Something’s Not Kosher!

Today a detour from the big issues of the day to a story making the rounds of the St. Louis Jewish Community. The last Kosher Deli has closed after new owners bought it and could not makle it. I wrote a letter to the local Jewish newpaper suggesting that the local certifying agency of ultra orthodox Jews (Vaad Hoeir) was partially responsible. Here is is:

As a long time bankruptcy lawyer and member of the St. Louis "non-observant" Jewish community its not surprising to me that any small business has closed. The Kohn family worked hard  to keep theirs open. Its hard to believe that any buyer would have done the same.  Many who wanted kosher meat also bought pre-packaged forms at lower prices from other stores but expected Kohn;'s to be there when they wanted it.

I suggest from my expereince with several clients over the years as well as a member of the community that the Vaad Hoeir hasn't helped the situation.

I can remember a  Vaad  rabbi objecting to grape popsicles at a JCC camp, a mascheach not allowing canned nuts at a wedding reception  coming from out of town with an unrecognized hechsher (kosher cdertification).  I also remember one of the few observant members of the JCC objecting to the sale of Gatorade several years ago which stopped selling it. 

The  Vaad changed the rules for a bagelry by first allowing it to remaing  open on Shabbat but not certifying the bag\els baked on that day  to  insisting that the bagelry close on Shabbat. It also required that a rabbi hold the keys to the bakery on Shabbat. These rules were some of the factors that caused it to close.,

While  there are a few paragraphs in Leviticus which, for example, prohibit the eating of shellfish and pork and mixing of milk and meat the  Vaad has taken these few commandmants to an extreme.

Many communities  have multiple hechshers.  I suggest that its time for a new one here-How about the Vaad Kadima or "Forward Council"

The editor rejected my letter because she claimed that it begged the question “Why as a non-observant Jew did I care”. I don;t care what the ultrta orthdox do in thier homes or in their own religious practices (like sucking the blood off a boys penis after a circumcision). I do care when they didctate to thte larger community byudeamnding that Jewish organizations use thier services to certify that food is kosher thus raising the cost and lowering the quality. This “Kosher Nostra” must be replaced!