Rabbi Refuses To Make Reasonable Change In Kosher Supervision Procedure Meant to Root Out Alleged Corruption Heavily Tied To Sefardi Haredi Politicians

Many of the violators are Sefardi haredim who got their patronage positions through the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, and now Jerusalem’s Sefardi haredi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, a former chief rabbi of Israel, has reportedly blocked implementation of a simple and otherwise non-controversial proposal designed to reduce that corruption.

Massive Jewish Social Services Agency’s Execs Got Fat Payouts As Bankruptcy Loomed

One month before one of the largest Jewish charities in the country admitted to donors that it had lost $20 million, the agency’s executive vice president got a $92,000 bonus. Not long after, Gail Magaliff, the group’s former CEO, got nearly $43,000 for unused vacation time.

UPDATED: Sholom Rubashkin (Junior) Is An Abusive Slumlord, Tenants Say In New Lawsuit

A Ditmas Park [Brooklyn, New York] landlord is attempting to harass his rent-stabilized tenants out of their apartments by failing to keep heat and hot water on in winter, allowing vermin and mold to run rampant, and refusing to keep the property safe and secure for kids, claim residents who filed a suit against the owner, Sholom Rubashkin, on Tuesday.

Israeli Hasidic Rebbes Issue Warning About Shabbat Violations, Order Followers To Boycott Stores

"…Do not support stores which operate on Shabbat or stores which are part of national chains that operate on Shabbat – even if the particular store in question is kept closed on Shabbat.Do not support shopping centers which operate on Shabbat – even if the particular store in question is closed on Shabbat.…"

SEC Charges Moshe Yehuda Dunoff With Securities Fraud

"The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Moshe Yehuda Dunoff, of West Palm Beach, Florida, with participating in a "boiler room"-type offering fraud that raised over $1.5 million from 58 investors in 14 countries through the purported purchase and sale of discounted U.S. securities.…in reality, Gruber and Green did not exist, the proposed investment strategy was a sham, and the statements made to investors were lies. Investors not only failed to receive the profits that they were promised, but also lost their entire investments.…"

Haredi Kosher Food Company Allegedly Misrepresents Calories, Fat, Fiber And Carbs By Large Amount, Fooling Consumers

Mauzone Mania allegedly misrepresented the calories, fat, fiber and carbs in its products posing "unacceptable risks to consumers, especially those with medical conditions that would put them at risk if they consume the mislabeled or falsely advertised products"

Hebrew National Promotes It’s Kosher Hot Dogs To Be Eaten With Bacon, Shellfish And Other Non-Kosher Foods, But Are OU Supervised Companies Any Better?

Hebrew National, the iconic producer of kosher deli meats and hot dogs whose slogan is “we answer to a higher authority,” has posted videos on its website touting the use of its kosher hot dogs in high-end recipes that include bacon, shellfish and other non-kosher ingredients. But are OU supervised food companies any better?

Haredim Extort Business Owner To Force Café To Close On Shabbat

The Landwer café located in Independence Park near downtown Jerusalem has agreed not to open on Shabbat after haredim threatened to pull the kosher certification from Landwer Coffee, a separate company founded by the same family but now completely separate from the café chain.

Knesset Hears About Haredi Corruption In Jerusalem City Kosher Supervision As Police Decide Whether Or Not To Open Criminal Corruption Investigation

The Knesset Internal Affairs Committee began an investigation of Jerusalem’s official state religious council and its associated kosher supervision company today after Jerusalem’s Zionist Orthodox Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern went public with evidence of widespread corruption. Police are now deciding whether or not to open a criminal fraud and public corruption investigation.

High Court Likely To Hear Controversial Kosher Food Case Sunday

On Sunday, the High Court of Justice is slated to hear the petition of restaurants that want to be allowed to sell their food as “kosher but not under rabbinic supervision.” Israel's haredi-controlled Chief Rabbinate and both haredi political parties strong oppose the restaurants' petition and are demanding the government pass a new stronger kosher food law that would force restaurants to get official kosher supervision from the Chief Rabbinate or from one of its local satellites.

Alliance To End Chicken Kapparos Sues NYC, Rabbis, Hasidim Over Animal Abuse, Health Code Violations

  “Dead chickens, half dead chickens, chicken blood, chicken feathers, chicken urine, chicken feces, other toxins and garbage…consume the public streets. There is no oversight and no remedy for toxic contaminant-filled debris or clean up…[the kapparot rituals] constitute a substantial public health risk that could have catastrophic and epidemic consequences,” the suit says, adding that police and health departments "aid and abet" kapparot by blocking off streets and sidewalks and not enforcing city and state laws that regulate health and animal cruelty issues despite the evident danger to the public and the clear and open mistreatment of the animals.

