The LaGuardia administration yesterday put its stamp of approval on the work and object of the Kashruth Association of Greater New York which met in conference at the Pennsylvania Hotel to formulate plans that will eventually establish the association as the final authority in approving kosher regulations.
Arthur Simons, confidential investigator for the Health Department who represented Aldermanic President Deutsch, told about 200 orthodox rabbis who were present at the meeting that “the city administration is wholly is sympathy with the kashruth program, and stands ready to cooperate to the enforcement of the kosher laws.”
Mr. Simons dwelled upon the willingness of the administration to recognize any organization representing the orthodox, conservative and reform rabbinate. p/>”We recommend in the interest of a speedy and full success of your program that the Kashruth Association embrace and united the important Jewish bodies ready and willing to cooperate in the interest of kashruth.”
Louis Lande, chief examiner of the Board of Aldermen, asked that an organization be created that represents a united Jewish community.
He said: “We must unite now, forget the past and build for the future. The dispute and dissatisfaction among rabbis has a very bad effect on the younger Jewish men and women. Now is your opportunity. You have the laws on the stature books. All you need is somebody to enforce them.”
A similar note was struck by Rabbis Nachman H. Ebin, president of the Kashruth Association, who declared that “if we have a united rabbinate, we shall have kashruth.” He insisted that the need for strict kosher laws throughout the greater city can be met only by a rabbinate with a single objective and who do not differ on policy.
“The Kashruth Association will put through a plan for kashruth control,” he said, “that will work under the supervision of the rabbis properly qualified and under a united set of rulings.”
Reviewing the movement to get the Kashruth Association operating with the approval of city officials and rabbis, Rabbi Ebin deplored the failure of slaughter houses ## contribute to the upkeep of the Kashruth Association.
“The only way to force them to give money is through public opinion and a united rabbinate,” he continued. “The main struggle is that we have no unity.”
Other speakers included Louis J. Gribnetz, counsel for the association, and Rabbi G. Dridmesky. A set of resolutions will be submitted to Mayor LaGuardia’s special committee, headed by William Weiss, for consideration. Mr. Weiss had no part in calling the conference.
Aldermanic President Deutsch told the meeting that “a minimum program for immediate action by the kashruth authorities is necessary.”
He issued the following statement to newspapermen:
“The city cannot recognize any single group. The city wants a program satisfactory to all groups. The city itself is the highest authority and will not lend authority to any other group. All it demands is cooperation from all the various factions. We are prepared to cooperate with any feasible program offered by a united group.”
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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.
