that concealed the Ark of the Covenant. Within reposed the Scrolls of the Law, revealed only on the most solemn occasions.
After chanting a psalm, in which the audience joined, he held up the issur.
“With the help of God,” he intoned.
THE ISSUR
“Whereas in many poultry slaughtering establishments and markets there are manifold practices in violation of the laws of the Torah…
“Whereas as rabbis, official guardians of our holy religion and the correct observance of its precepts, the laws of our sacred Torah place upon us specifically the responsibility of taking the necessary measures to keep our people from the consumption of forbidden food…
“We do solemnly declare, pronounce, issue and publish an issur to go into effect forthwith on poultry not slaughtered in accordance with the regulations or not bearing an authorized token, declaring that such poultry is forbidden to be consumed by Jews. Utensils in which fowl not killed in accordance with these regulations have been cooked may not be further used without previous inquiry of a rabbi…
“And every shochet who in contravention of these regulations, will slaughter fowl without supervision or without a token of Kashruth being affixed… will lose his status of reliability in regard to Kashruth and, as a violator of the Jewish law, will henceforth become disqualified to act as shochet.
“We cherish confidence that no rabbi or scholar versed in Hebrew law will attempt to diminish the force of this prohibition or rule to the contrary and thus separate himself from the entire body of the orthodox rabbinate of New York City.
“May the grace of the God Almighty rest upon us and may peace and prosperity come to all our brethren in the House of Israel who conscientiously observe the laws of our holy faith. The blessings of the good God be ever upon them.”
“The issur is now in force!” he shouted.
Rabbi Nachman Ebin closed with a plea for support by the Jewish community.
The attitude of Shochtim Union Local 440, organization of kosher slaughterers, concerning the issur was uncertain. At a long and tumultuous meeting Sunday night, opinion was sharply divided and no decision reached.
A riot was almost precipitated and a number of blows were struck when Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Friedman arose to speak. A large group of shochtim objected strenuously to permitting him to speak on the grounds that he had once cursed Rabbi A. I. Ha Cohen Kook, chief rabbi of Palestine.
Another meeting was called for last night, but at a late hour no decision had been reached.
The Live Poultry Institute of Greater New York met last night to consider steps to combat the issur. No decision was available at a late hour.
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.
