Mendota Heights, MN – Conservative Rabbi Of Hekhsher Tzedek Releases Statement To Rubashkin Conviction

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    Rabbi Morris Allen Of Magen TzdekMendota Heights, MN – The news out of Sioux Falls, SD, yesterday, that Sholom Rubashkin was convicted on 86 out of 91 counts of fraud in the state’s investigation into criminal activity within the Agriprocessor’s meat processing facility in Postville, Iowa, delivers both justice and a heavy heart to those of us who champion the cause of ethical kashrut.

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    The investigation into Agriprocessors has unfolded in slow-motion. First there were allegations of business fraud and worker abuse, then investigations, then negotiations – all with ample opportunity for the Rubashkin family to cooperate and self-correct — then arrogant disregard for the law, shocking revelations, indictments, a plethora of press attention, the riveting scandal of the federal raid in May of 2008, the largest scale of its kind in US history…and finally the verdict of guilty on the majority of counts of business fraud in yesterday’s trial.

    It is important to note that the trial on charges of worker abuse is not even underway. The heartbreaking stories that will emerge in the course of this trial will be as cringe-worthy as they are criminal.

    As the founders of Magen Tzedek, we were on the ground in Postville from the virtual start of this tragic drama in the summer of 2006, bearing witness to the terrible worker conditions and business practices at the nation’s largest manufacturer of kosher meat and poultry, trying to steer the Rubashkin family towards taking responsibility and correcting their mistakes, acting in accordance with the biblical injunction – “hokhaich tokhiach et amitecha” – “rebuke your kinsman,” that is, do not stand idly by while one of your brethren commits a grievous wrongdoing.

    Although the miscarriage of kashrut at Agriprocessors was not the catalyst for the creation of Magen Tzedek, it provided an urgent context and need for us to develop our initiative, proclaiming publicly our belief that keeping kosher is inextricably linked to leading a life of ethical integrity.

    There are tragedies within tragedies in the story of the fall of the house of Rubashkin, the worst of which might be the deaf ear of the Rubashkin family turned towards those who tried to prevent the collapse. We were at the epicenter of those who repeatedly reached out to the family. Yet as the investigation and trial wore on, it became clear that the deafness was a direct result of the Rubashkin family’s flagrant disregard for the law and ethical behavior.

    There is neither joy nor a sense of schadenfreude in yesterday’s conviction. Those of us who toil in the field of tikkun olam are downright demoralized by this highly preventable outcome. This story could have ended very differently. Had the Rubashkin family done a sincere teshuva – heeding, for instance, the three-pronged course of action we delivered to them in the summer of 2006 — they would now be the heroes of the kosher world instead of its villains.

    Given the sad outcome of this situation, we rededicate ourselves to the birthing of our Magen Tzedek seal of ethical certification, a process that has been long and arduous but more relevant with each passing day.
    After thousands of hours of meetings, deliberations, drafts of our working guidelines and compliance procedures, we are getting closer. The soul and future of kashrut depends on the development of Magen Tzedek as an actual seal on kosher food products, indicating that it has been produced in accordance with high ethical standards for employee wages and benefits, health and safety, animal welfare, corporate transparency and environmental impact. What has emerged in the course of the development of this product is that Magen Tzedek is more than just a new certification for kosher food — it is a worldwide awareness built upon the belief that we are how and what we eat.

    Achieving Magen Tzedek is our ascent to Sinai, fraught with challenge and yet possessed of a promise. Like the Law that Moses receives at the summit of the mountain, Magen Tzedek will give Jews and all people of conscience a road map towards leading lives of ethical integrity through the portal of keeping kosher.

    The Hekhsher Tzedek Commission

    Rabbi Morris J. Allen, Project Director


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    93 Comments
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    Abba esq.
    Abba esq.
    14 years ago

    What does their so called hechsher look? I will never eat something with that on it ,even with 20 other hecherim

    Ouch
    Ouch
    14 years ago

    What a horrible attitude. Ouch.

    There is no tzedek in building your own business on the back of another Jew’s suffering.
    There is no tzedek in pointing the finger and saying ‘I told you so’.
    There is no tzedek of someone who breaks the Torah and tells others that they ‘should do teshuva’.

    If there is any wisdom, try ‘syag l’chochma shtika’.

