(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
A decision on the kosher meat question which was brought before the High Court of Ontario in a civil suit of a Jewish butcher against the Kehillah was made known here in a unique case when the Canadian court referred the matter for rabbinical decision.
The butcher, Cohen, whose wares were declared “treipha” asked for $5,000 damages. On the recommendation of Justice Wright, the matter was referred to a rabbinical court consisting of three representatives of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis in the United States and Canada, with headquarters in New York. The rabbinical court, consisting of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg, Rabbi Joseph Kanowitz and Rabbi Sefer, after a sitting which lasted eight days, ruled that a majority of rabbis in any given community has the right to consider as “treipha” such meat as was not slaughtered under their supervision.
In the particular case under consideration the rabbis ruled that Cohen is not entitled to the damages claimed.
In the future all rabbis must belong to the Kehillah and act jointly. A decision of the majority of the rabbis should be considered binding in all religious matters.
The rabbis also drafted what was termed a peace document containing 22 clauses dealing with ways and means to affect a working agreement and peace between the rabbis and the Kehillah. Rabbi Weinrib, the oldest rabbi of Toronto, was appointed chairman of a rabbinical committee for one month during which the reorganization of a joint Kehillah in Toronto is to be effected.
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