The Kashruth Association of New York will meet at the Hotel Pennsylvania Thursday afternoon at three o’clock to discuss the kashruth problem. Mayor LaGuardia has been invited to speak.
The Association has been closely watching deliberations aimed at establishing kashruth on a firm basis, and will review the events of the past few months in the kashruth situation.
CONSTRUCTIVE PLAN SEEN
Lost in the maze of economic difficulties among the factions in the poultry industry, the kashruth situation does not appear in its true light.
While shochtim, retailers, wholesalers and commission merchants agitate themselves and the New York City administration over prices, wages and hours, there has been sentiment for kashruth and rabbinical supervision which, with the friendly hand of a sympathetic City Administration, is crystallizing into a constructive plan for kashruth in New York.
Unfortunately, the kashruth situation has been intertwined with the economic difficulties in the fowl markets. Poultry shochtim, wholesalers and retailers are all adamant in conflicting demands, and even the firm hand of Judge Otto Rosalsky, the Mayor’s mediator, has not reconciled the factions.
OWNERS CONCEDE POINT
On the other hand, Judge Rosalsky has made it clear to all factions that whatever settlement is made, a provision for rabbinical supervision of markets must be included. Shochtim have always agreed that supervision is necessary, and the market owners have conceded the point.
For the first time in history, the four New York rabbinical organizations have reached an accord on kashruth. These organizations have sent representatives to the Rabbinical Advisory Committee of Fifty appointed last month by Aldermanic President Bernard S. Deutsch.
The Advisory Committee itself is an innovation. Never before has the city asked for advice on kashruth. Now the committee, comprising the most distinguished orthodox rabbis in the city, meets with city officials to work out a plan for rabbinical supervision.
SUPERVISION TO COST $600,000
With Arthur Simon, of the Board of Health, the Mayor’s special advisor on kashruth, the committee has made substantial progress toward establishing rabbinical supervision in poultry markets. It has been decided that one-half cent per pound of poultry must be allocated to pay for supervision.
It has been decided, although not officially announced, that each chicken will bear a tag with the signature of a rabbi to attest to its kashruth. Momentarily, Simon and the committee are expected to announce completed plans for supervising the poultry markets.
It has been estimated that supervision will cost about $600,000. The bulk of this money will go to provide jobs for Jewish supervisors.
At the first meeting of the Advisory Committee last month, Mayor LaGuardia went on record as firm in his decision that the Jewish public must be assured that the kosher food for which it pays higher prices is really kosher.
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