    V’Hashem Yerachem al kol amo Beit Yisrael.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Text like this always smacks of pandering to goyim. Our house is very shaky right now and whether or not you believe Rubashkin is guilty or innocent, all the yidden in the press doing perp walks are huge chillul Hashems. Along time ago, we were a beaken, now we sit here shame faced. Everyone must do their part to maintain the derech eretz of their dalet amos, teach it to there children and show ourselves what our nation should be.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    why is vosizneias printing such letters? some of what is written here borders on outright kfira and i’m only writing “borders on” because i’m not an expert on such issues vosizneias should do what is right and remove this letter

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    What’s his email and #, it also says u should keep Shabbos and kosher, family purity. Who the hell is this so called rabbi talking to?

    Heartbreaking
    Heartbreaking
    14 years ago

    May Hashem give you a refuah shleimah Bkorov,,, and I hope He never uses Midas Hadin on you the way you did on the Rubashkin family,, Yidden zeinen benay Rachmonim,, clearly you are not. Does that call your jewishness into question???? You call the stories that will emerge heartbreaking?? Do u realize that ur sinas chinam is what is causing us yidden to stay in Golus??? Rubashkin is being made a kapara by the liberal agenda,, and you the fool that you are, are too stupid to see it,, so you join in.. I pity you,,

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    “Like the Law that Moses receives at the summit of the mountain,”
    Morris what about the other 613 “Laws Moses” that are breached and apeased by your ilk

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    How are Janitors and other cleaning personal in conservative temples paid & treated?.

    To Mr. Morris Allen Clean your own house first.

    Loshon Hora
    Loshon Hora
    14 years ago

    This Choitei Umachtie calling himself a tzadik [tzedek] is just proving that the concervative movement are from the Airev Rav, they are not rachmonim bayshonim or gomlei chasodim.
    As for tzedek I wait for him to get caught on what he accuses others hapoisel bemumoi, on the other hand I don’t, Yitamu Chatoim Veloi Choiteim.

    formally
    formally
    14 years ago

    Bashing rubashkin is not bashing yiddin, it is just bashing a yid who did bad things.

    Sorry that many of you cannot see that difference.

    Another words if Rubashkin would have ran his plant and operation like empire none of this would have happened

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    i was nautious reading this.

    MENDY
    MENDY
    14 years ago

    How are the employees of the meat and chicken packing plants that provide most of the meat and chicken consumed by members of this “rabbi’s” conservative movement treated? Sadly most of the “conservative” Jews are not buying kosher meat.

    Misa Meshuna
    Misa Meshuna
    14 years ago

    there was a big organization back in the thirty s and forty’s that cared more for the animals than the people.It is very befitting of a new organization to dance their way to popularity on the blood of a fellow jew. you should be ashamed of yourself.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Its bad form to kick a dead dog.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    As Jews, we are taught that we can accept Mussar from anyone- so why is it so difficult to look past the fact that this is coming from a conservative Rabbi, and accept the message. Rubashkin did wrong and was found guilty. Ive seen more posts here trying to make excuses as to why hes really innocent, got an unfair trial, etc. We live in America, where there are rules that govern us. Each one of us has an obligation to live by those rules, or face the consequences, and unfortanutely for Rubashkin, thats exactly what happened here.
    And as far as those who say they would never eat from this hashgacha, lets not forget the scandals in the past few years, not with Conservative hashgachas, but with Glatt and Chasidic ones.

    jdaism
    jdaism
    14 years ago

    Rabbi Rubashkin was judged by a court on this world that you and your like caused but you and your type will have to answer to a greater court and Judge desicrating the shabbos and all Gods comandments that you and the conservative and Reform have decided aren’t important anymore

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Seems to me that you are mad at the Rubashkin family b/c they didnt listen to you. And – you should look up what teshuvah really means!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Is he wearing a kippa?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    None of you can accept the truth, even when it comes from another yid. All you do is criticize the other person’s brand of Judaism. Even conservative jews like to keep kosher, don’t you know that? And who are you all to judge a conservative jew, when you yourselves are violating commandments, advocating fraud and lies as a way to behave in business.
    And if you say you do not advocate fraud and lies in business, then that is certainly the impression you have given me from reading all these comments.

    Helen
    Helen
    14 years ago

    Let the conservatives make a campaign that their clergy should stop messing with other peoples wifes! The latest scandal in Los Angeles should be enough for them to first clean up their own back yard.

