Hechsher Tzedek
Encyclopedia
Magen Tzedek, original known as Hekhsher Tzedek, ( English translation Shield of Justice or Justice Certification, with variant English spellings) is a proposed complementary certification
for food produced in a way that meets Jewish Halakhic (legal) standards for workers, consumers, animals, and the environment, as understood by Conservative Judaism
and its Rabbinical Assembly
. Specific legal and procedural requirements for implementation of the certification remain under development.
Magen Tzedek certification is not a conventional form of kashrut certification
. Conventional hechsherim certify that food is kosher in that it meets certain requirements regarding ingredients of food and technical methods of animal slaughter. The Magen Tzedek certification has been described by supporters as complementary to conventional kosher certification.
and is sponsored by the Rabbinical Assembly
, the international association of conservative rabbis.
Rabbi Morris Allen of Beth Jacob Congregation
in Mendota Heights, Minnesota
began the certification following investigative reporting by Nathaniel Popper in The Forward
regarding working conditions at the Rubashkin Agriprocessors
kosher meat plant in Postville, Iowa
. Allen stated that, "While it [the team led by Rabbi Allen] was not able to verify all of the Forward's claims, 'we witnessed some things that went against the dignity of workers. Allen argues that people should not eat food that has been produced in a way that has denied the dignity of the workers.
commandments which, they say, are ignored by conventional certifying agencies. These laws are outlined in a paper by Rabbi Avraham Reisner titled "Hekhsher Tzedek Al Pi Din." These laws include:
Allen said that "All the areas addressed [in Reisner’s paper] have already been addressed halakhically. We’re not asking the movement or the Jewish people to do something beyond what is required [by Jewish law]. It’s not question of whether there are ethical underpinnings on labor relations or for keeping kosher, for example. These already exist. The [Conservative] movement is already clearly on record against hoisting and shackling in upholding Tza'ar Ba'alei Hayim, the ethical treatment of animals."
for allegedly downplaying the Kashrut
of the animal by confusing it with social justice
issues. They claim that it makes use of Kashrut to follow secular political agendas. Rabbi Menachem Genack
, the chief kosher executive of the Orthodox Union
, the largest kosher certifier in the United States, called Allen's idea "unreasonable and unenforceable". Proponents of Hekhsher Tzedek counter that this view downplays the many clear Halakhik injunctions against exploitation and suffering to humans and animals as well as a perceived lack of transparency in the kashrut industry.
Other criticisms include the view that this is a stealthy way for the Conservative movement to return into the arena of kosher supervision. Some have questioned the need for a religious certification on social justice, because government agencies such as OSHA
and the Department of Labor
are charged with supervising and enforcing appropriate working conditions: "these Governmental Agencies have been empowered by the Government of the United States of America to enforce all matters of law." The manner in which Heksher Tzedek focussed on Agriprocessors
was criticised by Rabbi A. Zeilingold.
Certification mark
A certification mark on a commercial product indicates five things:* The existence of a legal follow-up or product certification agreement between the manufacturer of a product and an organization with national accreditation for both testing and certification,* Legal evidence that the product was...
for food produced in a way that meets Jewish Halakhic (legal) standards for workers, consumers, animals, and the environment, as understood by Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
and its Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbinical Assembly
The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement. It publishes prayerbooks and books of Jewish interest, and oversees the work of the Committee on Jewish Law and...
. Specific legal and procedural requirements for implementation of the certification remain under development.
Magen Tzedek certification is not a conventional form of kashrut certification
Hechsher
A hechsher is the special certification marking found on the packages of products that have been certified as kosher . In Halakha , the dietary laws of kashrut specify food items that may be eaten and others that are prohibited as set out in the commandments of the Torah...
. Conventional hechsherim certify that food is kosher in that it meets certain requirements regarding ingredients of food and technical methods of animal slaughter. The Magen Tzedek certification has been described by supporters as complementary to conventional kosher certification.
Creation
The Magen Tzedek certification was created by rabbis within Conservative JudaismConservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
and is sponsored by the Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbinical Assembly
The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement. It publishes prayerbooks and books of Jewish interest, and oversees the work of the Committee on Jewish Law and...
, the international association of conservative rabbis.
Rabbi Morris Allen of Beth Jacob Congregation
Beth Jacob Congregation
Beth Jacob Congregation is a Conservative Jewish synagogue located in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. It was founded in 1985 and has a membership of 400 families. Beth Jacob is a community of Jews who come together to nurture relationships with God and each other...
in Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Mendota Heights, Minnesota
At the 2000 census, there were 11,434 people, 4,178 households and 3,237 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,222.2 per square mile . There were 4,252 housing units at an average density of 454.5 per square mile...
began the certification following investigative reporting by Nathaniel Popper in The Forward
The Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
regarding working conditions at the Rubashkin Agriprocessors
Agriprocessors
Agriprocessors was the corporate identity of a slaughterhouse and meat-packaging factory based in Postville, Iowa, best known as a facility for the glatt kosher processing of cattle, as well as chicken, turkey, duck, and lamb. Agriprocessors' meat and poultry products were marketed under the brand...
kosher meat plant in Postville, Iowa
Postville, Iowa
Postville is a city in Allamakee and Clayton Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. It lies near the junction of four counties and at the intersection of U.S. Routes 18 and 52 and Iowa Highway 51, with airport facilities in the neighboring communities of Waukon, Decorah, Monona, and Prairie du Chien....