Sucking At The Teat Of A Cash Cow? Hasidim Tell NY State They Should Get A Medical Marijuana License Because Their Products Will Fill A Need For The Kosher Consumer

“New York has the largest Jewish population of any state in the U.S., and a large percentage of that population observes kosher customs. By aligning its manufacturing/production processes with Kashrut New York Growing Partners] ensuring that all New Yorkers who could benefit from pain-management qualities of medical marijuana have access without having to go against the tenets of their religion."

Kosher Certified Fresh Raw Whole Tomatoes

Fresh whole raw tomatoes certified as kosher and unwaxed.

Chief Rabbi Warns Of Widespread Kosher Food Fraud If New Opinion By Israel’s AG Is Followed

“As is well-known, anyone can call himself a 'rabbi,’” Lau reportedly said. “Unlike the case with 'lawyer' or 'doctor,' the term 'rabbi' is not protected by law with specific standards. Under this decision, anyone can call himself a 'rabbi' and grant a kashrut certificate, deceiving the public which will not be aware of who the granting party is. We will work with the new government to ensure that this deception is nipped in the bud.”

Amsterdam Rabbi And Triangle-K Kosher Supervision Head Tied To Violent New York Divorce Squad

One of the victims, Menachem Teitelbaum, accused the head of Triangle-K kosher supervision Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag, who is also the Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam, of threatening and beating him. He stated in his testimony that Ralbag received between $25,000 and 3$30,000 dollars for his help in obtaining the get. Ralbag denied this to the court, stating that he is unpopular because he helps women. He also has an alibi – according to him, he was with family when the assault occurred.

Haredi News Website Blurs Out Kim Kardashian In Photo With Jerusalem Mayor

KIm Kardashian, her husband, rapper Kanye West, and their daughter North are in Jerusalem and, while there, had a meal with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who tweeted a photo of them eating together. The haredi news website Kikar HaShabbat reported the meal because the food was allegedly not kosher and the price for it was reportedly $692 including tip. Kikar HaShabbat posted the photo but blurred out Kardashian's face.

Glatt Kosher Cigarettes For Passover

Note the hechsher on the left below says in Hebrew, "L'mehardin min ha-mehadrin," meaning "of the most strictly kosher from the most strictly kosher" – über-glatt, in American Jewish parlance.

Haredi Child Safety, Continued

They cause cancer and kill tens of thousands of people every year, but an English haredi candy manufacturer still makes a candy version marketed for haredi kids – a version that carries the endorsement of a prominent haredi rabbi.

Haredi Kosher Food And Supervision Mag Runs Article On "Kosher Marijuana"

Need some kosher medicinal herb? Kashrus Magazine has the answer for you.

Video: 'Kosher For Passover' Cigarettes

Cigarettes cause cancer, heart attacks and other health problems and are forbidden by an increasing number of rabbis (mostly Modern Orthodox). But lots of haredim smoke anyway and now a group of Israelis is taking advantage of that sad fact by selling "loosies" and packs of "kosher for Passover" Israeli cigarettes, complete with several kosher seals of approval from haredi rabbis, to haredim in Brooklyn.

Modern Orthodox Billionaire Allegedly Looted Mining Company

Did Modern Orthodox billionaire Ira Rennert loot one of his mining companies? A jury in a Manhattan federal court is poised to answer that question, and that answer could cost Rennert almost $1 billion.

Shamed Before Royal Commission, Senior Chabad Rabbi Resigns From Yet Another Communal Position

Chabad Rabbi Yosef Feldman has stepped down from his role as the interim rav ha-machshir (kosher food supervising authority) for the prominent Sydney-based kosher caterer Amaze in Taste. But Feldman still holds the position as top rabbi of a synagogue, despite his shameful testimony before Australia's Royal Commission investigating child sex abuse at Chabad institutions.

OU May Certify Medical Marijuana As Kosher

Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of the Orthodox Union’s kosher certification agency, said he has held “preliminary discussions” with several companies interested in obtaining a kosher seal of approval for medical marijuana.

Intifooda: Kosher Food-Cart Vendor Says He‘s Blocked By ‘Halal Mafia’ In NYC

“Why doesn’t he go to 47th Street?” Mossad shouted, referring to the Hasidim-heavy Diamond District. “He’s just coming to this particular spot, and he wants to grab it from me — and kill me, actually. Kill my business.”

Trump Hotel Allegedly Intentionally And Deceptively Serves Kosher Customer Non-Kosher Food

An Orthodox Jewish man is suing the Trump Soho after he allegedly spent $146 to get a special hot kosher meal there — and was allegedly served a cold non-kosher turkey sandwich the hotel claimed was kosher instead.

Satmar Ex-Con, On Run From The Law In Buildings Bribery Scandal, Has History Of Illegal Behavior – In A Kosher Slaughterhouse

The "expediter," David Weiszer, hired by developers to make sure work was completed without interference from the city is an ex-con who has been on the lam for three months.

Kiryas Joel Satmar Rebbe Visits Otisville Prison, Rubashkin Serves As His Translator And Gabbai

The Kiryas Joel Satmar Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum visited Otisville federal prison on Monday December 15, the day before Hanukkah started, and while there reportedly spoke about the power of spiritual freedom.

