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Kosher Meat Shortage in US Turning Jews into Vegetarians
Arutz 7 ^ | 11/12/08, | Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Posted on 11/12/2008 1:14:22 PM PST by Nachum

(IsraelNN.com) The bankruptcy of the kosher meatpacking plant Agriprocessors, the largest American kosher meat operation, has forced many Jews to go vegetarian amid kosher-food shortages and soaring prices.

The Postville, Iowa plant had supplied more than half of the kosher meat for millions of Jews as well as non-Jews who prefer buying meat processed according to Jewish law. Federal investigators raided the plant in May and charged officials with violating immigration laws and hiring 389 illegal workers.

Agriprocessors filed for bankruptcy this week after the resulting labor shortage left it unable to meet customer demand and forced a shutdown of its beef department, according to the Des Moines, Iowa Register. Charges that could result in multi-million dollar fines have been placed against the company's owners.

Nationwide shortages have forced many people to eat vegetarian meals on the Sabbath, when meat and chicken are a long-standing tradition. Many stores throughout the U.S. reported their meat cases were empty.

One rabbi told the KosherToday website, "This past Sabbath was the first in a long time that my wife made a pareve [non-meat] cholent," a stew usually consisting of meat or chicken, grains and potatoes. The rabbi added that he was hoping to haul home several boxes of meat when he goes on a trip to Brooklyn.

The large Empire Kosher Poultry company is trying to make up for the meat shortages and meet increasing demand for chicken but does not have a beef plant.

Agriprocessors, operating under bankruptcy laws, still is producing at a limited rate. This too may cease, however, because hundreds of the plant's workers are unable to pay their electricity bills and may have to leave their homes soon. The local energy company has agreed to a week's delay before cutting off power to the workers' homes but employees will not be able to stay in their houses without power as the winter approaches.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: foodsupply; illegals; kosher; meat; shortage; vegetarians
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To: knarf
I don't know any jews who ate vegetarians...maybe some of those really reform Jews in the South Pacific...
21 posted on 11/12/2008 1:32:41 PM PST by ari-freedom (So this is how Liberty dies... with thunderous applause)
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To: Kackikat

everything has to be done according to Jewish law from slaughtering to inspection to soaking and salting.


22 posted on 11/12/2008 1:36:48 PM PST by ari-freedom (So this is how Liberty dies... with thunderous applause)
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To: Nachum

Sounds like their hiring wasn’t kosher.

So to speak.


23 posted on 11/12/2008 1:39:19 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: GovernmentShrinker

Yup. There is. Not a subject for the goyem. Just as there are topics I would suggest are inappropriate for the uninitiated Jew.


24 posted on 11/12/2008 1:39:33 PM PST by Constitutions Grandchild
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To: Nachum
I don't know how the can be "kosher" and hev the huge number of health citations they've received over the past several years.

If you were to read the details of some of the citations, you would probably find it necessary to postpone your next meal...very disgusting.

25 posted on 11/12/2008 1:39:33 PM PST by capt. norm (Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups.)
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To: DannyTN

Funny.


26 posted on 11/12/2008 1:40:04 PM PST by Constitutions Grandchild
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To: Kackikat

How the beef, lamb and chicken is slaughtered for one. It’s not just about cleanliness and a blessing.


27 posted on 11/12/2008 1:41:54 PM PST by Constitutions Grandchild
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To: ari-freedom

Having grown up on a farm and seen slaughtering and meatpacking, it seems to me there aren’t too many ways to do it.


28 posted on 11/12/2008 1:42:08 PM PST by Kackikat (.It's NOT over until it's over and it's NOT over yet....The Trumpet will sound....)
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To: Nachum

One Saturday, Sammy left his shul and walked several blocks along. He was wearing a black homburg and black leather brogues. Sammy would often say hi to passersby. Unbeknownst to Sammy, his rabbi was following him.

Sammy entered a chincese restaurant and ordered a large plate of shrimp, crab meat and other silly chinese things like noodles and squid.

