A 16-day meat strike by Polish Jewry, called to protest a bill banning shechita (kosher slaughtering) completely by the end of 1942, ended today after having provided a remarkable demonstration of Jewish unity against a policy of discrimination by the Government. The strike was given almost 100 per cent support by both the orthodox and non-orthodox Jewish population.
During the strike, all Jewish butcher shops were closed, smoked and tinned meat factories shut down, Jewish restaurants served no meat dishes and all Jewish newspapers daily published meatless menus.
The economic effects of the strike were illustrated by the decline in slaughtering at the Warsaw abattoir from 4,300 head of cattle in the fortnight before the protest action to 2,300 in the fortnight just ended. Prices of meat fell 20 or more per cent while poultry prices tumbled from 50 to 70 per cent.
While the strike was on, the Sejm passed the shechita measure and it was sent to the Senate. It is significant that the Senate, on the final day of the pre-holiday session, passed all bills sent on by the Sejm with the sole exception of the shechita measure, which was help over for discussion when the new session opens at the end of April.
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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.