Owner Of Dietary Supplement Company Pleads Guilty To Multimillion-Dollar Scheme To Adulterate Dietary Supplements, Falsely Represent Them As Kosher

Barry Steinlight, CEO and president of Raw Deal nc., a dietary supplement manufacturing facility, "diluted his products, cheated his customers and lied to the Food and Drug Administration when they came to inspect his company.” Steinlight also directed Raw Deal employees to create COAs that falsely certified that certain of Raw Deal’s products were kosher.

Chabad Women Honor Rubashkins, Have Sholom Rubashkin Speak Via Conference Call From Prison In Honor Of Hasidic Holiday

Neshei Chabad, the Chabad International women's organization, held a Yud Tet Kislev international farbrengen (hasidic gathering) and conference call for thousands of women in honor of Yud Tet Kislev, the "Chag Ha-Geulah" (holiday of freedom) commemorating the release from prison of Chabad's first rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who was held in Tzarist prison in 1798 on trumped up treason charges.

Agri Star Kosher Slaughterhouse Loses Appeal Against Rubashkin Company

Agri Star, now formally known as SHF Holdings, whose primary owner is haredi mega donor Hershy Friedman, lost its appeal of a court ruling that found it has no right to use a deepwater well owned by the Nevel Properties bankruptcy. SHF bought Agriprocessors after the company's bankruptcy, renamed it Agri Star, and thought the well use was included in the sale. Nevel's bankruptcy disagreed. Nevel Properties was the Rubashkin family's real estate arm which owned many properties in tiny Postville, Iowa, where the family also owned the corrupt Agriprocessors glatt kosher slaughterhouse.

Class Action 'You're Not Kosher' Lawsuit Against Hebrew National Finally Over, Hebrew National Wins

The plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit against Hebrew National (ConAgra Foods) for allegedly selling less than "100% kosher" beef products has ended because the plaintiffs did not appeal the lower court's ruling against them.

Jerusalem 'Top Of The Line’ Kosher Slaughterhouse Closed By Government For Serious Health And Sanitation Violations

Oaf Glatt, located in the Atarot Industrial Zone, has the strictest kosher supervision available but was an immediate danger to public health, Ministry of Health and city officials found.

Convicted Felon Rabbi Milton Yehoshua Balkany Lectures To Haredi Rabbinical Association On Jewish Law

Rabbi Milton Yehosua Balkany, former Agriprocessors VP Sholom Rubashkin's brother-in-law – was recently released from prison after serving time for attempting to extort hedge fund head Steven Cohen. Balkany joined fellow haredi rabbis at a convention of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, and Balkany was honored by the RAA with giving a lecture on the halakha (Orthodox Jewish law) or marit ayin.

Top Sefardi Haredi Rabbis Overrule Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Ban Israeli Produce During Shmita Causing Firestorm

“People with vested interests, who have mehadrin [stringent] kashrut-licensing businesses whose only purpose is to squeeze money out of the weakest members of our community, charge twice or three times the value [for the imported produce]. The propaganda against heter mechira is because of the interests of kashrut-licensing businesses that want to oppress the public and want to take huge amounts of money from poor yeshiva students."

Government Files Suit Against Kiryas Joel Slaughterhouse

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Judith Enck, Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States has filed and simultaneously entered into a consent decree settling a civil lawsuit against the KIRYAS JOEL POULTRY PROCESSING PLANT, INC. and KIRYAS JOEL MEAT MARKET CORPORATION (collectively, “Defendants”), for violations of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) in connection with the operation of a poultry processing plant in Orange County.

Frankfurt Kosher Butchers Sold Treife Meat To Unsuspecting Jews For At Least Two Years, Owners Now On Trial For Fraud

A Frankfurt, Germany kosher butcher with close ties to the Orthodox Jewish community sold more than 88,000 pounds of non-kosher meat to Orthodox Jews for at least two years until the fraud was uncovered.

Haredi Rabbi Becomes So Agitated Over Kosher Food Turf Dispute, He Needed Medical Attention

A Sefardi haredi chief rabbi in an Israeli city reportedly became so agitated and upset today at his Ashkenazi haredi counterpart and at staffers that staff had to call for medical help to calm him down and prevent violence. 

Prosecutors Warn Rabbi Avraham Yosef Criminal Charges Are Likely To Be Filed Against Him

Prosecutors say they are considering charging Chief Rabbi of Holon Rabbi Avraham Yosef with breach of public trust and fraud charges.

Rubashkin The Saint

"As everyone knows, Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin is a man of incredible faith, who despite currently being in prison, still manages to serve as a fountain of emuna and even simcha to his fellow Yidden worldwide…"

Video: Kosher Food Warehouse Changes Expiration Dates To Sell Older Food As Fresh

A kosher food warehouse allegedly has employees change expiration dates on food packages to extend their shelf life and ability to be sold.