Heartland Jews Amidst Flooded Iowa

APRPEH ^ | 17 Sivan 5768/20 June 2008 | APRPEH

[APRPEH]

Chabad Flood Relief

1,000 pounds of meat donated by Agriprocessors distributed by Chabad through the Red Cross

more photos here

Its been called the greatest flood in Iowa history, a "500 year flood". Cities have been submerged, lives lost, homes washed away in torrents of rain, thunder and tornadoes. It seems like daily a new story of a levy on the verge of collapse or giving way to the rush of out of control rivers, stills the hearts of Americans. People await the answers to their prayerful calls for help. In response, Americans have donated money and volunteered for relief operations. Yet two stories on opposite ends of a spectrum have caught my attention. While in no way to diminish in any way the suffering, displacement and heart break experienced by the people of Iowa, I was moved by thoughts of gratitude for the actions taken by the Jewish community in Iowa, namely the Chabad Flood Relief program. It seems that everytime, no matter where a disaster occurs, a Chabadnik is there managing a volunteer effort, sending food, coordinating contacts between the disaster victims and their families, and in some cases actively involved in rescue operations not to mention serving in a pastoral role. more

[APRPEH]

This post celebrates how Americans are United and strong despite the personal differences and challenges.

[Moose4]

If I remember correctly, these are the same people that recently had one of their large Iowa plants raided and hundreds of illegal alien employees carted off for deportation.

Good to see them helping out their community.

}:-)4

[radiohead]

If I remember correctly, these are the same people that recently had one of their large Iowa plants raided

You are correct. I wouldn't buy a thing from them and I wouldn't take a donation from them either. Not only do they employ illegals, but their slaughtering methods are far from kosher.

What are they, the 1930s mafia? Do they think their crimes will be erased by feeding the needy?

[Philo-Junius]

Even if the 1,000 pounds of beef donated was distributed only amongst Iowa’s 6,000 Jews, there wouldn’t be enough for a decent-sized hamburger for each of them.

It’s nice that they donated, but it’s not the sort of thing I’d put out in a press release to document how generous these put-upon Jewish meatpackers are.

Using the flood to propagate some hearsay anti-semitism is not really celebrating “how Americans are United and strong” either.

[APRPEH]

the post is not focused on Agriprocessors, it is a side note. The bigger picture is the community involvement. Note it was Chabad in Iowa which turned that meat into ready to eat meals for whatever number of people the Red Cross was able to distribute it to. In any event, this was merely an illustrative example.

What was hearsay? The article cited entitled "Anti-semitic attack on Mikey Weinstein`s home; Jewish vet blamed for Iowa flood", can hardly be referred to as "hearsay":

...The attack came after nightfall, according to Weinstein, who said family members heard someone running across the roof; ...

[APRPEH]

I am curious who you are? You must be a great Rabbi to proclaim Agriprocessors is "far from kosher". At this time the leading "modern" Orthodox organizations have not advocated that consumers should cease purchasing meat packed in Agriprocessors plants (RCA and OU). There is an interesting discussion going on amongst conservative and reform as to what role a Kashrus authority should play in terms of worker standards and US employment laws. The best answer is none. These roles should be played by the state and federal law enforcement organizations not the Rabbis. Those advocating that a shochet or kashrus administrator should enforce US civil law are way out of bounds (IMO) with the separation clause.

in any event, Agriprocessors was not the focus of the post as I alluded to before.

[Philo-Junius]

The definition of hearsay is someone reporting what someone else said second-hand, as Weinstein does when he reports what his family told him, although he seems not to have heard it himself.

Here endeth the lesson.

[APRPEH]

good try. here is the whole quote for context:

Intruders attacked the Albuquerque home of Mikey Weinstein, a leading critic of fundamentalist Christian activity in the armed services. The attack came after nightfall, according to Weinstein, who said family members heard someone running across the roof; they subsequently found a swastikas and a cross scrawled next to the front door.

Weinstein has reported receiving dozens of threatening telephone calls in the years since he filed a lawsuit against the Air Force for religious coercion of Air Force Academy cadets and established the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which represents members of the armed services who have been subjected to aggressive fundamentalist Christian proselytizing. Authorities are investigating the attack on Weinstein's home.

the only "fact" reported to Weinstein is the family member hearing "someone running across the roof". the "swastikas and a cross" is evidence. "threatening telephone calls" is first hand. alleged motive is "since he filed a lawsuit".