274:, âthat alone may not explain why Magen Tzedek has yet to gain any traction. The current standards include a plethora of specific requirements a company must fulfill to be certified as ethically kosher: categories and subcategories of labor practices, animal welfare conditions, consumer issues, and issues of corporate integrity, environmental impact, traceability of food supplies and record keeping.â
123:. After a five-member rabbinic and lay commission visited the plant over two days and spoke with owners, senior managers and about 60 current or former workers and had reviewed reports from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Allen stated, âWe werenât able to verify everything Popper wrote, but what we did find was equally painful and filled with indignitiesâ.
250:: âThe issues raised â workersâ rights, safety, environmental issues â are not mundane issues. The question is one of implementation. These issues are best dealt with within the mandate of other agencies â federal and state. We believe theyâre handling it properly and have the expertise and the authority to handle it.â However, according to the
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In 2008, a commission was formed to develop and apply âa set of standards that would certify that kosher food manufacturers in the US operate according to Jewish ethics and social valuesâ. On
January 31, 2011, the Magen Tzedek Commission was founded as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation with seed
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Magen Tzedek says it combines the rabbinic tradition of Torah with Jewish values of social justice, certifying that the kosher food product has been produced in keeping with Jewish ethics in the area of labor concerns, animal welfare, environmental impact, consumer issues and corporate integrity.
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331:1, states that "one who hires employees should treat them in accordance with local custom" and that "when the custom was to provide their meals, he should provide their meals, to provide figs or dates or something similar, he should provide it â all in accordance with local custom." Reisner
234:
issues, claiming that it makes use of kashrut to follow secular political agendas. Shafran's criticism also includes the view that this certification is a stealthy way for the
Conservative movement to enter the arena of kosher supervision making allowances for âcontemporary societyâs increasing
196:
According to Allen, it makes sense that the
Conservative movement has taken the lead on the issue, as "Conservative Judaism is uniquely positioned. We are committed to kashrut, which some other movements might not be, and also committed to social justice. The hekhsher tzedek is that point where
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has called the Magen Tzedek seal âa falsification of the Jewish religious heritage,â deploring it as an attempt âto redefine kashrut.â Those affiliated within
Orthodox Judaism contend that it causes confusion about what is truly kosher, and criticize Magen Tzedek for allegedly downplaying
261:
The fact that Magen Tzedek limits its supervision to food and does not include other items has also been criticized, and questions have been raised about the employment policies of many
Conservative congregations that do not follow the guidelines of Magen Tzedek for its own workers.
270:'s second Food and Justice Passover Seder in April 2012. But as of May 2013, not a single product bore their seal. Allen claimed that Magen Tzedek has come under attack âjust because we come from a different part of the Jewish people.â But, according to the
258:, Genack said that âIf there is a company that wants to use Magen Tzedek, we will not object to it appearing on the label,â adding âwe also would not object to them putting âhalalâ on their label. These are marketing decisions the company makes on its own.â
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Magen Tzedek, described as âan organization that certifies kosher food to standards that meet or exceed best practices for the treatment of workers, animals, and the environmentâ was invited to participate in the
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which are ignored by conventional certifying agencies. As outlined in a paper titled "Hekhsher Tzedek Al Pi Din", authored by Rabbi
Avraham Reisner of the Rabbinical Assembly, these laws include:
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organizations and its representatives such as Rabbi Asher
Zeilingold who was paid by Agriprocessors to oversee the plant and who had formerly collaborated with Allen, Rabbi
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which certifies that food is kosher in that it meets certain requirements regarding ingredients of food and technical methods of animal slaughter, but an
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Biblical law requires employers to provide for the health and safety of their workers, as seen from laws regarding one who leaves a pit uncovered (
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The launching of
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159:: "You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger" (Deut. 24:14â15)
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Magen Tzedek was initiated by
Conservative Rabbi Morris Allen and was launched in 2011. It is sponsored by the
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argues that this gives employers an obligation to fairly compensate workers including sick and vacation pay.
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405:"Rabbi's Campaign for Kosher Standards Expands to Include Call for Social Justice"
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rabbis and organizations. As of May 2013, no product bore the Magen Tzedek seal.
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Magen Tzedek certification was initiated by
Conservative Rabbi Morris Allen of
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Prohibition against slaughtering an animal and its offspring on the same day
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is a Biblical principle which prohibits causing unnecessary pain to animals.
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456:"Conservatives set to approve ethical certification system for kosher food"
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approval of âalternate lifestylesââ in response to its loss of members.
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591:"Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat: A Food and Justice Seder at USDA"
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According to Magen Tzedek, food production should comply with various
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327:"Magen Tzedek, Ethical Kosher Seal, Stalled Amid Orthodox Opposition"
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certification complementary to conventional kosher certification.
