The Conservative movement has released detailed guidelines for what experts say could be one of the most comprehensive food certifications in existence.
The guidelines for the new Magen Tzedek food certification are intended to ensure that ethical standards are adhered to in kosher food production, and they delve into nearly every phase of the production process. A group of Conservative rabbis began developing the certification more than two years ago after a Forward article drew attention to the poor working conditions at what was then the world’s largest kosher slaughterhouse, Agriprocessors, in Postville, Iowa.
The Hekhsher Tzedek commission, which created the guidelines with the backing of the national bodies of Conservative Judaism, has previously released rough sketches of what the certification would encompass. But the rules released this week go on for 175 pages and delve into great detail on the standards companies will need to meet if they want to earn a Magen Tzedek certification. (Hekhsher Tzedek means certification of justice in Hebrew, while Magen Tzedek means seal of justice.) Those standards broadly break down into five areas: treatment of employees, animal welfare, consumer issues, corporate integrity and environmental impact.
Among the specific rules laid out in the draft is one stipulating that a company would have to pay its lowest paid employee at least 115% of the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25 an hour) and provide the same employee with health and other benefits that amount to at least 35% of his or her wages. These standards, and many others, would apply to workers who produce any ingredient that is at least 5% of the weight of the final product.
There are a number of certification programs that look at one or another of the specific categories that the Magen Tzedek is interested in — but industry experts say that there are almost no other food-certification systems that are as comprehensive and thorough as what the Conservative rabbis are proposing.
“The breadth is impressive,” said Scott Exo, director of the Food Alliance, which bills itself as the “most comprehensive third-party certification for the production, processing, and distribution of sustainable food.”
The guidelines are being offered for public comment, and the commission is hoping to have an application and a beta test of the program done by the end of this year — with the program starting next year. The Hekhsher Tzedek commission is in talks with an independent auditing company that would conduct the actual certifying audits.
“This shows that it is possible to take Jewish norms and to produce a set of standards that are measurable and operational,” said Rabbi Morris Allen, the Minnesota congregational leader who founded the Hekhsher Tzedek commission.
From its inception, the certification has faced skepticism from many in the Orthodox rabbinate, which has traditionally overseen kosher food certification. Many rabbis have worried that the Magen Tzedek could be seen as an effort to replace kosher certification with modern ethical standards.
The guidelines state that the new certification is targeted at kosher products “because those are specifically of interest to Jews and already claim a special status in the Jewish community.” But the guidelines are careful to note that Magen Tzedek “is in addition to, not instead of, the kosher hekhsher mark.”
Past disclaimers, however, have not satisfied critics of the Hekhsher Tzedek initiative.
“My sense is that the Orthodox world, which remains the engine behind the kosher market, will continue to insist that all social justice issues be guided by government,” Menachem Lubinsky, a consultant to kosher companies and the organizer of the largest kosher industry trade show, told the Forward in an e-mail.
Regarding the Magen Tzedek effort, Lubinsky wrote: “Industry people have told me time and again that it will have little effect on the average consumer (including Conservative Jews) who will continue to base their purchase of kosher products on kosher certification, quality, and price.”
The breadth of the new standards also make them vulnerable to the criticism that they will be hard to enforce — and the guidelines go in many directions that would be difficult to ground in Jewish law, such as the directive for the certification to look at “how many microwave ovens are in the lunchroom for workers to heat food.”
In order to blunt possible criticism, the commission consulted with a board of kosher companies that have given feedback on how to make the guidelines more workable. But Kimberly Rubinfeld, who is the commission’s program manager, said that converting rough Jewish ideals into practical rules was not easy.
“Nothing comes directly from Torah — it is all interpretation,” Rubinfeld said, “so there has been a lot of discussion and debate about how do we convert Jewish values to all of these different areas. This is talking about every step of the production process from the farm or the field all the way to your fork.”
The guidelines were drawn up for the Hekhsher Tzedek commission by Joe Regenstein, a professor of food sciences at Cornell University and an a consultant on food certification projects.
“We are trying to have standards that most companies can meet, because we want most companies to commit to improving their business ethics,” he said.
