Media Releases November 2015
|
IT'S KOSHER AUTHORITY
Australasia's Largest Independently Owned Kosher Certification Authority MEDIA RELEASE 12 Nov 2015 TO Kosher consumers and other interested parties The Kosher certification agency indicated below has long standing Halachic [ritual] irregularities that they refuse to correct. Accordingly we are unable to accept products or ingredients bearing their certification until we have performed independent Kosher verification. Kosher Australia Pty Ltd +++++ From: Rabbi Meir G. Rabi, its Kosher! <[email protected]> Date: Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 3:54 AM Subject: Re: Questions for AJN To: Joshua Levi <[email protected]> Hi Joshua, here are the answers to your questions I would appreciate your sending me a copy of the finalised article the moment it is ready for publication Who did you send the letter to? Our ‘media release 12/11/2015’ was published on our ‘It’s Kosher Authority’ Facebook and LinkedIn social media accounts Can you elaborate on the “long standing Halachic irregularities” Some meat (fleishig) restaurants and fast food meateries are being certified as Kosher even though their owners and operators are not Shomrey Shabbat and in spite of not having full-time Kosher supervision. ‘Halacha’ requires that such establishments be monitored with full time supervision by a Jew who is ritually accepted as a reliable supervisor meaning one who is Shomer Shabbat, to verify the Kosher integrity of the food,. The Kosher Certifying Agency must have full and absolute control over access to and all proceedings and activities within the establishment. What was the purpose of sending the letter? Truth and Justice which is the Torah way. Furthermore, following the guidance of our traditions and my natural instincts, I have attempted over the years to open communications in order to address these issues in a civil, constructive and non confrontational, quiet fashion, unfortunately without success. Not until August this year has any official response been made, which you can see on the video clip on our website. This however, failed to clarify the Halachic ritual issues. Best, +++++ From: Joshua Levi <[email protected]> Date: Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 5:21 AM Subject: Re: Questions for AJN To: "Rabbi Meir G. Rabi, its Kosher!" <[email protected]> Sorry Rabbi but we went to print at 1pm, which meant the answers didn't make it in time. We'll run a follow-up article next week. Regards, Josh +++++ IT'S KOSHER AUTHORITY Australasia's Largest Independently Owned Kosher Certification Authoritys MEDIA RELEASE 26 Nov 2015 TO Kosher consumers and other interested parties ANNOUNCEMENT Following our Media Release of November 11th 2015 reflecting upon the entity named below, much enquiry and comment has been received from Kosher consumers, Revered Rabbis, and food manufacturers and distributors. Therefore, following our ancient Talmudic and Halachic traditions which advocates open discussion as the best device for clarifying all ritual matters, we propose such a discussion, formatted as an ‘Open To The Public’ forum/panel evening guided by an appropriate moderator in which the Rabbinic Leadership of the named entity and our own Rabbinic Leadership will chat about the Halachic requirements pertaining to Kosher certification of meat restaurants. Kosher Australia Pty Ltd +++++ AJN Friday, November 27, 2015 Clash over kashrut JOSHUA LEVI RABBI Meir Gershon Rabi, head of the It's Kosher kashrut organisation, has been slammed by Victoria's Kosher Australia certification agency after a statement was sent to manufacturers and suppliers from It's Kosher claiming Kosher Australia has "longstanding halachic irregularities that they refuse to correct". The statement also asserted that It's Kosher is the country's largest independently owned kosher certification authority and that it will not recognise the kashrut of products or ingredients that have been given a hechsher (certificate of kashrut) by Kosher Australia. Kosher Australia is a subsidiary of Mizrachi and The AJN understands Mizrachi's board was so incensed by the statement sent out that it considered legal action against It's Kosher at an executive board meeting last week. While not commenting on the prospect of legal action, Mizrachi president Ian Waller noted that Kosher Australia is widely recognised both locally and internationally as the pre-eminent kashrut certification agency in Australasia. "Kosher Australia has achieved the status [of the pre-eminent kosher authority] because of the rigorous halachic and ethical standards that it has employed for more than half-a-century," Waller said. "The recent public statement by Meir Rabi's Its Kosher Authority is a desperate, baseless and irresponsible attempt ... to undermine Kosher Australia in the eyes of many manufacturers and kosher consumers who rely on its services.” The AJN understands that several manufacturers and suppliers contacted Kosher Australia when they received the letter because they were concerned about its implications. However, Waller said, "Fortunately, Meir Rabi's recent statement has been seen as such [desperate and baseless] and reflects poorly only on those responsible for making it’” Rabbi Rabi has previously courted controversy for publishing a letter from Dayan Yonasan Abraham, a senior member of the London Beth Din, on the It's Kosher website under the heading "Commendations". Dayan Abraham has insisted the letter is in no way an endorsement of It's Kosher, and despite repeatedly requesting that it be removed, from the website, it is still there. Neither Kosher Australia nor its NSW counterpart the Kashrut Authority recognise hechshers provided by It's Kosher, Rabbi Rabi was approached for comment by the AJN but hadn’t responded by press time. +++++ From: Rabbi Meir G. Rabi, its Kosher! <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Nov 28, 2015 at 6:23 PM Subject: Clash Over Kashrut 27 Nov To: [email protected], Joshua Levi <[email protected]> re Clash Over Kashrut 27 Nov I am sure that AJN's Joshua Levi, under time and other pressure, inadvertently failed to notice that the commendation from Dayan Y. Abraham published on my website is accompanied by the following - "obviously, a personal endorsement reflects upon my projects without necessarily endorsing them." I am also delighted that Mizrachi president, Ian Waller is confident that my Media Release has not reflected poorly upon KA Melbourne; however, it is strange that he considers my concerns baseless. Perhaps he can explain how a meat foodery, owned and operated by those who do not respect the ritual Laws of Shabbos, can be certified Kosher without full time Kosher supervision. Best, |
