Parshat Re’eh: Deuteronomy 11:26 -16:17: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This week’s portion, Re’eh covers many different areas of concern that the Israelites will face as they enter and settle in the Promised Land, the land of Israel. The opening sections of the portion once again remind the Israelites of the temptations of idolatry. As they enter the land they will be tempted to worship God imitating the ways of the local people. But the Torah is very clear, “Do not worship Adonai your God in like manner” (Deut. 12:4). The Israelites are not to worship or practice the religion of other peoples and will bring their own sacrifices only to the “Place which Adonai will choose in one of your tribal territories” (Deut. 12:14). God will eventually pick the place of worship—and the Israelite religion will be centralized.

Israel did cross over the Jordan under the leadership of Joshua. They did conquer the land and began to settle. But the Children of Israel did not have a central place to worship for many years to come. In the early years of settlement the tribes were not so organized and there were many centers of worship of Adonai, from Gilgal to Shechem, Shiloh and Bet-El. But only later when King David arose, and the ark came to Jerusalem that is when the promise made in this week’s portion began to come true.

The portion re-iterates the special dietary rules which have become known as keeping kosher. We have read them before in Leviticus Chapter 11. These become important especially because as they enter a new land, they will come into contact with many local customs, foods and people. These rules for eating and for elevating the most basic human act of nourishment to the Holy One of Blessing will help to define not only the Israelites but the Jewish people throughout all time even until today. By refraining from pork and shellfish, the Jewish people have made even a meal a sacred act.

The rules of Kashrut have developed throughout the centuries from that which we read about this week. The basic foods that are permitted and forbidden have remained the same. Yet other rules and guidelines have been expanded. For example from the verse in here in Deut. 14:21 “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk,” the rules for separating meat from milk products has grown more stringent.

In recent months we have learned of quite a scandal in the Kosher food business.
The largest kosher meat manufacturer, AgriProcessors in Pottsville, Iowa has been accused of many violations of U.S. law. These include accusations of breaking child labor laws, hiring and harboring illegal aliens, physical and mental abuse by supervisors, altering work records and underpaying workers. According to news reports, AgriProcessors produces 60 percent of all kosher meat and 40 percent of all kosher poultry in the United States. Owned by the Rubashkin family, they have consistently denied these accusations. But the U.S. government raided the plant back in May and arrested more than 300 illegal workers. There are multiple investigations by the Department of Justice, the Iowa Department of Labor, the Federal Department of Labor and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Bureau.

There are many people in the Jewish community that have raised serious questions about the standard for keeping kosher. Should this company that produces so much kosher meat be considered kosher if it can’t keep basic Jewish ethical principals and obey the civil law? The laws of kashrut try to help us as a people keep our distinct and special covenant with our God. But that covenant also calls for treating workers with honor, dignity and respect. And our Jewish tradition calls upon us to obey the law of the land that we live in. AgriProcessors have violated both of these important Jewish legal ideals. What a sad day when the Orthodox –Rabbinical Council of America, defends the Rubashkin family and wants to separate the ethical from the laws of kashrut. There is no defense of their position.

This is a serious matter one that calls for all of us in the Jewish community to respond to and urge that the Rubashkin family and those supervisors in the plant be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that organizations who certify what is kosher and not withdraw the kosher certification from this plant until these violations can be rectified (even if that means we don’t eat much meat for awhile!).

Posted by Jimmy at August 25, 2008 05:00 PM