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353:"In Iowa Meat Plant, Kosher 'Jungle' Breeds Fear, Injury, Short Pay"
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246:, the largest kosher certifier in the United States told the
487:"When Tzedek Isn't: The Conservative Movement Finds a Cause"
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Conservatives serving up kosher fare with social justice
539:"Eco-Kosher Movement Aims To Heed Tradition, Conscience"
565:"Pushing for Better Wages, Not Necessarily Giving Them"
77:, the American association of Conservative rabbis, the
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Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights, Minnesota
42:, with variant English spellings) is a complementary
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619:JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People
89:. Magen Tzedek has met with harsh criticism from
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197:halachic intensity meets ethical imperative."
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105:in 2007 following investigative reporting by
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513:"Orthodox Rabbis Now Tie Kashrut To Ethics"
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626:"Kosher" Certification of a Different Kind
372:"Rabbis Consider Workplace Certification"
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79:United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
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1047:Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law
62:. Magen Tzedek certification is not a
563:Popper, Nathaniel (October 7, 2009).
7:
403:Freedman, Samuel G. (May 19, 2007).
242:, the chief kosher executive of the
115:regarding working conditions at the
511:Ain, Stewart (September 29, 2008).
454:Fishkoff, Sue (November 27, 2007).
254:, in an interview in 2013 with the
83:Central Conference of Reform Rabbis
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485:Shafran, Avi (February 17, 2012).
370:Ain, Stewart (December 22, 2006).
351:Popper, Nathaniel (May 26, 2006).
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925:Rabbinical Council of California
895:Kashruth Council of Canada (COR)
537:Cooperman, Alan (July 7, 2007).
213:, director of public affairs of
16:US certification for kosher food
296:"Magen Tzedek official website"
589:Finberg, Max (April 5, 2012).
325:Berkman, Seth (May 20, 2013).
268:U.S. Department of Agriculture
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900:Kosher Supervision of America
852:Kosher certification agencies
971:Civil laws regarding kashrut
950:Union of Orthodox Synagogues
430:"Hekhsher Tzedek. Al Pi Din"
865:Central Rabbinical Congress
693:Milk and meat in Jewish law
155:has a prohibition known as
54:in a way that meets Jewish
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1037:Religious consumer symbols
870:Chicago Rabbinical Council
182:on a roof that is in use (
129:Nathan Cummings Foundation
256:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
223:Agudath Israel of America
215:Agudath Israel of America
178::33) or does not build a
1042:Hebrew words and phrases
517:The New York Jewish Week
376:The New York Jewish Week
135:Principles and standards
87:Union for Reform Judaism
915:OK Kosher Certification
759:Foreleg, cheeks and maw
201:Reception and criticism
22:, originally known as
920:Orthodox Union Kosher
754:limb of a live animal
230:by confusing it with
190:Tza'ar ba'alei chayim
142:Biblical and rabbinic
119:kosher meat plant in
64:kashrut certification
50:food produced in the
40:Justice Certification
1032:Conservative Judaism
976:Criticism of kashrut
728:Kosher by ingredient
624:Wimpfheimer, Jeremy.
252:Jewish Daily Forward
60:Conservative Judaism
34:English translation
981:Kosher airline meal
630:Florida Jewish News
621:, December 20, 2006
543:The Washington Post
75:Rabbinical Assembly
1057:2011 introductions
460:The Reporter Group
435:. January 31, 2008
409:The New York Times
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127:funding from the
36:Shield of Justice
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940:Tav HaYosher
885:Kosher Check
799:Kosher foods
779:Gid hanasheh
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595:. Retrieved
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151:The Book of
145:commandments
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20:Magen Tzedek
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875:EarthKosher
842:Kosher wine
837:Kosher fish
817:Pas Yisroel
737:Kosher meat
593:. USDA Blog
569:The Forward
357:The Forward
331:The Forward
211:Avi Shafran
153:Deuteronomy
112:The Forward
1021:Categories
945:Triangle K
789:Ben pekuah
686:Principles
278:References
217:, and the
85:, and the
713:Mashgiach
176:Exodus 21
935:Tablet-K
749:Shechita
723:Kil'ayim
703:Hechsher
97:Creation
56:Halakhic
964:Related
822:Chadash
784:Terefah
708:Kashrut
679:Kashrut
336:May 22,
272:Forward
228:kashrut
180:parapet
68:ethical
32:××× ×Ś×ק
930:Star-K
890:Seal-K
860:Badatz
774:Nikkur
769:Chelev
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597:May 7,
574:May 7,
548:May 7,
522:May 7,
496:May 7,
465:May 7,
439:May 7,
414:May 7,
381:May 7,
301:May 7,
238:Rabbi
157:Ona'ah
81:, the
48:kosher
28:Hebrew
827:Orlah
718:Bitul
433:(PDF)
166:, in
990:list
599:2012
576:2012
550:2012
524:2012
498:2012
467:2012
441:2012
416:2012
383:2012
338:2013
303:2012
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