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New York - Empire Kosher Poultry to be Exclusive Producer of New Chasidic Brand of Kosher Poultry |
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In light of its recent announcement that Empire will be expanding capacity in the Kosher poultry market, the company received requests to add a Chasidisha Schechita (Chasidic-run slaughter) on a “contract manufacturing” basis. Empire invited Rabbi Gruber to inspect the Mifflintown facility to determine its suitability for this type of production. His inspection and follow-up visits essentially created the new brand, which will be sold directly into Chasidic communities.
Rabbi Gruber commented that “I found Empire Kosher with their commitment to Kashrus to be able to create a special run which would satisfy the highest level of Chasidisha Schechita.”
Empire’s onsite professional Rabbinical supervising staff, led by Rabbi Chaim Meir Wagshal and Rabbi Yoel Rokeach, will work seamlessly with Rabbi Gruber to ensure that best practices in Kosher are maintained at all times at the Empire plant.
Rabbi Yisroel Weiss, VP for Rabbinic Affairs at Empire, commented, “When Rabbi Gruber reviewed Empire’s processes and then agreed to supervise a Chasidic production run with us, we knew it was an excellent opportunity to offer Empire’s superior Kashrus and product quality to an even greater audience.”
The new production will be contracted for by a family-owned master distribution company in the New York City area. That company’s mission is to bring the best quality Kosher poultry to the Chasidic community – at affordable prices.
The product line will begin with regular Kosher production but it can be extended to include ABF all vegetarian fed and Organic poultry as well. Packaging, brand names and branding materials will be unveiled at a later date.
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Read Comments (42) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:04 PM Anonymous Says:
terrific, their stuff has been good for 35 years and everyone else's has based on how they do it and now we can expect the price of chicken just to go further up because some other rabbi needs to support his family
2
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:35 PM Cluck Cluck Says:
“ terrific, their stuff has been good for 35 years and everyone else's has based on how they do it and now we can expect the price of chicken just to go further up because some other rabbi needs to support his family ”
You must of gone to the Obama school of economics... LOL
IMHO an increase in supply + more competition = more consumer options = reduced priced!
But it's good to see that the 1st comment is negative as usual...why hope for the good aspect complain & belly ache at some minor negative. Instead of looking at the positive look at the negative....
"some other rabbi needs to support his family" but what about ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE ...ERLICHE YIDDEN..that will also have a parnosa....
3
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:33 PM Anonymous Says:
Donteven think thet chicken will be cheaper the same owner from mealmart are the owners of empire
4
Jul 16, 2009 at 06:07 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Donteven think thet chicken will be cheaper the same owner from mealmart are the owners of empire ”
I see that someone without the slightest idea is talking out of his bottoms. Empire used to be owned by a family named Katz. It was later sold to a major investment company. I'm sure the owners of Meal Mart would wish they own that company.
5
Jul 16, 2009 at 06:51 PM Anonymous Says:
“ terrific, their stuff has been good for 35 years and everyone else's has based on how they do it and now we can expect the price of chicken just to go further up because some other rabbi needs to support his family ”
u must be a dumb lib to say that. new jobs will be created since they will have the need for it due to the new market demand. prices will be in check due more product on the kosher market.
I just wounder what the nirbater terror group has in store for the new bal machshir like he has done to weissmandel
6
Jul 16, 2009 at 06:28 PM Anonymous Says:
which way will it be different .will they just change the name of the rav hamacher or the same old same old
7
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:55 PM one of em Says:
Rabbi Weismnadel has tried to do this at Rubashkin, and for some reason it failed, some were against it, because its will "kasher" the original brand Shechita as well. I happen to disagree, but in fact it failed, and just caused some people to stop respecting Rabbi Wesimandel's Hechsher.
8
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:46 PM Anonymous Says:
All these years, when breuers had the hasgacha with the OU on Rubashkin's products, it was 'chassidishe". Can anyone tell me what chassidishe shechita is? Or, what you think it is??