. Allen stated that, "While it [the team led by Rabbi Allen] was not able to verify all of the Forward's claims, 'we witnessed some things that went against the dignity of workers. Allen argues that people should not eat food that has been produced in a way that has denied the dignity of the workers.
Justification
Hekhsher Tzedek proponents claim that food production must comply with various Biblical and rabbinicD'Oraita and D'Rabbanan
The Aramaic terms de-'oraita and de-rabbanan are used extensively in discussion and text relating to Jewish law. The former refers to halachic requirements that are biblically mandated, while the latter refers to halachic requirements that are rabbinically mandated...
commandments which, they say, are ignored by conventional certifying agencies. These laws are outlined in a paper by Rabbi Avraham Reisner titled "Hekhsher Tzedek Al Pi Din." These laws include:
- The Book of DeuteronomyDeuteronomyThe Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
lays out a prohibition known as Ona'ah: "You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger" (Deut. 24:14-15) - The Shulchan Arukh, in Choshen MishpatChoshen MishpatChoshen Mishpat is the Hebrew for "Breastplate of Judgement". The term is associated with one of the four sections of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats aspects of Jewish law pertinent to finance, torts, legal procedure and loans and interest in...
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 — all in accordance with local custom." Rabbi Avraham Reisner of the Rabbinical Assembly argues that this gives employers an obligation to fairly compensate workers including sick and vacation pay, - Biblical law requries workers to provide for the health and safety of their workers, as seen from laws regarding one who leaves a pit uncovered (Exodus 21:33) or does not build a parapet on a roof that is in use (Deuteronomy 22:8).
- Tza'ar ba'alei chayimTza'ar ba'alei chayimTza'ar ba'alei chayim is the Jewish principle which bans inflicting unnecessary pain on animals. This concept is not clearly enunciated in the written Torah, but was accepted by the Talmud as being a Biblical mandate...
is a Biblical principle which prohibits causing unnecessary pain to animals.
Allen said that "All the areas addressed [in Reisner’s paper] have already been addressed halakhically. We’re not asking the movement or the Jewish people to do something beyond what is required [by Jewish law]. It’s not question of whether there are ethical underpinnings on labor relations or for keeping kosher, for example. These already exist. The [Conservative] movement is already clearly on record against hoisting and shackling in upholding Tza'ar Ba'alei Hayim, the ethical treatment of animals."
Reception
The certification has been criticized by those affiliated within Orthodox JudaismOrthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
for allegedly downplaying the Kashrut
Kashrut
Kashrut is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha is termed kosher in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér , meaning "fit" Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus) is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha (Jewish law) is termed...
of the animal by confusing it with social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
issues. They claim that it makes use of Kashrut to follow secular political agendas. Rabbi Menachem Genack
Menachem Genack
Menachem Genack is an Orthodox rabbi and the CEO of the Orthodox Union Kosher Division, a supervisory organization of kosher food. He is known as one of the foremost talmidim of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik under whom he studied for over a decade. He was also very close to Rabbi Moshe Shmuel...
, the chief kosher executive of the Orthodox Union
Orthodox Union
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America , more popularly known as the Orthodox Union , is one of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. It is best known for its kosher food preparation supervision service...
, the largest kosher certifier in the United States, called Allen's idea "unreasonable and unenforceable". Proponents of Hekhsher Tzedek counter that this view downplays the many clear Halakhik injunctions against exploitation and suffering to humans and animals as well as a perceived lack of transparency in the kashrut industry.
Other criticisms include the view that this is a stealthy way for the Conservative movement to return into the arena of kosher supervision. Some have questioned the need for a religious certification on social justice, because government agencies such as OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
and the Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
are charged with supervising and enforcing appropriate working conditions: "these Governmental Agencies have been empowered by the Government of the United States of America to enforce all matters of law." The manner in which Heksher Tzedek focussed on Agriprocessors
Agriprocessors
Agriprocessors was the corporate identity of a slaughterhouse and meat-packaging factory based in Postville, Iowa, best known as a facility for the glatt kosher processing of cattle, as well as chicken, turkey, duck, and lamb. Agriprocessors' meat and poultry products were marketed under the brand...
was criticised by Rabbi A. Zeilingold.
Further reading
- Fishkoff, Sue. Conservatives set to approve ethical certification system for kosher food. JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People, November 27, 2007
- Wimpfheimer, Jeremy."Kosher" Certification of a Different Kind. Florida Jewish News, August 3, 2007
- Cooperman, Alan. "Eco-Kosher Movement Aims To Heed Tradition, Conscience". Washington Post, July 7, 2007
- Fishkoff, Sue. Conservatives serving up kosher fare with social justice JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People, December 20, 2006