    HOW MUCH MONEY ARE THEY EXPECTING TO MAKE ON THEIR NEW HASHGOCHA? (although most of their members don’t eat kosher!) QUITE ALOT I AM TOLD.

    5T Lawyer
    5T Lawyer
    14 years ago

    Rabbi? where did he get his simcha from waldbaums?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    And Hitlers army lives on as a “rabbi”

    disgusting
    disgusting
    14 years ago

    article is a disgrace

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Will Perdue Chickens and Omaha Steaks also have Morris Allen Hechsher Tzedek? as most of the members of his congregation eat those non kosher foods.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This guy is ill and looks it too.

    OMG
    OMG
    14 years ago

    Well said, some of these posters are drunk with the cool-aid they don’t understand that as we are moving ahead in the 21st century, we must conform to humanly standards, which is no contradiction with the Torah, additionally it is wrong to say that Agri supplied us with less expensive meat therefore SMR had a right to exploit humans for cheap labor, and what would you say when if the 2nd trial produces testimony that will shock the human consciousness, oh it is ok I was able to fress (Shaul I lifted this from you) a pound of meat which was marinated in someone else blood, sweat and tears, oh yes that would go over in the none Jewish population, it is high time that Jews who proclaim their piously should start acting like one.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This is no rav call him mr. Not rabbi he should burn for giving in such a holy family like rubashkin

    Low life!!!
    Low life!!!
    14 years ago

    this guy is a low life! let him go to work and get a job and not live off the putting other people down……..

    Peta;Hechsher Tzedek Connection
    Peta;Hechsher Tzedek Connection
    14 years ago

    When you Don’t Beleive That The Torah Was givin to the Jews On Har Sinai ( as the conservitive don’t ) Than you have distorted the truth ; And there is no telling how far away from the truth you will drift; Even though you try to portray an elequint meaing behind your sins

    Monsey Man
    Monsey Man
    14 years ago

    The Reform and (disappearing) Conservative movements behave like this with regularity.

    A few years ago the Reform movement said the non-Shatness certification should only be given when it is assured that the clothing does not violate child labor standards. Care to guess how many Reform Jews keep the laws of Shatness today? The overwhelming majority of followers of both movements, many of whom are sincere and well intended, do not keep basic laws of Shabbos, Taharas Hamishpacha and Kashrus. Yet, once again, in an effort to either capture media attention, or to make themselves feel “better,” their leaders add on “requirements” that they very very loosely hang on chazal.

    Shmuel
    Shmuel
    14 years ago

    What a Conservative “Rabbi” says has as much importance to me as what the local Goluch says.

    Mevakesh Emes
    Mevakesh Emes
    14 years ago

    “…trying to steer the Rubashkin family towards taking responsibility and correcting their mistakes, acting in accordance with the biblical injunction – “hokhaich tokhiach et amitecha” – “rebuke your kinsman,” that is, do not stand idly by while one of your brethren commits a grievous wrongdoing.”

    Why don’t you start with getting your own false, watered-down perversion of Judaism to do the same and start keeping halacha instead of making ti up as you go along and going against thousands of years of chachamim? You and your “group” are infested with yeshus and gaivah, not to mention being chaiv in din moser.

    tzedek?
    tzedek?
    14 years ago

    Kabel es haemes? so thats an excuse to act liek a fool….the ou did the rite thing….just keep quite,another yid is suffering…keep quite.

    Mendel Zilberberg
    Mendel Zilberberg
    14 years ago

    1. The court conviction demostrates that there were activities perpetrated by an INDIVIDUAL that are in violation of the law,
    2. That with hindsight (and probably with foresight) a deal should have been more seriously considered,
    HOWEVER
    3. If not for the immigration issues and widespread media coverage the chances that federal prosecutors would ever have looked into – or accepted the case – are less likely,
    4. that the tenor ofthe article, that thereisa lack of remorse as demostrated by the Rubashkin’slackof listening to us – seems nothing more that self promotion on the backs of other peoples misery,
    5. One can only wonder how this newly organized bastion of humanity and moral and ethical rectitude, reconciles trashing a FAMILY at their most vulnerable moment,
    6. One can only wonder how this newly organized bastion of humanity and moral and ethical rectitude releasesthis typeof article in the week before conviction and sentencingof a fellow jew.