In simple terms a chassidshe shechita is the GOLD STANDARD in kashruth and the only type that should be acceptable to yidden who areshomrei torah and mitzvot. Some would have you believe that ALL shechitos today in the
U. S. are "chassidishe"--including Breuer's shechita. There are litvashe shochtim who will tell you they were hired as a shochet at Breuer's kehilla because they take only the top of the line professionals from the right chassidus. The Ball Shem Tov ruled that under halacha we are required to use the latest knife technology, and therefore sharpening the knife alone was no longer enough. Honing the knife was also required. (One makes the knife cut better, the other takes off minute jagged edges, making the knife cut smoother and not tear the neck) Only chassidshe shochtim with many years of training know how to do this. Same for inspection of the animal's lungs etc. In a Chassideshe Shlachthaus, a shoichet is a great talmid chacham and frumme yid and real yiras shamayim shechts the animal, someone else checks the knife (for chickens, the shochet slaughters 10 animals, then the knife goes with the batch for checking, and he picks up another knife from the stack), someone else checks the animals etc, The shochet must be trained to do his job properly with maximum care to the animal (that would make PETA proud) and the cut. . The knife checker's job is most important. In a Chassidshe Shlachthaus, if he calls a knife bad, all the animals are declared treifus and thrown away for animal food or other non-kosher uses. Same for the animal checker who checks the animal's health against halacha and only Chassideshe shoichtim know how to do this properly given all the details which must be considered.
9
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:38 PM Anonymous Says:
It will be the same chickens shechted by chassidish shochtim and sold at a higher price. Maybe they'll have fewer feathers than the other super medhadrin chickens available now.
10
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:26 PM Anonymous Says:
Just what the Jewish world needs, another hashgacha on chicken. BTW, do chassidim have a different way to slaughter birds and animals? Is there a different mesorah? Different shulchan aruch? Please fill me in. This is soooo confusing.
11
Jul 16, 2009 at 07:49 PM Kashrus Pro Says:
“ Just what the Jewish world needs, another hashgacha on chicken. BTW, do chassidim have a different way to slaughter birds and animals? Is there a different mesorah? Different shulchan aruch? Please fill me in. This is soooo confusing. ”
They have some hidurim such as the shochet had to use the mikva before sh'chita. There are others too if anyone wants to post, go ahead.
12
Jul 16, 2009 at 07:45 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Rabbi Weismnadel has tried to do this at Rubashkin, and for some reason it failed, some were against it, because its will "kasher" the original brand Shechita as well. I happen to disagree, but in fact it failed, and just caused some people to stop respecting Rabbi Wesimandel's Hechsher. ”
It did not fail, the company went bancrupt
13
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:21 PM Anonymous Says:
Do the chickens really care whether the shoichet is chassid or misnagid??
14
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:41 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Just what the Jewish world needs, another hashgacha on chicken. BTW, do chassidim have a different way to slaughter birds and animals? Is there a different mesorah? Different shulchan aruch? Please fill me in. This is soooo confusing. ”
Obviously you do not understand the fundamental differences between Chassidshe and Litvashe hashgacha. Post no. 8 addresses some of these differences but there are others such as making sure the chicken or cow goes to mikvah before shechting.
15
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:47 PM michali Says:
“ All these years, when breuers had the hasgacha with the OU on Rubashkin's products, it was 'chassidishe". Can anyone tell me what chassidishe shechita is? Or, what you think it is??
In simple terms a chassidshe shechita is the GOLD STANDARD in kashruth and the only type that should be acceptable to yidden who areshomrei torah and mitzvot. Some would have you believe that ALL shechitos today in the
U. S. are "chassidishe"--including Breuer's shechita. There are litvashe shochtim who will tell you they were hired as a shochet at Breuer's kehilla because they take only the top of the line professionals from the right chassidus. The Ball Shem Tov ruled that under halacha we are required to use the latest knife technology, and therefore sharpening the knife alone was no longer enough. Honing the knife was also required. (One makes the knife cut better, the other takes off minute jagged edges, making the knife cut smoother and not tear the neck) Only chassidshe shochtim with many years of training know how to do this. Same for inspection of the animal's lungs etc. In a Chassideshe Shlachthaus, a shoichet is a great talmid chacham and frumme yid and real yiras shamayim shechts the animal, someone else checks the knife (for chickens, the shochet slaughters 10 animals, then the knife goes with the batch for checking, and he picks up another knife from the stack), someone else checks the animals etc, The shochet must be trained to do his job properly with maximum care to the animal (that would make PETA proud) and the cut. . The knife checker's job is most important. In a Chassidshe Shlachthaus, if he calls a knife bad, all the animals are declared treifus and thrown away for animal food or other non-kosher uses. Same for the animal checker who checks the animal's health against halacha and only Chassideshe shoichtim know how to do this properly given all the details which must be considered.
”
"The Ball Shem Tov ruled that under halacha we are required to use the latest knife technology, and therefore sharpening the knife alone was no longer enough."
Can you tell us the source for this statement? I learned that it was the Baal HaTanya that ruled on the above issue. There is a biography of the life of the Baal HaTanya, published by Kehot publications. In the book it mentions that he ruled that shochtim had to use a much sharper knife to shecht animals back in the late 1700s. This was way after the BST passed away.
