The Agriprocessor, Inc., saga continues. But this time it looks like something positive has emerged from the fracas. The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has announced its policy for the ethical hekhsher tsedek, which will be placed on foods deriving from companies complying with a specific set of ethical guidelines based in Judaism. According to the USCJ website, The commission was appointed by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly in response to published reports describing alleged unsafe working conditions and worker mistreatment at the nation’s largest kosher meatpacking plant, AgriProcessors, Inc., in Postville, Iowa. It set out to determine if the charges were accurate, to learn about working conditions at the plant, and to establish next steps, if needed, to help ensure workers’ dignity, safety and rights within the context of Jewish law,...

Continue reading