Sammy’s rabbi stood there aghast! He was speechless but only for a few seconds which is a world record for rabbis.

“Sammy, I watched you order all these abominations. What is going on here?” Asked the rabbi.

“Rabbi, you saw me order the shrimp and crab meat?” asked Sammy.

“Yes, I did.” replied the rabbi.

“Ok then, the entire thing was performed under rabbinic supervision.” replied Sammy.


29 posted on 11/12/2008 1:49:55 PM PST by Doug4McCain (I'm ashamed of myself for supporting McCain, but I still love Sarah Palin.)
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To: Kackikat
you do it with a knife

30 posted on 11/12/2008 1:53:07 PM PST by ari-freedom (So this is how Liberty dies... with thunderous applause)
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To: Nachum

Having had construction contracts in every slaughter house in Los Angeles area over the years, Kosher is the biggest joke in the world.

The closest it comes is some Rabi has been given a cushy office with a window to the killing floor and a big salary.

Most of the time the overpaid jerk isn;t even there, he just signs the paperwork.


31 posted on 11/12/2008 1:54:07 PM PST by dalereed
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To: Nachum
Agriprocessors, operating under bankruptcy laws, still is producing at a limited rate.

They were caught making fake id's and ss cards for their illegals.

32 posted on 11/12/2008 1:58:10 PM PST by org.whodat ( "the Whipped Dog Party" , what was formally the republicans.)
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To: Nachum
Here in Iowa agriculture is a big part of our economy. Meat processing is a natural fit. It's to bad that the people running Agri Processors were thugs.

I would love to see the plant reopened with a native Iowa workforce and good working conditions.

It can't add a lot to the retail price of meat to run a business this way; instead of bringing illegals and paying them a minimal amount.

33 posted on 11/12/2008 1:58:42 PM PST by HereInTheHeartland (I can't wait for January 20, 2013")
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To: ari-freedom

ROFL..yes that’s right, and here is all about Kosher food, Kosher Slaughter and everything you need to know at this website:

http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm


34 posted on 11/12/2008 2:02:18 PM PST by Kackikat (.It's NOT over until it's over and it's NOT over yet....The Trumpet will sound....)
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To: Nachum

If they get hungry enough......

Make sure #1 supplier not breaking law.


35 posted on 11/12/2008 2:02:50 PM PST by wolfcreek (I see miles and miles of Texas....let's keep it that way.)
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To: Constitutions Grandchild

You are right...here’s a website with ALL Kosher info you would ever want to know:

http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm


36 posted on 11/12/2008 2:03:26 PM PST by Kackikat (.It's NOT over until it's over and it's NOT over yet....The Trumpet will sound....)
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To: seoul62
Is purchasing Halal Meat an alternative

Depends on who you ask and exactly what it is. Halal beef is slaughtered pretty much the same as Kosher, but you'd have to stay away from some cuts. In general Kosher is more restrictive, so many things can be Halal, but not Kosher.

37 posted on 11/12/2008 2:04:25 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: ari-freedom

Yes, you are right, and I found this Kosher website that shows how complicated it all is:

http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm


38 posted on 11/12/2008 2:04:32 PM PST by Kackikat (.It's NOT over until it's over and it's NOT over yet....The Trumpet will sound....)
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To: Nachum

What, you don’t know how to hunt and have a deep freeze?

/Sephard shaking head at silly yankees./


39 posted on 11/12/2008 2:07:19 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Michael Savage = Tokio Rose of Talk Radio = Purpose is to Demoralize the Right)
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To: seoul62
Is purchasing Halal Meat an alternative?/Just Asking - seoul62......

Halal meat must come from an animal slaughtered by a Muslim who in the act of slaughtering invokes the name of Allah.

Jews may not eat meat that has been consecrated to a false god.

40 posted on 11/12/2008 2:08:10 PM PST by PapaBear3625 (Question O-thority)
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