Comments on: The kosher labelling submission – now available for your perusal http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/ Jewish Life in the Antipodes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:23:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Amy http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8478 Amy Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:45:21 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8478 Yes there are a number of rumors going around here about pressure of rabbi Silberberg to desist. I for one, sure hope that he is strong enough to withstand the pressure of KA. Monopolies are BAD BAD BAD and cost us money Yes there are a number of rumors going around here about pressure of rabbi Silberberg to desist. I for one, sure hope that he is strong enough to withstand the pressure of KA.

Monopolies are BAD BAD BAD and cost us money

]]> By: Seraphya Berrin http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8283 Seraphya Berrin Thu, 27 May 2010 12:07:44 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8283 On the topic of laws in the US, the NJ seems to be a good option from a comment on a <a href="http://jcarrot.org/kosher-butchers-in-long-island-ask-what-is-kosher" rel="nofollow">post on Jcarrot</a>   <cite>Stephen Mendelsohn</cite> Says: <a href="http://jcarrot.org/kosher-butchers-in-long-island-ask-what-is-kosher#comment-9848" rel="nofollow">August 6th, 2008 at 3:55 pm</a> BS”D I believe neighboring New Jersey has a kosher law that can withstand constitutional muster. It merely requires kosher restaurants and groceries to post a sign listing their certifiying agency, frequency of inspection, and has a short checklist for consumers to check for specific kosher standards, without entangling into denominational differences as to what exactly is kosher. BTW, New Jersey also has a similar law regarding halal food. The idea here is consumer protection is a legitimate state function; religious favoritism is not.     On the topic of laws in the US, the NJ seems to be a good option
from a comment on a post on Jcarrot
 

Stephen Mendelsohn Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
BS”D
I believe neighboring New Jersey has a kosher law that can withstand constitutional muster. It merely requires kosher restaurants and groceries to post a sign listing their certifiying agency, frequency of inspection, and has a short checklist for consumers to check for specific kosher standards, without entangling into denominational differences as to what exactly is kosher.
BTW, New Jersey also has a similar law regarding halal food. The idea here is consumer protection is a legitimate state function; religious favoritism is not.

 
 

]]> By: David Werdiger http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8279 David Werdiger Thu, 27 May 2010 11:44:36 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8279 StS, The issues I raised may well be insurmountable, and may be grounds for abandoning the whole project. Our kashrut organizations can't even agree whether <em>Nutri Grain </em>is kosher or not; what hope is there to find consensus on a definition of kosher? Sometimes, there is a better way, and sometimes, it's just an idea that has no legs whose consequences have not been fully considered. StS,

The issues I raised may well be insurmountable, and may be grounds for abandoning the whole project. Our kashrut organizations can’t even agree whether Nutri Grain is kosher or not; what hope is there to find consensus on a definition of kosher? Sometimes, there is a better way, and sometimes, it’s just an idea that has no legs whose consequences have not been fully considered.

]]> By: Eli http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8259 Eli Wed, 26 May 2010 13:25:05 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8259 The most important point with all the legislation in the U.S is that it requires that labeling adhere to the legislation. No where in those laws does it site a specific authority orthodox or otherwise to be the final arbiter of whose kashrut hechsher is "kosher" so to speak. It this point that differentiates the US laws and the submission by ORA. Not an insignificant one!! View copy of the Georgia legislation <a href="http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/2010-5-20-GAKosherLaw.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>   The most important point with all the legislation in the U.S is that it requires that labeling adhere to the legislation. No where in those laws does it site a specific authority orthodox or otherwise to be the final arbiter of whose kashrut hechsher is “kosher” so to speak.
It this point that differentiates the US laws and the submission by ORA. Not an insignificant one!!
View copy of the Georgia legislation here
 

]]> By: rachsd http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8256 rachsd Wed, 26 May 2010 13:17:08 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8256 People who are opposed to the proposal can join together to voice their concerns by signing this <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/koshermonopoly/" rel="nofollow">petition</a>. People who are opposed to the proposal can join together to voice their concerns by signing this petition.

]]> By: Eli http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8254 Eli Wed, 26 May 2010 13:02:42 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8254 Teller you may be interested in this article then <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/24/georgia-removes-orthodox_n_587963.html" rel="nofollow">Georgia removes kosher labeling law</a> Here is a brief snippet <blockquote> The state should never be in the position of deciding which religious beliefs are 'legitimate' and which are not," said Debbie Seagraves, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia. </blockquote>     Teller you may be interested in this article then Georgia removes kosher labeling law
Here is a brief snippet

The state should never be in the position of deciding which religious beliefs are ‘legitimate’ and which are not,” said Debbie Seagraves, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia.

