Seek Greater Enforcement of Kashruth Law in New York City

A conference of Jewish laymen and Rabbis to formulate a plan whereby the Kosher laws may be more strictly enforced in New York City will be called in the course of the next two weeks by a Provisional Committee formed on Tuesday following a conference with Thomas F. Dwyer. Commissioner of the Department of Markets, which is charged with the enforcement of the Kosher law.

The conference was attended by eight rabbis and six representatives of Jewish organizations, including the Union of Orthodox Congregations, the Union of Chassidic Rabbis, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, the Assembly of Orthodox Rabbis, the Rabbinical Board of New York and the Kashruth Organization of New York State.

An investigation carried on by the Kashruth Organization, a recently formed body, headed by S. A. Israel as president, disclosed that there is a violation of the Kosher food law in 50% of the establishments in the Kosher food industry in New York, which has a market turnover of $150,000,000 per year.

There are in New York City 10,000 supposedly Kosher butchers and 2,000 kosher delicatessen stores. The staff of the Markets Commission, which consists of five inspectors under the direction of Homer Welsh, despite its earnest efforts, is physically incapable of covering so large a group efficiently, it was stated.

There is a promiscuous issuing of Kosher labels on the part of so-called Rabbis, Commissioner Dwyer declared at the conference. In order to cope with the situation, he suggested that the city be zoned off and that recognized local Rabbis supervise the district. He asked that a list of authorized Rabbis be submitted to him so that his department can have some means of checking up the authenticity of the Kashruth labels issued.

The ultimate decision as to how the enforcement of the Kashruth law is to be carried out, was, however, left by the Commissioner to the Jewish community. It will be the purpose of the conference to discuss ways and means.

Benjamin Koenigsberg was named temporary chairman of the Provisional Committee and Harold Gologor, secretary.

State Senator Henry Kleinfeld and Assemblyman Samuel Mandelbaum attended the conference.

National, State and city officials sent messages of congratulations to Adolph Lewisohn, philanthropist and patron of the arts, in honor of whose eightieth birthday a dinner was held by thirty members of the City College Club at the Hotel Imperial, New York, on Tuesday evening.

Messages were received from President Hoover, Ambassador Morrow, Secretary Mellon, Governor Roosevelt, former Governor Alfred E. Smith and Mayor Walker.

Members of the club spoke informally.