The following statement was released by the OU Kashrut Department in response to the JKN article published this past Sunday (http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/2009/08/new-kashrut-agency-in-israel-3rd-shuk-tour-ou-israel/).
“A recent article raised questions about the standards of Israeli food establishments under OU supervision.The article did not claim that kashrus was compromised.Rabbi Yosef Minsky, the OU representative in Israel, has informed us, and our initial review and consultation with other agencies in Israel indicate, that the standards in place are essentially comparable with other reliable mehadrin agencies and Badatzim in Israel.
“Rabbi Yaakov Luban, Senior OU Rabbinic Coordinator, who has extensive knowledge of food service establishments, is being dispatched to Israel this week, and will perform a thorough review of the OU operation.For the past 25 years, Rabbi Luban has been involved with food service establishments in various capacities; as a Rabbi in Edison, NJ, OU Rabbinic Coordinator, and auditor of local Vaadim around the country”.
END OF STATEMENT
Rabbi Luban has also contacted me, and we are planning to meet during his stay in Israel.
Yechiel Spira
5 Comments
Well done for getting the attention of OU in the US. And I’m sure the two of you are savvy enough not to let anyone pull the wool over your eyes! Look forward to hearing the sequal before too long!
Kol hakavod – the wide coverage that this article received has forced OU to take action. It will be interesting to see if OU in Israel are as interested in bad coverage as OU in USA.
I third the kudos.
The OU has long stood for honesty and integrity.
I am happy to see that the OU is addressing this matter seriously in an open and forthright way.
I have the Red Heifer Steakhouse with the OU Hasgacha. We were the first with OU supervision under Rabbi Kuber. I am not here to comment about the OU in general and thier relationship with other restaurants here and abroad. What I would like to say is-
1)(re to comments) There is a huge need for the OU in todays Israel Hasgacha business. They are the only Hagacha that offers a range of shechitas (all major Badatz) which in turn offers the best possible products for the consumer. Unlike all other Hagacha which limit you to one vendor only!
2) We at the Red Heifer have only offered the highest level of Kashrut since we have opened. Currently our meats are from Rubin and Hagar. We also have someone in our place from opening to closing who is shomer Shabbas(mashgiach) besides that we only have yidden working for us.
(All other Israeli Hasgachas do not typically obligate a shomer Shabbas person on premise besides owner.
3)We have contacted several Rabbonim to come visit our operation whenever they should choose. I would like to extend this offer to all readers to contact thier possek and to please have them take us up on this offer.
If anyone has further questions please feel free to contact me at the restaurant 02.624.0504 or at wishisrael@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Yosef Wuensch