Free Republic

Scores of heavily armed federal agents last month stormed into Agriprocessors, which produces up to 70 percent of all kosher meat in America. The feds seized almost 400 of the plant's 900 workers in the largest single roundup of illegal immigrants to date, charging about 300 of them with identity theft and using stolen Social Security cards. Some of those workers have since sued the company, alleging abuse, fraud and sexual coercion. Postville, which once sold T-shirts boasting of the peaceful coexistence of its many cultures, has been left "absolutely shattered," said the Rev. Paul Ouderkirk of the town's St....

DES MOINES (AP) --- An animal rights organization is getting help from actress Bea Arthur in calling attention to what it says is the abuse of cattle at a kosher slaughterhouse in Postville. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, alleges that Agriprocessors Inc. has violated state law that requires the use of humane methods of slaughter. PETA recently filed complaints with federal officials and the state, calling for the prosecution of Agriprocessors and the Orthodox Union, an international kosher certification agency. ADVERTISEMENT HOW TO ADVERTISE » MARKETPLACE » In a letter sent Thursday to Orthodox Union leaders,...

Potato latkes, gefilte fish, cheesecake, salami, and matza abounded in the Jacob Javits Convention Center this week, as more than 275 exhibitors took their wares to the 15th annual Kosherfest food fair. Held here this year after 12 years in New Jersey, the world's largest kosher food show featured Gimme Jimmy's handmade kosher cookies, high-resolution lollipops with scenes from the Bible by Lightvision Confections, and even kosher cat food. Jackie Mason stopped by to pitch his non-dairy, cholesterol-free cheesecake in plain, chocolate, marble, cherry, strawberry, and pineapple, and Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor Ehud Olmert tasted a variety of...