New York – RCA Orthodox Task Force to Form Principles and Ethical Guidelines for Business

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    New York – The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) has today announced the formation of a high level Task Force that will produce a detailed practical guide to Jewish Principles and Ethical Guidelines, as applied to business and industry in general, and the kosher food industry in particular.

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    The Task Force will be chaired by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir. Rabbi Meir is a leading authority in the field of Jewish business ethics and is the author of two weekly syndicated columns on the topic. The first, “The Jewish Ethicist,” analyzes contemporary ethical dilemmas from the standpoint of Jewish tradition. The second, “Ethics at Work,” adopts a more general ethical perspective, and has appeared weekly in the Jerusalem Post since 2004. In addition, other prominent members of the RCA, including well-known experts in the field of business ethics, have been appointed to the Task Force. The Task Force will also consult with respected representatives of the kosher food industry as well as business professionals.

    We believe that the kosher food industry as a whole maintains an exemplary level of ethical practice, thanks in part to the presence of kosher agencies and supervisors. Nonetheless, we attach importance to having ethical guidelines incorporated as a matter of policy by companies receiving kosher supervision, thereby further raising the level of ethical compliance throughout the industry.

    The purpose of the Guide will be two-fold:

    1. It will require that a condition of kosher food certification be an agreement to adhere to all relevant civil laws and regulations as formulated, monitored and enforced by existing government regulatory and enforcement agencies, in whichever country they occur. Violations of such laws will be viewed by kosher agencies with utmost seriousness.

    2. It will formulate and clarify relevant principles of Jewish law and ethics governing business conduct. Companies interested in conforming to the highest standards of Jewish ethics will be encouraged to adopt these principles voluntarily wherever possible, as a matter of corporate social responsibility.

    In announcing the initiative, Rabbi Shlomo Hochberg, President of the RCA, stated, “Ethics and social responsibility are central to the Torah and the rabbinic tradition, in business no less than in the home, the synagogue and the school. We are fully aware of the realities of a competitive marketplace spread all over the globe, and the need to provide affordable kosher food. In taking this step, the RCA seeks as a practical matter to reinforce ethical values and corporate policies, while ensuring a reliable and affordable supply of food products for the kosher consumer.


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    31 Comments
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    news blurb
    news blurb
    15 years ago

    Great idea RCA!

    Use your head
    Use your head
    15 years ago

    This is sorely needed. Much hatzlacha!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    why dont we just use the hechsher tzedek and lets have men and women sit together in shul and lets bring jesus into shul to how about budda and child molesters to.

    Dave
    Dave
    15 years ago

    Weren’t they attacking this idea just a month or two ago?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    it makes a lot of sense. just like when a hotel is being mechalel shabbos, they lose they kashrus certification. aay you will ask what has one to do with the other, but the answer is that the cerification requires a certain amount of trust, and if one is mechallel shabbos, they can be great people, but still can’t be trusted with religious matters. the same applies here, if one is not sensitive to avoid creating chillul hashem, which is what happens when civil laws are blatantly ignored and violated, then they are not trustworthy with kashrus either. will you eat in a restaurant of someone who was caught doing a “harbe aveira”? no. why not? the food didn’t become unkosher? but the person lost their neemanus. the same applies, and maybe even more, when a person gets caught doing chuillul hashem.

    anon
    anon
    15 years ago

    just a question so its allright for china to make workers who work in vats and are prisoners but if the chinese government allows it so all hechers are good but if a company in the us organizes a union and isnt recognized then they dont get a hechsher great thinking rca

    next time think it thru

    anonymous
    anonymous
    15 years ago

    To the first two posters. Don’t be fooled. This is just another front from another modern apologetic Jewish organization to impose their rules to all of Klal Yisroel.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think it’s an excellent idea! The objection to the “hechsher tzedek” was that it was under non-frum auspices, but the idea that Torah-based businesses should conduct themselves ethically and be an example to the world is not only non-controversial — it has been part and parcel of our mesorah for ages! They should be matzliach!

