The Canadian Jewish News has assigned a special staff reporter to Investigate the recent kashrut ccmtroversy
directly affecting the sale of meat products throughout. Canada. The Jewish Commimily
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UNDER SUPERVISION OF JEWISH COMMUNITY y COUNCIL OP MONTREAL
Council of Mnrtireal, an internationally recognized authority in the field of kashnit supervision and the only sup-ervisiiig body of this kind in Montreal, publicly has withdrawn its kashnit certification from Dr a:ch's Food Pro-; ducts Ltd., JHerzI Caterers £ Baikeiy 8|nd Reliable Poultiy.
Following this unusual step, Drach's Kosher Food Products Ltd., Herzl Cater-. ers & Bakery and Reliable Poultry--private companies --declared that they had ap-pobited their ownsupervisor and intend tocontinue to supply the market with their products.
The Rabbinical Council of America, Montreal Regira, which represents the organi-zaticHi of orthodox rabbis, fully endorsed the Vaad Hair's decision hi this matter. In an taterview with The Canadian Jewish News, it also stated that, the Rabbinical Council recognizes the Jewish Community Council as the (Hily authority in the field of kashrut in Montreal; thus it will not accept any private si^ervision of kashrut. Similar statements were made fcty other organizations as the Vaad Hair represents the totality of the organized Jewish community of M<m-treal in all religious matters particularly kashrut.
Am<»ig the constituent organizations of the Vaad Hair are Conservative and Orthodox congregations.
Also siQiporting the Vaad are all Jewish organizations from extreme ri^t to extreme left. In fact, Montreal is the only Jewish community where the Jewish Gom-muniiy Council hicludes the ultra-orthodox groiips. All Zionist and nmi-Zionist organizations are represented, as are the Societies and Landsmanshaften.
The Canadian Jewish News has asked Rabbi Isaac L. Hechtman, executive dlrec-^:OftteJ«Eifll^^ Council and tiie.Montr^ Council of Orthodox Rabbtt, the reason! for Council's withdrawal of Its kashrut supervision fhnn that company.
A. First, 1 wish to e:q)lain the meaning of kashrut sup-ervislcxi and certification.
Actually, it means that the Vaad is resptmsible for the slaughter and production of meat products, that it was performed in accordance with rabbinic law. Thus it amounts to a carte blanche regarding kashrut. This recognition is accorded cmly under proper conditiinis. The miajor requirement Is that the establishment under supervision must handle ordy meat products ritually slaughtered by our own shochtim, staitsped with the koisher markings of our Beth Din and under the jurisdic-tliMi dour Rabbinate.
Q. What is wroi«writh imported hieat from outside Montreal?
A, The Jewish Community Council of Mwitreal and its rabbinate not only are an or-gaiilzation directed by Hala-kha (Jewish religious code) but also a law enforcing agency, kashrut supervision and certification is a most difficult task because only the official kosher stamp de-noteis the difference between kosherjay^ honrkosher meat or meiit products. Tlierefore . there are a number (tf codes of markings known only to : the rabbhuite and its ^aff of supervisors. How can our supervisor identify the kashrut of meat If it is imported from outside Montreal? Can we establish the kosher markings of the Various Jew^ ish communities throughout the continent? What about Australia and New Zealand?
2. Even were there a con-tinentrwlde kosher marking symbol, the Vaad still would ; not, be : able to assume the koshrut responsibility of rabbis In various commun-/Itles ,on the continent since ■we in. Montreal have a standard of kashrut acceptable to all observant Jewis including the ultra-orthodox who unquestionably have accepj*-^ ed our system of kashmit. They most definitely wfJi^^ld question the reliability' of ce
kashrut setups in a number of Jewish communl-; ^tles In America. It would pean that: the \Vaad would hlive to i^reaite categories of kashrut some of which would be accepted to us while others would not.
