The Kashruth controversy that raged here for a considerable length of time and that was believed settled when a committee of prominent citizens intervened, has broken out anew with charges by Rabbi William Wittenstein that “fifty per cent of the meat sold in supposedly kosher butcher shops in this city, is not in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.”
“I have in my possession much evidence and numerous data,” said Rabbi Wittenstein further, “accumulated during the past three years of specific cases that were outrageous transgressions against kashruth. I am willing to reveal all I know before an open meeting.”
Rabbi Wittenstein also charged the Vaad Ha’Kashruth, kosher meat supervisory body, with mismanagement of funds. He has asked for an accounting of funds, claiming that more than 6,000 chickens are slaughtered each week in this city, resulting in an income of about $500 weekly for the Vaad Ha’Kashruth. He said that the Vaad owes him six weeks salary amounting to about $390, which it does not intend to pay him, and accordingly has threatened legal action.
Meanwhile Rabbi Wittenstein, in cooperation with Abraham. Saltzman, president of the Water Street Synagogue, has established the Vaad Hakal, which is to be directly competitive to the Vaad Ha’Kashruth, even to the extent of sponsoring the opening of meat and poultry markets. These latter stores, of course, will be under the supervision of the Veda Hakal.
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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.