    Moshe Kapora
    Moshe Kapora
    15 years ago

    This can only raise – not lower – the prices of kosher food. Bad idea. Certifiying agencies should stick to whether or not a particular product is kosher, and not cave in to the anti-Torah Conservative “Tzedek kosher” forces who mock frumkeit and Torah values. Anonymous 2:54 pm made a good point: The “Tzedek hecksur” folks are the same guys who are bringing us man-man “marriage” ceremonies (expressly forbidden by the Torah) and female “rabbis,” among other “innovations.”

    If a company wants an *additional* seal of approval, that would be fine and even praiseworthy; however, whether or not a product is technically kosher should not depend on political or factors.

    formely
    formely
    15 years ago

    Now I wonder where they got this idea from maybe from the conservative.

    You are right about china they should lose the hechers however whether union or not should not make a difference as long as then owner is ethical and treats his workers right

    shmiel glassman
    shmiel glassman
    15 years ago

    A FEW POINTS:

    As the article states most jewish businesses are ethical & proper so there is no need for commissions & “think tanks”

    the RCA can raise the level of “torah based ethics” by organizing shiurim, lectures, workshops, in choshen mishpat..etc.given by people who exemplify these practices in their own business

    like all issues when a person takes a closer look at the “mekoros” -youll see many situations that dont fall under the catagory of “assur al pi din” (e.g. tzaar baalei chaim,dina demalchusa,onaah..yoser m’shtus….)& thats why commisions are no good

    it sounds like a knockoff of “hechsher tzedek” where the RCA feels “they have to do something”

    there intentions are good and “yashrus” is as important as “kashrus”

    formely
    formely
    15 years ago

    Anonymous Says:

    comments – arrow why dont we just use the hechsher tzedek and lets have men and women sit together in shul and lets bring jesus into shul to how about budda and child molesters to.

    sorry to inform you you already have child molesters in shul where have you been.

    In addition but because the conservative movement originated this idea does not it bad. Or are you of the believe, that only herideim can come up with a good idea, and if someone else not frum has an idea you need not look at the idea for its on value or merit, and just dismiss it as bad since a non frum yid thought of it?

    The arrogance is amazing.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    how about a committee for ethical buying of consumer goods? Jews should only buy American made products and foods where Americans and legal residents are working. Jews should never buy products from countries whose Govts are considered corrupt (rules out Israel I guess) and dont have worker protections similar to those in the US. Products produced by any company anywhere in the world where workers would say they are being mistreated or not paid enough whether or not Jews are owners, would be osser. Any products made by businesses located in any country whose government does business with any other government hostile towards Jews would be osser too. We must maintain the most moral and ethical consumer habits in the world in order to be an example to the olam.

    Yokum Purkon
    Yokum Purkon
    15 years ago

    Who does this organization represent??? Other than my RCA electronics, I have no idea who this RCA is. We all have our own rabbonim to go to when in need. No self appointed organization can claim to speak for the Jewish People.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    dear formerly

    i honestly belive it to be a good idea. unfortunatly we live in a corupy world and the more power we give to rabbis the worse of we are. the hechser tzedek was a power play by the reform movement and rca jumped on the band wagon. hence not such a good idea because its motivated by power.plus i really dont belive rubashkin did so bad they just had a shity pr firm beacause they are ruskis. the new ceo is an excellent face not that it will change much. if u truly want to make a difference educate as many people near you about the importance of ethical bussines practices not try to force them that never work.

    sincerly yours

    a true cynic

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    To Yokum Purkon:

    U don’t have to know who the RCA is.

    Your Rabbi whoever he is, has done nothing in this regard in the past and will probably refuse to get involved in the future.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I don’t understand something, all this sudden ephasis on ethics is a chidush? I thought this was already covered in our Torah!