16
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:55 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Do the chickens really care whether the shoichet is chassid or misnagid?? ”
no, but you should
17
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:55 PM Jack Says:
The whole thing is a fraud the shecita is always top notch by empire. There js no such thing as chasidisha shecita.
18
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:32 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Do the chickens really care whether the shoichet is chassid or misnagid?? ”
LOL, no. But the yidden do.
19
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:14 PM stop the murder Says:
stop the murder of animals, let them live!!!!!!
20
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:01 PM Anonymous Says:
“ It will be the same chickens shechted by chassidish shochtim and sold at a higher price. Maybe they'll have fewer feathers than the other super medhadrin chickens available now. ”
I disagree. Weismandels shchiye at Rubashkin was always the same price as the original Rubashkin. At least where I bought it.
21
Jul 16, 2009 at 09:16 PM cub fan Says:
there are a some that don't accept the "regular" rabbinical certifications, that is their choice, so let them pay the premium price for the same product, yet there are many items with the chassidic hashgacha that are made in regular plant's i know of one plant that produces cookies with a OU, at the same time they produce for the "special" private label companies they rely on the regular supervisors that are paid by a few agencies, and the manufacture does not change anything, so folks get real there is nothing special about your specialy supervised items your just paying a premium, empires profits will sky rock good for them, great marketing.
22
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:43 PM Anonymous Says:
reply to number #8-you really dont have the foggiest idea what you are talking about-but you have a great imagination
23
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:15 PM Anonymous Says:
They had a deal to produce Cahbura chickens for the Lakewood community under a joint KAJ Lakewood Hashgocha. After around a year due to ^Issues^ that production stopped now it seems Rabbi Gruber is picking up that production.
24
Jul 16, 2009 at 09:55 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Obviously you do not understand the fundamental differences between Chassidshe and Litvashe hashgacha. Post no. 8 addresses some of these differences but there are others such as making sure the chicken or cow goes to mikvah before shechting. ”
Clearly I don't. When I learned Chullin I don't remember any reference to chasidesha schita.
25
Jul 16, 2009 at 09:55 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Obviously you do not understand the fundamental differences between Chassidshe and Litvashe hashgacha. Post no. 8 addresses some of these differences but there are others such as making sure the chicken or cow goes to mikvah before shechting. ”
“Obviously you do not understand the fundamental differences between Chassidshe and Litvashe hashgacha. Post no. 8 addresses some of these differences but there are others such as making sure the chicken or cow goes to mikvah before shechting.”
So let me be sure I understand. A Chassideshe shoichet takes the chickens to the local mikvah and toivels each one before taking them back to the schlachthaus for shecting them. No wonder a chicken with a Chassidshe hashgacha costs so much. Also, which mikvah allows cows and chicens to be toivel. In any event, I will remind my wife to always go to a Litvashe mikvah.
26
Jul 16, 2009 at 09:45 PM Anonymous Says:
this so funny in the last year 2 new kosher poultry opened mehadrin (crc) and Kosher Valley (babad) so now we have 7 kosher plants keep on going
27
Jul 16, 2009 at 09:26 PM Anonymous Says:
Chasideshe schita means that the chicken has a beard (and has lots of feathers in the 3 weeks)
28
Jul 17, 2009 at 12:21 AM PMO Says:
“ All these years, when breuers had the hasgacha with the OU on Rubashkin's products, it was 'chassidishe". Can anyone tell me what chassidishe shechita is? Or, what you think it is??
In simple terms a chassidshe shechita is the GOLD STANDARD in kashruth and the only type that should be acceptable to yidden who areshomrei torah and mitzvot. Some would have you believe that ALL shechitos today in the
U. S. are "chassidishe"--including Breuer's shechita. There are litvashe shochtim who will tell you they were hired as a shochet at Breuer's kehilla because they take only the top of the line professionals from the right chassidus. The Ball Shem Tov ruled that under halacha we are required to use the latest knife technology, and therefore sharpening the knife alone was no longer enough. Honing the knife was also required. (One makes the knife cut better, the other takes off minute jagged edges, making the knife cut smoother and not tear the neck) Only chassidshe shochtim with many years of training know how to do this. Same for inspection of the animal's lungs etc. In a Chassideshe Shlachthaus, a shoichet is a great talmid chacham and frumme yid and real yiras shamayim shechts the animal, someone else checks the knife (for chickens, the shochet slaughters 10 animals, then the knife goes with the batch for checking, and he picks up another knife from the stack), someone else checks the animals etc, The shochet must be trained to do his job properly with maximum care to the animal (that would make PETA proud) and the cut. . The knife checker's job is most important. In a Chassidshe Shlachthaus, if he calls a knife bad, all the animals are declared treifus and thrown away for animal food or other non-kosher uses. Same for the animal checker who checks the animal's health against halacha and only Chassideshe shoichtim know how to do this properly given all the details which must be considered.
