In Light of Controversy, Some Rabbis Agree IA Slaughterhouse Not Kosher

December 28, 2004

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=2026&e=2&u=/latimests/20041228/ts_latimes/cattlevideostirskoshermeatdebate

On December 28, 2004 the Los Angeles Times reported, "the Orthodox Union, the largest kosher certification authority in the world, has declared that the procedures at Agriprocessors 'meet all [our] standards to the highest degree.' Meat from the plant — sold under the brand names Aaron's Best and Rubashkin — is certified not only as kosher, but as glatt kosher, which means it's deemed of the highest quality. But kosher law is more than a procedural checklist. It's based on the ancient Jewish principle of tza'ar ba'alei hayyim — the need to minimize pain to all living beings. And that's where the video has caused unease. The Torah lists specific rules for treating animals humanely. For instance, oxen must not be muzzled on the threshing floor because it would torment them to see grain they could not eat. Rabbinical scholars nearly 2,000 years ago introduced the general principle that Jews must make sure the animals they use for work and food do not suffer. That principle is integral to kosher slaughter, which, experts say, can be virtually painless if done correctly. After watching the video, which PETA posted online, some rabbis have concluded that the animals at Agriprocessors suffer unnecessarily — and have declared the meat unfit."