 
 

]]> By: Teller of Truth http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8253 Teller of Truth Wed, 26 May 2010 12:47:17 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8253 They have these types of laws already in America, and it works well. This keeps the standard of kashrus so that not just any shalmiel can come along and call something kosher when it is not. It helps to prevent fraud and also makes an  important distinction between what is truly kosher and not merely 'kosher style', the latter really being treife.  And it is not Kosher Australia that is pushing for this, ORA is. This will protect the kosher consumer. This has nothing to do with creating a monopoly or with KA wanting power or all such paranoid hysterical nonsense.  Just look at America which has these laws in place and there are literally hundreds of kosher organisations and one can not make the argument that any one kashrus organisations has a monoply, not even the OU. It is actually absurd to say that these laws have stifled competition in America and they will not do so here either. They have these types of laws already in America, and it works well. This keeps the standard of kashrus so that not just any shalmiel can come along and call something kosher when it is not. It helps to prevent fraud and also makes an  important distinction between what is truly kosher and not merely ‘kosher style’, the latter really being treife.  And it is not Kosher Australia that is pushing for this, ORA is. This will protect the kosher consumer. This has nothing to do with creating a monopoly or with KA wanting power or all such paranoid hysterical nonsense.  Just look at America which has these laws in place and there are literally hundreds of kosher organisations and one can not make the argument that any one kashrus organisations has a monoply, not even the OU. It is actually absurd to say that these laws have stifled competition in America and they will not do so here either.

]]> By: The oracle http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8251 The oracle Wed, 26 May 2010 09:43:28 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8251 My two cents here: If a Board were to be constituted to issue licneses to kashrut authorities-it stands to reason that ORA and ECAJ and indeed lay orthodox bodies are involved.  However, the critical issue to focus upon is who is actually appointed to such a Board. In thsi regard, one would expect that safeguards are put in place to ensure that the appointees are both rabbis and lay people of good standing within the Orthodox community and are totally independent of any relationship to any existing kashrut authority or indeed if they are now- they would need to totally remove themselves from any active participation with kashrut. My two cents here:

If a Board were to be constituted to issue licneses to kashrut authorities-it stands to reason that ORA and ECAJ and indeed lay orthodox bodies are involved.

 However, the critical issue to focus upon is who is actually appointed to such a Board. In thsi regard, one would expect that safeguards are put in place to ensure that the appointees are both rabbis and lay people of good standing within the Orthodox community and are totally independent of any relationship to any existing kashrut authority or indeed if they are now- they would need to totally remove themselves from any active participation with kashrut.

]]> By: cindy from sydney http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8249 cindy from sydney Wed, 26 May 2010 00:33:29 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8249 Yes there are a number of rumors going around here about pressure of rabbi Silberberg to desist. I for one, sure hope that he is strong enough to withstand the pressure of KA. Monopolies are BAD BAD BAD and cost us money Yes there are a number of rumors going around here about pressure of rabbi Silberberg to desist. I for one, sure hope that he is strong enough to withstand the pressure of KA.

Monopolies are BAD BAD BAD and cost us money

]]> By: eye http://galusaustralis.com/2010/05/3056/the-kosher-labelling-submission-now-available-for-your-perusal/#comment-8245 eye Tue, 25 May 2010 14:45:00 +0000 http://galusaustralis.com/?p=3056#comment-8245 Re the reported new Sydney hechsher of rabbi Silberberg reported  on Ajnwatch (here:) <a href="http://tinyurl.com/26sl2cy" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/26sl2cy</a> - see the comments. David's words: "What happens if/when ORA doesn’t like a new kid on the block like KVY? <em>How </em>kosher (and there are many shares of grey in kosher certfication) does an authority have to be to be accepted by them? How do they deal with any conflict of interest, where Rabbis on ORA are closely linked to existing (and therefore competitive) kashrut authorities?" come into play here. Presumably Rabbi Moshe Gutnick will have a strong say in ORA's kashrut affairs. Can we really expect him to approve a competitor? Is there anyone here from Sydney who has more info on this new hechsher? Re the reported new Sydney hechsher of rabbi Silberberg reported  on Ajnwatch (here:) http://tinyurl.com/26sl2cy - see the comments.

David’s words: “What happens if/when ORA doesn’t like a new kid on the block like KVY? How kosher (and there are many shares of grey in kosher certfication) does an authority have to be to be accepted by them? How do they deal with any conflict of interest, where Rabbis on ORA are closely linked to existing (and therefore competitive) kashrut authorities?” come into play here.

Presumably Rabbi Moshe Gutnick will have a strong say in ORA’s kashrut affairs. Can we really expect him to approve a competitor?

Is there anyone here from Sydney who has more info on this new hechsher?

]]>