”
So according to you... the OU, OK, CRC, etc. are putting their hashgocho on treif? Clearly you know nothing about the process other than what you read in a book.
29
Jul 17, 2009 at 01:04 AM ahron Says:
for all you people making fun of mikva you should just know that the matte asher writes that TAKONAS EZRA was only mivatel for Torah and Tifilah but not for shchita.
30
Jul 17, 2009 at 05:56 AM glatekup Says:
“ I see that someone without the slightest idea is talking out of his bottoms. Empire used to be owned by a family named Katz. It was later sold to a major investment company. I'm sure the owners of Meal Mart would wish they own that company. ”
I know that meal mart used to shecht by empire but since they started with marvid(canada) I believe they don't shecht at empire anymore.
31
Jul 17, 2009 at 07:25 AM Anonymous Says:
“ for all you people making fun of mikva you should just know that the matte asher writes that TAKONAS EZRA was only mivatel for Torah and Tifilah but not for shchita. ”
Yes...but if you read post No. 14, your would understand that in a Chassideshe shechita that are mivatel not only for the shoichet but for the animals too...now thats what I call a real chumrah and dedication to halacha.
32
Jul 17, 2009 at 09:16 AM Anonymous Says:
Rabbi Gruber has a lot of facilities under him, so empire has made a good deal
33
Jul 17, 2009 at 10:26 AM Anonymous Says:
“ They have some hidurim such as the shochet had to use the mikva before sh'chita. There are others too if anyone wants to post, go ahead. ”
And where is Milhouse to explain that we need glatt chicken?
34
Jul 17, 2009 at 10:32 AM Agent Emmes Says:
Just from looking at that picture I dont think I would buy that chicken.
35
Jul 17, 2009 at 10:38 AM moish Says:
“ So according to you... the OU, OK, CRC, etc. are putting their hashgocho on treif? Clearly you know nothing about the process other than what you read in a book. ”
if only they would actually "read in a book", it would be a start.
- most of this nonsense is perpetuated gurnisht from gossiping during shul (when you should be listening to the laining).
36
Jul 17, 2009 at 10:33 AM moish Says:
“ Do the chickens really care whether the shoichet is chassid or misnagid?? ”
no, silly - it's the question of whether the pronounciation of the brochoh is with a galician accent or not.
37
Jul 17, 2009 at 10:31 AM pork chop Says:
“ "The Ball Shem Tov ruled that under halacha we are required to use the latest knife technology, and therefore sharpening the knife alone was no longer enough."
Can you tell us the source for this statement? I learned that it was the Baal HaTanya that ruled on the above issue. There is a biography of the life of the Baal HaTanya, published by Kehot publications. In the book it mentions that he ruled that shochtim had to use a much sharper knife to shecht animals back in the late 1700s. This was way after the BST passed away. ”
whether the post is referring to the right or wrong source, the best part is that in the late 1700's we needed "the latest knife technology".
And this is the chiddush that this special hakpodoh brings us - the latest technology from the 1700s...
(which is what is so wrong with regular shechita from the 21st century - because it's not really the latest technology).
38
Jul 17, 2009 at 09:55 AM just curious Says:
“ All these years, when breuers had the hasgacha with the OU on Rubashkin's products, it was 'chassidishe". Can anyone tell me what chassidishe shechita is? Or, what you think it is??
In simple terms a chassidshe shechita is the GOLD STANDARD in kashruth and the only type that should be acceptable to yidden who areshomrei torah and mitzvot. Some would have you believe that ALL shechitos today in the
U. S. are "chassidishe"--including Breuer's shechita. There are litvashe shochtim who will tell you they were hired as a shochet at Breuer's kehilla because they take only the top of the line professionals from the right chassidus. The Ball Shem Tov ruled that under halacha we are required to use the latest knife technology, and therefore sharpening the knife alone was no longer enough. Honing the knife was also required. (One makes the knife cut better, the other takes off minute jagged edges, making the knife cut smoother and not tear the neck) Only chassidshe shochtim with many years of training know how to do this. Same for inspection of the animal's lungs etc. In a Chassideshe Shlachthaus, a shoichet is a great talmid chacham and frumme yid and real yiras shamayim shechts the animal, someone else checks the knife (for chickens, the shochet slaughters 10 animals, then the knife goes with the batch for checking, and he picks up another knife from the stack), someone else checks the animals etc, The shochet must be trained to do his job properly with maximum care to the animal (that would make PETA proud) and the cut. . The knife checker's job is most important. In a Chassidshe Shlachthaus, if he calls a knife bad, all the animals are declared treifus and thrown away for animal food or other non-kosher uses. Same for the animal checker who checks the animal's health against halacha and only Chassideshe shoichtim know how to do this properly given all the details which must be considered.
