GUEST POST FROM KOSHERMAN:
Here's a scoop for Ajnwatch readers!
Sydney now officially has a second Kashruth authority. Rabbi Shalom Silberberg and the Sydney Adass community have revived the Adass Kashruth organization which was created at the same time of the Kehilla’s founding and operated until the days of Rabbi Nesanel Kostelitz.
My sources tell me that a number of functions in Sydney have already been booked with Melbourne caterers who will be working under Rabbi Silberberg’s supervision.
Having a local rabbi on the job, should prevent the unpleasantness of an earlier such catering arrangement. (See here, here and here.)
Hatzlacha to Rabbi Silberberg (and continued Hatzlacha to Rabbi Gutnick).
Poor Rabbi Gutnick is not feeling very well since Rabbi Silverbergs Hechsher was announced!
ReplyDeleteOne can sympathise with rabbi Gutnick. After having a monopoly for so many years, who wouldn't be upset at the arrival of competition. Hopefully he'll get over it.
ReplyDeleteBut we are hearing rumours that RG has been putting a lot of pressure on Rabbi silberberg to change his mind. That would not be a good outcome for us consumers here. We need to have options available in Kashrus
An interesting post on the KCA forum:
ReplyDeleteFrom: KCA_Committee
Sent: 02/08/2010, 7:37 pm
To: KCA_Sydney@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KCA Sydney] Unified kashrut issue from ravreich@gmail.com
A while ago, an email was posted to the community addressing the recent appearance of another kashrut authority in Sydney and the disunity that this could engender.
I would like to make the following comments in response.
The email details the high standards of the Sydney shechita. This is not the point. Indeed as far as I know, all those who know the shechita and the shochtim are impressed and have no problems with this.
However, a hechsher involves much more than just shechita. It involves vigilant and meticulous supervision over every detail of the provision of kosher food to the consumer, from the earliest stages till its made available to the public whether in a store or on a plate. Those who have insisted on a different hechsher at certain functions have done so as a result of dissatisfaction with the level of supervision provided by the
Kashrut Authority. It is unthinkable that they should not have the right to provide what they feel is a more satisfactory level of hashgacha at their functions. It is inappropriate for the KA to respond by calling them elitist and accusing them of wanting to stir up machloket when they are stating that they are motivated by real kashrut concerns.
The concept of one "unified" certifying organisation is not sacrosanct. What is sacrosanct is the right of a group to provide its own hashgacha without being vilified.
Shalom - community unity - is an all-important value and machloket is to be avoided wherever possible at all cost. However, having one kashrut body does not mean that Sydney is unified, and Sydney is not the envy of serious kashrut-concerned communities around the world.
In many, perhaps even the majority, of communities around the world `breakaway' kashrut organisations were established and were accused at the time of fomenting machloket, but in the end were acknowledged as having raised the standard of the whole town.
The consideration of community unity should not stand in the way of establishing kashrut standards that are both scrupulous and trusted by the public.
Different kashrut bodies may create divisions in a community but they need not create divisiveness. Real shalom is established and maintained by mutual respect between the members of different communities who are each pursuing their particular kashrut needs.
Rabbi O. Reich
[Please note this information is posted at the request of Rabbi Reich. It does not necessarily represent the views of the KCA but is provided in the interests of the community.]