The Chief Rabbinate of Argentina today issued a statement taking issue with the Rabbinate in Israel on the question of the Argentine kosher meat which was declared non-kosher when it reached the Jewish State. The statement, signed by Rabbi Amram Blum and Rabbi Zeev Zvi Hacohen Klein, reads:
“We have maintained silence until today, since our local rabbinate is of the opinion that schechita is a purely rabbinical matter, to be solved between rabbis. Our declaration is intended to clear the good name of the local Jewish community.
“We regret particularly that the Israeli delegates, in their important mission, did not stand on the rabbinical-ethical height of their task. The Israeli delegates visited one and only one slaughterhouse, during the three weeks they were in Argentina. We wish to emphasize that schechita in all slaughterhouses was being maintained at a high level of ritual requirements.
“We cannot understand the motives of the two delegates from Israel who, after visiting only one slaughterhouse, still made a general report to the Israel Rabbinate. Fortunately, Dr. Isaac Halevi Herzog, Chief Rabbi of Israel, realized the superficiality of the report, and has asked us by cable to continue with the supervision of the schechita for Israel.”
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.