The certification allows companies to build up points that eventually add up to either a Magen Tzedek or a Magen Tzedek with distinction. In a number of the five areas of evaluation, such as animal welfare, the Magen Tzedek would rely on already existing auditing agencies.
But in many of the areas of evaluation, the new guidelines propose a broad and fresh look at a company’s operations. The most intensive area of inquiry appears to be in labor standards, in part because there are so few accepted standards in this realm.
“That is probably going to be the hardest one — for both the companies to meet and for us to assure ourselves that things are happening properly,” Regenstein said.
As they are now, the guidelines would require a company to submit information on wages, benefits, child care and annual cost-of-living increases, as well as its sick leave, vacation, bereavement and parental-leave policy.
Regenstein said that these guidelines will be particularly difficult to transplant overseas, and so, at least initially, the Magen Tzedek will be confined to companies producing in the United States. But as with the larger vision, Regenstein dreams big.
“I want it on all the products that are in the supermarket, from the pastas to the ice creams,” he said.
Contact Nathaniel Popper at popper@forward.com
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Er... are there actually any foods with this Magen Meshugannas label yet?
What if they gave a hechsher and nobody came?
If a hecksher is applied and no one can hear it, does it make a sound?
The laws of kashruth are in the Torah and are certainly discussed in length in the Gemmora and Code of Jewish Law. Since the vast majority of Jews that keep kosher are orthodox do you not think this will be an added financial burden to them since prices on kosher items will certainly rise?To those Jews who are not orthodox in practice but keep kosher, I can assure you that the price on products will rise sharply. I have a feeling many non orthodox will simply stop buying kosher products especially meat and poultry.
When my Conservative shul can earn a magen tzedek I will buy foods with a magen tzedek. Not before.
Grasping at anything to keep their movement somehow relevant. It is sad, really. Foolishness to make the headlines.
A organization built on the destruction of another is doomed to fail. And fail you will.
While a halacha-observing rabbi, I support moral/ethical standards in determiing eligibilty for kashrut certification. However the project director completely lost me when he said, “Nothing comes directly from Torah — it is all interpretation,” Rubinfeld said....
It is neither the project nor it's challenges that make me turn away. If Rubinfeld truly believes what he said, HE"S NOT ELIGIBLE for any halachic evaluations and determinations.
However, I suspect, that that simply is his jaundiced view of the whole realm of halacha vis-a-vis, kashrut as well the whole of Torah SheB'Ktva and Torah Ba'al Peh. It comes off more as self-serving attitude than anything that should command fealty or trust as an authority.
Rabbi Geller,
Your cynicism, like most of the comments on this board, is disheartening. The way I read the article, Rubinfield's comment was simply referring to the fact that the Torah doesn't specify details like what percentage above minimum wage a business should pay its employees. While I'm certain you know better than I the details found in the Talmud, its not like there is a section in the Torah describing Moshe running a kashrut certification agency.
As somebody who has been interviewed a few times for newspapers, I would hate to be judged entirely on my quotes - reporters have a knack for always publishing the least-intelligent or most-awkward sounding or most out-of-context thing I have said in the entire interview. I hope that if you are ever interviewed for an article that people will give you a greater benefit of the doubt than you have given Kimberly Rubinfield.
Sincerely, Ian Guffy
Just like a lot of things in the Conservative movement, these things sound good in the street and appeal to the average American who reads the NY Times, and are nice examples of Jews doing good for the general society. However, with more things like this, the Movement may gain more national respect, but it will not help the average Jew in Des Moines to keep Shabbos, kosher, and to marry Jewish. Better they should leave this function to other secular groups and focus more on getting Jews to keep the Torah's precepts as far a personal life. This is important, but a distraction from the role of a Jew in this world.
There are halachot ben adam l'makom and ben adam 'lchaveiro. For too long the Orthodox community observed the former at the expense of the latter with regard to kosher food preparation. Now the conservative movement weighs in with an emphasis on the latter while completely ignoring the former. Moreover, it looks more like a liberal social agenda that something rooted in halacha. Where, for example, did the derive the formulae for wages and benefits? Unless the conservative movement couples this effort with a real program to dramatically increase the numbers of liberal jews observing kashrut, their efforts here will be ignored by their own congregants as well as by the orthodox.
