Posted September 7 2007 by Benji Nadler
Animosity in the Jewish world
There are a number of things that have never made sense to me. The appeal of Jerry Lewis in France, The reason why a 3 hour flight from New York to Florida is $78 while a 45 minute flight from New York to Montreal is around $200 and how someone like Kathy Griffin or Wanda Sykes ever becomes famous in the first place.
Over the last two years I’ve noticed that in addition to these – there is also quite a bit of animosity and anger directed towards the various Kashrut organizations. People seem to go out of their way to accept the worst regardless of fact or evidence. If someone speaks out against them – they are not only believed, but people are encouraged boycott that particular ‘brand’.
Most recently there was a mashgiach at a prominent Kosher steakhouse who claimed that there was a chef who was a Jew hater and had been doing all that he could to cause the restaurant appliances and utensils to be treif. He claimed that everyone (both in the restaurant and in the organization giving the hashgacha) was aware of the problem but that this restaurant was far too important and as a result obtained special treatment. To my surprise these claims were met with open arms from so many readers on him blog many of which seemed to equate the organizations who give hechsheirim with evil tobacco companies who’s strategy is centered around making money and nothing else.
I don’t claim to be in any way unbiased – I am in fact an employee of the OU (although I have absolutely nothing to do with kashrut) but the responses to this gentleman’s unsubstantiated claims were shocking!
This is just one of many responses I found on his blog:
“You make some very valid points. As someone who has a close ‘relative’ working in the Kashrut system, I understand 100% what you are saying and, I am sad to say, I BELIEVE IN ENTIRETY everything you have claimed and stated on your website. The bottom line is–and to all (frum) people reading this posting, these companies care more about $$$ than anything else! There are MANY OTHER certified establishments that also have had many Kashrut infractions ( i.e family-owned chains of “high end” restaurants in Manhattan–and now even in chic Beverly Hills, CA).
Issac, stand strong! Keep your faith and keep posting updates for all of us to see and hear. This is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’!
Chazak V’Ametz!”
Generally I like to believe some of our Jewish stereotype. That we are, as a people, educated. That as a result of our time spend learning Gemarah we have honed skills that allow us to ask questions and demand proof. But to accept accusations like these because a friend of a friend of a friend works for a guy who once had an employee whose brother lived on a kibbutz with a woman who was married to someone who worked for one of these organizations and said that it’s all true is just preposterous.
You would never call your friend over and say “you’ll never guess what I read in the weekly world news today”. While the weekly world news is an informative paper – it lacks what journalists might call “facts” or “truths”. Why then are we so quick to assume the worst regarding other Jews in the business world?
I’ve heard from so many people that they’ll do business with anyone but other Jews because they don’t trust them to be forthcoming or honest. Regardless of whether or not it’s true – it’s such a sad commentary on the state of the Jewish people.
I have no intention of ending this with a “we need to work together to build a better tomorrow” or “we need to make a change now in the month of elul”. I feel like that would be preachy and unfair. Everyone has their own opinions on topics such as these so I’ll leave the conclusion for you.
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