Comments on: A Different Perspective Regarding Current Kashrut Realities

By: SamGoody

SamGoody — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:39:00 +0000

@Chaya Chofetz

It’s
“Jerusalem Kosher” News.
Not
Jerusalem “Kosher News”

I think you are being a bit harsh, but either way, the title is not relevant.

By: SamGoody

SamGoody — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:37:20 +0000

Somehow, this article implies R’ Rubin is at fault for not caving in to pressure from R’ Carmel.
And Bda”tz is at fault for not refusing to certify.

In fact, R’ Rubin’s not bending to pressure is highly admirable, whether or not I think it wise.
The Bda”tz is certainly OK for agreeing to give a hechsher when asked.

And R’ Carmel – who is not in the hechsher business – is the only one here trying to use business pressures to an objective. Even assuming your assessment is correct, and even assuming that there is something wrong with such a tactic (which there is NOT!), it still does not reflect your statement that the hechsherim are also into making business decisions.

Now, while I don’t doubt that the hechsherim are running their businesses as businesses – and not as hobbies – this casepoint is invalid.

Still interesting though.

By: Chaya Chofetz

Chaya Chofetz — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:40:35 +0000

I was just about to send you a “yashar koach” on your informative and objective website which is probably doing a great service preventing many people from mistakenly eating improper foods. But now, you brought in an article full of negative implications about people and agencies that has nothing to do with kashrus.
Please don’t forget that just as important as what we put into our mouths is what comes out of our mouths.
First of all, you say that “Rav Carmel angrily made a move over to..” and the next sentence states: Rav Carmel confirms the facts. “I have no dispute with Rav Rubin. I wish him well”… You are contradicting yourself and bringing a story which besmirches Rav Carmel.
Afterwards, you present your opinion of the Eida in a very sly and negative way…. So you’re “not exactly sure why I decided to share this with the readers…” Well, if you want to be sure, then you’d better find yourself a Rav and ask him. And if not, maybe you should remove the word “kosher” from the title of your site.

By: SamGoody

SamGoody — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:59:26 +0000

> admittedly, not to the liking of many.
What?!

Perhaps I’m too much of a capitalist, but I want to be sure that the hechsherim are doing a good job. If they were volunteers, it wouldn’t get done.

The more profit they make, the more it is in their interest to protect their reputation and make their value justified.
Your comment about OU being a nonprofit scares – but fortunately I know that many of their Rabbanim do get sizeable salaries.

Imagine what would be if Nike or Apple decided to go non-profit. Ouch.
Innovation of those products would cease.

How many volunteers do as good a job as their paid competition over extended time?
[OK, perhaps Va'ad Harabonim Linyyunei Tzedaka, but they are an anomaly - and there is no competition to compare them to. All the best fundraisers are well compensated for their efforts.]