For Jewish editor in Austin, Agriprocessors case raises questions about ‘kosher’ meat June 6, 2008
Posted by John in Agriculture, Business, Religion.Tags: Agriprocessors Inc, Gary Susswein, Judaism, Postville (Iowa), Rubashkin's
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From Austin-American Statesman, written by Gary Susswein:
For Jews, eating kosher food is supposed to be an ethical, moral, even holy act. But the news out of Postville, Iowa, over the past few weeks has raised disturbing questions about whether keeping kosher means that my family is supporting a business that may actually be corrupt and exploitative. And it’s prompted my wife and me to think hard about where our food comes from and how it’s made. …
Here in Austin, most kosher meat comes from Postville under the brand name Rubashkin’s.
Kosher means “fit and proper,” says Rabbi Steve Folberg of Congregation Beth Israel, who keeps kosher even though his branch of Judaism — the Reform movement — doesn’t require it. “What does it mean to label something as ‘fit and proper’ that hurts people, exploits people or was produced cruelly?”
For my wife, Melanie, and me, it means refusing to buy Rubashkin’s meat since the news broke, opting instead for industrial-sized bags of Empire brand kosher chicken from Costco. …
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The Agriprocessors raid brings up issues on many different levels. I do not think the Rubashkins have heard the last of the federal government.
Kosher Gate
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