The other problem is there will be no market for this hechsher. For a product to have a Kosher symbol, the company producing the product must actually want it and therefore must see some benefit from its presence on the packaging. This means that someone in the company would have to believe that this symbol would somehow increase sales. The Orthodox community will care little about it because it has nothing to do with the laws of Kashrut and has a Conservative "taint," and there are not enough Jews who keep Kosher in the Conservative community to warrant the additional expense. Although this may sound good on paper, the reality is that it will have little impact, if any, on the Kosher market.
My main concern is cost. Il switch to whichever store sells kosher meat the cheapest. On the other hand, if two products are a comparable price, and one says it enforces ethical treatment of workers, Id certainly choose to support the better ethical standards.
Personally, I feel the corporation certification that the government provides should be rewritten to look more like a democracy run by workers who vote for their management, and less like a feudal society run by the board chair aristocracy.
I believe in Democratic Capitalism ... that is, democratic control of capital.
The Hekhsher Tsadik is a far cry from my ideals, but at least raises awareness of the fundamental rights of all humans, including workers.
I am an educator who teaches Conservative Jews in Conservative synagogues. I have participated in programs advocating Heksher Tzeddek.
I agree, in principle, to much of what they advocate.
Given that perspective, I would like to state the following:
It is my distinct impression that the net effect of the Heksher Tzeddek initiative has been to further undermine observance of kashrut amongst Conservative Jews.
This is because the initiative has given conservative Jews the impression that the "kosher" chickens and meat are not really "kosher."
Given that these are people for whom kashrut observance is viewed as voluntary ("a good deed") and they often live in communities where kosher chicken and meat are inconvenient to buy and more expensive, many more of them have now decided that keeping kosher is "not worth it."
Even if they have not given up entirely, they now have one more reason (aside from inconvenience, cost, and limited commitment to Jewish law) to buy non-kosher instead.
Had the Heksher Tzeddek people and the Rabbis told them that, until something better came along, they had the option of becoming vegetarian or of nuying kosher (but no other option), I would not be writing this comment today.
And, far fewer Jews would be eating non-kosher chicken this Shabbat.
I absolutely love this one from Stein: "I believe in Democratic Capitalism ... that is, democratic control of capital." Believe it or not, Stein, they already came up with a name for that. It is called communism and you'll find it hasn't worked so well.
For orthodoxy (splintered as it is), Postville was an embarrassment. Will they resolve it? We have yet to see -- I haven't seen what I'd call a true attempt -- or an interest in doing so; even though that situation was about what they hold to be an important aspect of Judaism -- why? Actually, there are more disturbing examples of Orthodoxy hewing to religious law and disregarding civil law or human impacts. How are they to then be relevant to the vast percentage of Jews turned off to faith due to practices such as these?. or what new steps will they take to do so? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Conservative movement, this may be how they place their bet on their own relevance, and not just meat products. Who will care?, to whom is this relevant?, who will pay what price? Measurement of the number of meat packers paying for this hecksher will tell the tale in a free market way; ditto with the volume of heckshered meat sold; double ditto if we then look at the duration of time that "the other kosher meat" is marketed. How are they to then be relevant to the vast percentage of Jews turned off to faith due to practices such as these?, or what new steps will they take to do so? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Reform "movement," kashrut and the derivative -- heckshers -- are irrelevant. For most of its members (not the ones with employment at its institutions), I'd wonder what then is relevant? Raising money for the building and the staff, without a time priority for busy member families over secular objectives? We know that, for the most part, families drop out the day after their last child "graduates." How are they to then be relevant to the vast percentage of Jews turned off to faith due to practices such as these?, or what new steps will they take to do so? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Unaffiliated and secular Jews? Would they vote with their feet and affiliate and/or recognize faith's value in their lives if any movement, new or old, addressed the real issues (in ways that draw them in: 1. What is Judaism all about? 2. What's in it for me?