3, Here is ahexactexplan-ation of shechita and b'dlka (ritual and post-slaughter examination of the animal). The ritual slaughter <rf cattle is a highly specialized function. It requires that the shochet be not only known for his piety but he should be able to cmcentrate, to possess acute manual dexterity down to his fingernails. In this complicated operation, It is the shochet who can determine whether the shechita was performed properly, that there was no split-second delay during the shechita, that there was no pressing at the chalef (knife) during the shechita and that the chalef did not have the minutest nick~shKe all these render the cattle treif a (non-kosher).
Therefore it stands to reason that the shochet can fulfill his most sensitive task only when he is independent . and not employed by the packing company or by the manufacturer; otherwise we ■ submit that his concentration and sensitivity may be impaired. Hmxs it lis quite logical that ecmomical independence of the shochet is most important so far as kashrut is concerned.
For these reas(His the Vaad cannot assume responsibility for the kashrut
(hss-.. V ^ ••V* -
of meat Imported Into the
city. ■^■■y<¥[yK-: :
The idea of a butcher of manufacturer setting up his own kashrut system by engaging his own rabbi or shochet Is not acceptable to Montreal Jewry. . . Q. Often I am asked what the need Is for the shochef s post-slaughter examination of the cattle since there is a veterinary examination on the spot.
A. Treifais not only when the animal is Mllcted with a disease like tuberculosis or cancer but, even if there are symptoms that might have killed the animal within twelve months, Halakha declares it unfit for kosher consumption,
Q. What is the Vaad and what are Its activities?
A. The Vaad is the representative of Mwrtreal Jewry. Its task is to perform what the individual Jew is in no positicm to do. So far as our activities are concerned, I should divide them intotwo parts: regular daily activities; special achievements. These activities include:
1. The MK kashrut department: only after a product is investigated by our consulting chemist. Dr. H. Biberfeld, itHien is ^proved by the rabbinate.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
The Rabbinical Council of America/ Montreal Region, advises the Jewish community that inr order to preserve Kashrut in our community there must be only one supervising body of Kashrut, and this body is the. Jewish Community Council of Montreal (Vaad Ha'ir). The R.C.A. does nX recognize the supervision of any of her person, or organization.
RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA
Robbl I. Rointr, PnMidwt RabbI'M. Zelti, SMi^wry
2. Beth Din lyMontreal: the official rabbinic body which deals with matters of divorce, Chalitza, DlnTor-ahs, etc.
3. Mishpat Hashalom, Jewish ArbltratlOT Court: which consists ot a rabbi, an advocate and a businessman,
4. Family counseling.
5. Publicati(His: The Vaad publishes brochures dealing with religious subjects and a quarterly, TTie Voice of the Vaad.
6. Education department: twenty percent (tf our income Is allocated towards educational institutions ot M<m-treal on a per capita basis.
Social achievements: we have established kashrut supervisltx) in Jewish public institutions (Jewish Genets Hospital, Jewish Hospital of Hope, Maimcmides Hospital for the Aged, Jewish Convalescent Hospital in Chom-eday, practically all summer camps where permanent mashglchim are placed by the Vaad, the YMHA, HUlel, OeSola Club).
We al so ha ve arrangements with a number of non-Jewish hospitals so that every Jew receives kosher meat dinners upon request.
Almost all Jewish fUnc-ticHis in hotels are under the supervision of the Jewish Community Councp. Our latest achievement is a strictly kosher restaurant In Expo 67.
TO OUR MONTREAL READERS
AND FRIENDS
Rabbi Isaac L. Haehtman, one of the few :Canadian Rabbis ordained by the Mir
Yeshiva: in Poland,, surrounded by the spiritual and .la/ leoders' of. Montreal"'Jewish community. From left to right:. Isaac Eiley;(Praesidium Member), Moric Treitel (Praesidium Member), Louis Shiff (Treasurer), I.R. Prozoff (Choirmon, Executive Board), Rabbi Eiger-mqn,.Louis Orenstein, Q.C. (Praesidium Member), Rdbbi P Hirszprung (Rosh Beth Din D'Montreol).