    I thinkthere are many lessons for all to learn

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    He should go home and take his yarmulka off FOO YA

    SAD SAD PEOPLE
    SAD SAD PEOPLE
    14 years ago

    How sad that people attack what is being said. Rabbi Allen was ordained at JTSA in 1984 and has participating in building a shul in Mendota Heights, MN that is a great shabbas community. He has relatives who are ner yisroel musmach, he has been promoting kashrut observance since he arrived at Beth Jacob in 1986. He tried to convince the rubashkins to change their ways and did so quietly and behind the scenes. Rubashkin even came to his synagogue in 2006 to discuss these issues. they sadly refused to change and today sholom is in jail. shavua tov

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The Shulchan Aruch clearly states that a Jew who does ‘Mesirah’ (slanders to authorities about a fellow Jew) one is allowed to kill, no questions asked.
    I don’t know who gave this conservative Rabbi the ‘heter’ to transgess this halacha? Perhaps his conservative bible. All he seems to care about is the lack of pay or treatment for the workers at the plant. I am sure that Mr. Rubashkin did not imprison those workers or hold a gun to their head and force them to work for low wages. they could have said No and walked.
    I wonder if all the cleaning ladies or help at the conservative Rabbi’s place are legal immigrants.

    THE LETZER DOR
    THE LETZER DOR
    14 years ago

    what the hell was a consertaive jew doing near a glat kosher factory. if anything that would make the production treif its this miserable excuse for a jew.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Great comments. What do you expect of the conservative movement, reform movement or any of the makeshift yiddishkeit. Their ‘Torah’ is based on the ethics of political correctness, not on real Torah values.

    2 way street
    2 way street
    14 years ago

    Lubavitch has decided to walk into the non frun street,with the pretense to influence them
    This is one of the many casualties of someone who thinks he can use a 2 way street for just one way
    The 2 way street has its rules and patrols and fatalities
    Wise people know that to stay jewish you seek out the lane that goes your way only

    911 could have been prevented by heeding his advice, right?
    911 could have been prevented by heeding his advice, right?
    14 years ago

    THis article made me laugh!!!!
    It’s similar to a letter that I am capable of writing to president Bush on the HOURS of meetings i had with President Bush outlining what needs to be changed in american security and NOW how 911 could have been prevented IF ONLY the president heeded MY ADVICE!!
    My gosh, which rubashkin was he meeting with and talking to? his imaginary friend?
    and wow! I didn’t know how powerful he was to have prevented this!

    Dvorah
    Dvorah
    14 years ago

    Ouf Dem Gonif Brent Duh Hitel – and in case I am not clear -I don’t mean Rubahskin

    ha
    ha
    14 years ago

    this guy is a total looser

    Rippin Pinchas
    Rippin Pinchas
    14 years ago

    Over the centuries we have had various liberal, “free thinking,’ self-rightoues people. They think that they have all the answers. The enemy within is always a big problem. I guess this “Rabbi” did not learn a lesson from Rudolph Kastner.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    it is important that we should all be very aware of this conservative hashgacha so as not to confuse it with an orthodox hashgacha and unintentionally eat non kosher food as it is very possible that they will be placing their hechsher on non kosher foods although they may treat their workers better and run their business according to the law of the land it doesn’t mean that they have any place in kashrus.

    rabbi harry green
    rabbi harry green
    14 years ago

    every dog has ther day I hope allen your day comes fast” benfol ovachu” al tismach” now we know that you helpet to destroy dis company & family for your personaly reasons to build your bussnies with “blody hands” you have a din “”muser”””& mitar lhrko” byom kipar”and hopeing& praying it should hapen fast.

    In Pain
    In Pain
    14 years ago

    “an important step forward in the effort to fix the nation’s Immigration system”

    This trial was not on Immigration fraud. It was on Bank fraud. Jerk!

    “heart goes out to the community of Postville.”

    I though it was the government who did the raid which consequently shut down the plat and destroyed the city. Double Jerk!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Dear “Rabbi” Morris J. Allen,

    Using the misfortune of another family, whether you like them or not, as a platform for furthuring your own agenda can in no way be considered “ethical” can it?

    I will never buy anything with your “hechsher” on it. I don’t support the morally bankrupt set of “principals” that you call “ethics”

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    “It is important to note that the trial on charges of worker abuse is not even underway. The heartbreaking stories that will emerge in the course of this trial will be as cringe-worthy as they are criminal. “

    How bout that? This sanctimonious waste of air is the prosecution, judge and jury all in one.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The chazer sticks out his split hoofs and says, “Look how kosher I am!”