Statement on Agriprocessor Kosher Slaughterhouse

The Community Relations Committee of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ (CRC) notes with deep concern the unfolding events at the Agriprocessor kosher slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa.

For the past six months gravely serious charges have been brought against the company on such issues as the use of undocumented workers, violations of child labor laws, including endangerment of children as young as 14 years of age, and the failure to pay workers for all hours worked.
                                                 
We believe no one should be presumed guilty until all charges have been adjudicated. We note that two Agriprocessor management employees have pleaded guilty to certain of these charges. Others, including the owners, await trial.
                                                                       
The Jewish community is deeply troubled that such violations of both secular law, and Jewish ethical teachings, may have occurred in the production of kosher meat and poultry for the fulfillment of Jewish dietary practice.  
                
Judaism teaches, “You shall not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates” (Deuteronomy 24:14). The Talmud warns that employers who withhold wages are guilty of six violations: oppressing a neighbor, stealing, oppressing the poor, delaying payment of wages, failing to pay wages at the due date, failing to pay wages before sunset (Baba Metzia, 111a). Indeed, the Talmud warns that “he who withholds an employee’s wages is as though he deprived him of his life” (Baba Metzia, 112a).  
                                                                              
Employee abuse is not confined to the kosher food industry and the Community Relations Committee of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ calls for enforcement of all federal, state, and local laws against those who take advantage of the weak. When charges are proven, we expect that appropriate penalties be levied upon those who perpetrated such criminal acts.

Merle H. Kalishman, CRC Chair
Lori Price Abrams, CRC Director

The Community Relations Committee is the public affairs and inter-group relations arm of UJC MetroWest and spearheads the development of the public policy agenda for the Jewish community focusing on local, state, and national issues.

United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ raises funds through its United Jewish Appeal campaign, provides resources and coordinates programs and services for the Jewish community in Essex, Morris, and Sussex counties, as well as part of Union county. As the key Jewish philanthropic organization, the federation and its 18 local beneficiary agencies strive to fulfill the communal and social service needs of the MetroWest community.  It also works to maintain the integrity and dignity of Jewish life through its national and international fundraising efforts.