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
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JEIACISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF MONTREAL
Constituent Organizations 1967
Synagogues
Adath Israel Cong;
Adat Yereim
Adath Jeshurun Hadratii
Kodesh Ahavath Sholom Anshei Castilla Ahshei Ozeroff Beth Aaron Beth Chodosh Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Tifereth Israel Beth HUlel
Beth Israel V*Damesek
Eliezer Beth Israel of Cote St. Luc Beth Israel & Samuel Beth Moishe Beth Ora Beth Zion
ChevraKadisha B.Jacob Chevra Mishnayeth Chevra Thllim PInsker Kinyan Torah Etz Chaim
House of Israel Ste. Agathe des Mraits Jacob Jos^h of Chomedey Lubavitch Cong. Nusswch Hoari - J. Mance NUssach Hoari - Fine Ave. Poaley Zedek Sephardes de McMitreal Shaar David of Bobov Shaar Hashomayim Shaare Eatikvah Shaare Zion
Educational Institutions
Beth Esther School Beth Jacob School Beth Rivkah Academy Chaside BeltzU^Mach.Hadas
First Meslfta of Canada Hebrew Acadenyr Jewish People's Schools Jewish Peretz Schools Jewish Public Library
"Maor Hagola" Yeshivah Rabbinical College of Can.
(Lubavitch) Yeshivah "Merkaz Hatorah"
Organizations
Agudias Israel B'nai B'rith Centennial Lodge No. 2283
Bessarabler Heb. Sick' Candn.'Fed. for Polish Jews Hebrew Sick Ben^ Assn.
B'nai B'rith Mount Royal
Lodge No. 729 Labor Zionist Movement
Labor Zionistfarband- City
Committee Zhitlowshy Branch
Societies
Independent Heb. Sick Ben. Montefiore Protective &
King George Sick Ben. Assn. Mutual
Mesibos Shabbos of Mtl. Russian-Polish Heb. Sick Ben.
Shevet Achim Shomrei Amunah Shomrim Laboker BethYehudah Shaare Tfilah Cong. Spanish & Portuguese Cong. Tif. Beth David Jerusalem Yeshivah Minyan Young Israel of Chomedey Young Israel of Mtl. Young Israel of Val Rpyal Zichron Kidoshim
Oir Hachayim Tasher Yeshiva
A. Relsen Schools
"Torath Moishe" Rabb. Coll.
United Talmud torahs of Mtl.
Mizrachl-Hapoel Hamizrachi
Y.M.aA.
Zerel Agudath Israel Zionist Org. of Canada
Shoemakers' Liberal Loan Yishitzer Y.M. Sick Ben, Young Heb; Malbish ArumJm Zawiercie & Vic. Relief,
Leadership of Montreal^ VAAD Hair (Jewish Commun^y Council)
Honorary President: MILTON KLEIN, Q.C.,M.D.
Praesidium:
LOIJIS ORENSTEIN, Q.C.
MORIC TREITEL XEILEY ■
Hon. Treasurer: LOUIS SHIFF
Hon. Secretary: DR. HENRY BIBERFELD
onalrman Executive Board: LR. PRAZQFF
Vice-Presidents; S,DEITCHER EMMANUEL COOKE, Q.C.
Chairman f\ "Actions Committee" SOLDEITCIIER L
Chairman
'•Education Committee" /. FRANK COBRIN
Chairman
"Mishpat Hashalom" . MERVIN ROSENSTEIN ^^^^
• "Finance & Budget Committee"
\DAVIDS. DUBIN, C.A.
• ' , '
' ■■■\\'' ' ' ■■ ' ' •Chairman 1
"Public Relations Com- (
rnittee" HAROLD ASHENMIL
Vice-chairman "Public Relations mittee'l
SOLLY urma;
Secretary
"Public Relations Committee"
ALEX DINOVITZER Secretary
"Public Relations Committee"
RABBI F. PFEIFFER
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