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Orthodox Rabbis Reinventing the Wheel?

by Leah Koenig · September 29th, 2008
Agriprocessors, Kosher, Meat

The Associated Press reported that in response to the raid on Agriprocessors kosher meat plant last May (and the legal fallout surrounding it): “an organization of Orthodox Jewish rabbis announced that it was forming a task force to devise Jewish principles and ethical guidelines on the kosher food industry.”

According to the story, published in the NY Times:

The group, the Rabbinical Council of America, said it would publish the results in a guide. Rabbi Asher Meir, an author and expert in Jewish business ethics, will lead the task force.

On the one hand this is great news - and Rabbi Meir et al deserve advance praise for their efforts.  But I’m left feeling disappointed that the Orthodox task force has, it seems, chosen to work in isolation rather than reaching out beyond denominational lines to the Hekhsher Tzedek project, which is currently endorsed by both the Conservative and Reform movements.  While working together would certainly be more difficult, the opportunity to build ties across “party lines” on such an important issue seems a shame to miss.  And in the end, the creation of a implementable, cross-denominational Jewish ethical certification has much more potential to make real change than a published guide.

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5 Responses to “Orthodox Rabbis Reinventing the Wheel?”

  1. Shmarya Says:
    September 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    Worse yet, the new RCA “guidelines” are only suggestions. There is no provision for enforcement of any kind.

  2. WoolSilkCotton Says:
    September 29th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    To paraphrase the late great Abba Eban, “the orthodox never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity”.

    Shana Tova to all.

  3. aliza Says:
    October 1st, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    i don’t think they want to create “real change” in the sense of affecting markets, products or producers. i think they want to say they looked into it and came up with voluntary guidelines, the surest way industry and govt’s use to pretend they are doing something to get people to shut up. sorry to be such a skeptic.

  4. Leah Koenig Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 8:56 am

    My friend, who comes from an Orthodox background and remains observant, said that although he agrees it’d be better for the RCA to partner with the Hekhsher Tzedek folks, “guidelines” tend to hold more sway in the Orthodox community, and there is actually a chance that they will make a difference. I’m still a bit skeptical…

  5. Jonathan Says:
    October 5th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    I’ve heard some concerns expressed by Orthodox Jews that the Agri-processors fiasco is being used by some non-Orthodox Jews as an opportunity for Orthodox-bashing. So I can understand some of their hesitancy about partnering with non-Orthodox groups on this.

    It’s a tricky business, but I think we need try to work with one another, with sensitivity. I am encouraged by the voices of concern for both justice and mentshlikheit I hear here.

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