For the first time in the history of Boston Jewish religious life, the civil courts are asked to judge a conflict in connection with the problems of kashruth. As a result of an injunction obtained by Irving Keller head of the Stadium Packing Company, a group of six nationally known Orthodox rabbis are forbidden to ban the products of the company and may not interfere in the selling of what it proclaims as Kosher products.
The injunction forbids some of the leading Orthodox leaders in the country to interfere with the business of the slaughter house until after a decision is handed down by the local courts. Named in the injunction are Rabbi Eliezer Silver, Rabbi Isaiah Karlinsky, Rabbi Israel Rosenberg, Rabbi Abraham I. Zalmanovitz, Rabbi Judah Leib Seltzer and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik.
The battle began when a newly formed local Orthodox Rabbinical committee placed the slaughter house under its supervision. The owner of the slaughter house expressed his desire to allow all rabbis to come into his place of business to study conditions and see to it that the kashruth laws are adhered to. He objected to having only one rabbi as the supervisor and also insisted that he had the right to hire whatever reputable shoohtim he saw fit.
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, who had been the supervisor of the slaughter house and who insisted that no other rabbis be allowed to come in, brought to Boston five of the leading rabbis in the country to take a hand in the controversy.
Irving Keller, owner of the slaughter house claims that he had been threatened by the rabbis that an “issue” (religious ban) would be placed upon his place of business. He further explained that, fearing that he may have to close up his establishment should this happen, he decided to take out an injunction against the rabbis.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