    Headlights
    Headlights
    15 years ago

    Can’t you see what’s up ahead? The Yellow star that all must wear. If you don’t have one, the smarter, unbiased rabbis haven’t endorsed you as a real Jew.

    Some seek to become gd.

    formely
    formely
    15 years ago

    as far as consumers are concerned, there are many people who do not buy certain brands that they know have lax checks on their subcontractors, so this is nothing new.

    The RCA or hesher zadek is not forcing any company and or consumer to care about this.

    The consumer and the companies will choose if this is something they are concerned about and willing to pay a little more for.

    It is not like anyone is saying, if it does not have the above seals it is treif. So I am not sure why people are going crazy, it is no different than products that have a seal from the usda organic farming if it is important you pay more and buy it. If not you do not

    formely
    formely
    15 years ago

    Anonymous Says:

    comments – arrow I don’t understand something, all this sudden ephasis on ethics is a chidush? I thought this was already covered in our Torah!

    I see you do not read the newspapers and see how many frum people are involved in massive scams. And more importantly ii is condoned by the frum community and never condemned, so maybe we do need it

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    more “hechshers” = more politics = more money = big business

    cynic
    cynic
    15 years ago

    evrybody is involved in a scam.my granfather worked for the unions from the 30 and he was very respected. he told me what went one there. gov i dont need to get into we all know how thats a scam. the question is who do we go after. we are yiden and lets stick together and not give the unions and the gov reason to go after rubashkin. just like bush family takes care of itself. and so did the rockefeller and the clintons and so on. so if you’r in the mood to put someone down how about peta or mcdonalds or pfizer or walmart take your pick. dont go after the people who will cost money to us. every action that you take has a reaction and we tend not to think about it. when you blog or say anything on a blog no matter how insignficant it has a effect(irrelevant of how small) on the world.

    Drill Here!!  Drill Now!!  Save Money!!
    Drill Here!! Drill Now!! Save Money!!
    15 years ago

    shoyn, another OU symbol.

    Charles B. Hall
    Charles B. Hall
    15 years ago

    “The consumer and the companies will choose if this is something they are concerned about and willing to pay a little more for. ”

    I think our ancestors chose to be concerned about these things at Sinai.

    Lock & Load
    Lock & Load
    15 years ago

    Will the RCA be Invited to Kiryas Yoel for a PR Stunt ?????

    Like the OU…

    Lock & Load

    Matzahlocal101
    Matzahlocal101
    15 years ago

    But If you don’t have to cover your hair like it says in shulchan oruch and you don’t have to do metzitzah bipeh like it says in shulchan orech and you have the “option” of being “shomer” or “non-shomer: against what it says in shulchan orech, and you can mix swim, mix dance, rub elbows at the kiddish with your neighbors wife and ask her how she is, against what it says in shulchan oruch, who are these guys to tell us what part of shulchan oruch we have to listen to, when they’ve cut out plenty themselves.

    S.L.
    S.L.
    15 years ago

    Thanks but no thanks. I have the torah written and oral.

    formely
    formely
    15 years ago

    Matzahlocal101

    I think the shulchan oruch says not to steal and lie, how do you explain the lunch program scam and all the others the yeshivas ran so please do not throw stones if you are not perfect

    and metzitzah bipeh is a mute issue since if you look it up in the gemmarra is was done not really part of the ritual or mitzva of the bris, is states clearly is was done for medical issues. Ideas of medicine change so should metzitzah bipeh, but hey want to give you kids herpes go ahead

    cynic
    cynic
    15 years ago

    formerly

    people that are in power make the rules. so the only time you are wrong is if you get caught or if you belive in a higher power. so getting money from the gov that u give them and get little back for. jews dont go to public schools for ex. its not a big deal thats how politics work welcome to america. you just come up with ways to get money from the gov. senators do it, so do conressmen, citys, states, county evryonr. evryone misapropriates funds.