”
please clarify why chasidishe shechita is preferable. one of the aspects of the Vilna Gaon's cheyrim against the chasidim was that he (& his bais din) assured the shechita of chasidim!
39
Jul 17, 2009 at 11:59 AM Anonymous Says:
“ please clarify why chasidishe shechita is preferable. one of the aspects of the Vilna Gaon's cheyrim against the chasidim was that he (& his bais din) assured the shechita of chasidim! ”
it is preferable because:
1. It gives parnossa to otherwise unemployed chassidim
2. It deepens the rift between chassidim and misnagdim, so each can claim that the other are shgotzim.
40
Jul 17, 2009 at 02:33 PM Life Has Changed Says:
“ please clarify why chasidishe shechita is preferable. one of the aspects of the Vilna Gaon's cheyrim against the chasidim was that he (& his bais din) assured the shechita of chasidim! ”
You need to understand that what the early chasidim were doing was comepletely never seen before and the Gra - rightfully so - felt this would lead to places where klal yisroel hadnt been for about 1700 or so years before him. You never know what a change will do. Chodosh Asur Min HaTorah.
Looking back at history, the reason for the "strange" way of the early chasidim was due to all the people we were losing because people were generally amay ha'oretz. We sometimes forget that the modern yeshiva k'tana system where kids are educated in classroom settings is a fairly new thing. Back in the day there was maybe one rebbe who could teach the young minds of mush.
Perhaps it was the Gra's cherim that caused original "chasidisim" to come more back to the traditional fold with Reb Bunim of Peshischa. The Chidushei Harim as well as the Kotzer were followers of Reb Bunim. If you look at the dynasties that followed Reb Bunim vs the others you will see some interesting differences.
I think looking back over the last 250 years or so since the Gra, if not for Chasidim the USA would look a lot different. It was the chasidish influence that helped push the "litvishe" crowed to stay on the derech in the early to mid 1900s. The chasidish influence was felt in many early American yeshivas such as Torah Vodaas where so many of our current "yeshivish" rebeim can trace their roots from.
Its also safe to say that what we see in chasidim now, is probably NOTHING compared to what they saw from 1750 till about 1945.
41
Jul 17, 2009 at 02:23 PM A Esq. Says:
While there may be different chumras issued by Hasidim and Litvaks two hundred years, today this is really just a marketing scheme. I had a trial in Federal Court where this issue of selling food "only with Chassidiche Schoctim" became very relevant. Both sides had their experts and there was testimony about this very issue. In the end I was able to get the large manufacturer and his expert to admit there is no such thing as the one and only "Chasidische Schochtim" or the process. The very well respected Chassidiche expert agreed also.
They said it was just for marketing to get the largest number of purchasers. The more different hasgochos the higher the price, but also the more different kinds of people who will buy the products. In the words "Hasgochos Business" the word Hashgocha is the adjective modifying the word business.
Most schochtim whether from Litvish, Israeli, of Chassidisch all shecth pretty much the same way with the same knives. This was confirmed to me at the trial by experts from Schever and the OU. Many people want their Rav because they know their Rav will likely look out for their chumras and they want to look out for their Rav. THERE different demands from different Rav Hamachsires just like five different Litvaks have different opinions. Look the Shach and Taz disagreed a lot neither was Chasidic.
You are living a fairy tale world if you think one hashgocha is SOOO different. Maybe with treibering or who is bodek the cow. and of course chalev yisrael. Lastly Empire now sells under some label with Star K and OU in Costco, and the steaks were very good and $2 a pound cheaper.
42
Jul 17, 2009 at 03:41 PM Chabad Says:
“ "The Ball Shem Tov ruled that under halacha we are required to use the latest knife technology, and therefore sharpening the knife alone was no longer enough."
Can you tell us the source for this statement? I learned that it was the Baal HaTanya that ruled on the above issue. There is a biography of the life of the Baal HaTanya, published by Kehot publications. In the book it mentions that he ruled that shochtim had to use a much sharper knife to shecht animals back in the late 1700s. This was way after the BST passed away. ”
Yes, I also heard that it was the Ba'al Hatanya. And I'm Chabad. It was also that in those days, people used iron knives, but then steel was invented which was much easier to sharpen, so he ruled that that is what we should use. (It wasn't his chiddush, though; other people had also been using steel knives, including misnagdim.)