Split Develops in Britain over How to ‘schect’ Meat

A major rift has developed in the Jewish community of Britain over new legislation that some leading Orthodox rabbis say will effectively outlaw kosher meat in the country.

The legislation, introduced last week in Parliament, has nevertheless been approved by Britain’s chief rabbi, Lord Immanuel Jakobovits, himself a member of the House of Lords.

Other Orthodox rabbis are bitterly opposed to the legislation and are seeking to overturn it.

The new laws place restrictions on shechita, the kosher slaughter of animals. According to the new law, an upright holding pen will be required to hold the animal during slaughter. Many religious authorities believe the restriction may render the meat unkosher.

At a meeting of the Board of Deputies of British Jewry, held Monday night, the Federation of Synagogues, Britain’s second-largest synagogue group, asked the board to inform the government that the Jewish community is deeply divided over the requirement.

The Rabbinical Council of Independent Orthodox Jewish Communities, which represents Hasidic groups, said the new law would deprive “thousands of Jewish families of meat and meat products.” It criticized the chief rabbi for “misleading the public and misinforming the government.”

The new regulation has been introduced as a statutory instrument. Unless the government withdraws it, it will automatically become law on July 5.