Comments? Mark Werfel ajcwerfel@yahoo.com
I wish this discussion had been about the healthful quality of Kosher food rather than about politics, power and a social agenda. We ignore the sad fact that American Jews are as sick as the rest of our unhealthy society. Consider: There are three diets in the Torah. The Genesis diet - vegetarian, the Noah diet - eat anything at all, and the Moses diet - kosher. The ONLY diet that the Torah says was tov m'od (very good) was the Genesis diet. I became a vegetarian 40 years ago and so far so good. My life is simpler, I feel better and I save money. Today the thought of my eating corpses seems absurd. I also read that the Manna from G-d during the Exodus did not seem to resemble animal food and that seemed to sustain the Israelites quite well. I used to enjoy the typical Jewish Kosher diet many years ago but it was killing too many of my relatives and I chose to give it up for better health. It all comes down to personal values and priorities.
Anyone who thinks there's no market for this has never been to a Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods or any place like that. All of these same comments applied to organic food when it first appeared on the scene and it thrives as an alternative and during that time the real cost of food has fallen, not risen.
If you just want to throw mud at conservative Jews, that's one thing, but acting like the world will end if some specialty producers want to get this mark is ridiculous.
The Hechsher Tzedek in additon to a hechser for ingredience and manufacuring of a product, can and should represent the more enlightened aspect of society, and Jewish society in particulare if we claim to be the "Chosen Ones".
Most of these comments refer to personal pocketbooks, stomachs, and sneering atitudes towards one another. Was the Temple destroyed because of the latter?
What most of the writers fail to realize, taking a view of the tree rather than the forest; is that the fastest growing food category is in organics and vegan products in general, and Kosher marketing symbol attracts many to this area. The Kosher Symbol represents to the non- Jewish consummer, a product that is in many ways superior to a non-kosher product. Whether this is true or not is not the point.
We in New Zealnd have formed a company "Kiwi Certified Quality" which we hope will show the international community that it is possible to produce and manufacture Kosher products successfully under the Kosher Kiwi Hechsher and the Hechsher Tzedek.
As a "knee-jerk" Obama-loving, Kennedy-loving, national health care supporter (yes, public option!), who is orthodox, observant, etc., etc., what I find disingeneous about the hechsher tzedek and the like is that it comes from a segment that itself isn't into keeping kosher. With maybe 30 percent of Conservative Jews keeping kosher in any manner (i.e., by different or non-normative standards, kosher at home, eat anything out, etc), the end result is one group telling another how to live.
My "liberalism' is based on ensuring people's basic needs, as part of the social contract under which we live in organized civil society, and following Hillel's dictum, "don't do unto others what you find hateful." (or the like).
I thank the Forward for these forums. It reminds those of us who seek to be Torah-true and observant as to the sad state of Deformed and other non-Observant forms of "Judaism." It reminds us as to how pathetically easy it has become to turn out those who misuse the title "Rabbi."
I keep Kosher, try to follow Torah and Halacha, and APOLOGIZE when I fail. I do NOT re-write the rules, or abandon Hashem, Torah and Israel to assist the enemy of Israel Hussein Obama or the immoral Ted Kennedy, just because it is the movement of the minute.
I will pray for these confused people, and pray for the Jewish people.
I'm really surprised by the mostly disparaging comments about this article.
Are there any other Jewish foodies out there excited about the possibilities of Hecksher Tzedek promoting higher ethical standards in the production of kosher foods?
I see this _additional_ seal as akin to the Fair Trade icon seen increasingly on imported products — additional information that informs buyers.
Perhaps the products with the MTz will be pricier; organics et al. often are. But I feel better purchasing those items, knowing my money goes towards more sustainable business practices.
@Norman Kabak — b'hatzlaha! Your words almost entirely speak for me.
So many Jews I know, of all denominations and those who simply say they are Jews, eat only or mostly organic and fairly traded foods. There are so many horrifying practices in the food industry, kosher and non-kosher, as we have seen. This hecksher is a welcome addition, showing deep honor and love of Hashem and ALL of Creation. It will help make sure that such egregious violations of halacha such as we have seen will be much less likely to happen. This hecksher will also bring more Jews, who are deeply concerned about ethical and social issues, into kosher restaurants and groceries, knowing they can get "safe" food. I have emunah that the standards will be refined in such a way that suppliers can meet them and workers are protected. We, the consumers, can make this work by saying we will only buy your products and visit your establishments if you meet these standards. May you all have blessed and sweet new years.
shalom v'ahava,
R Menachem Cohen
This is fabulous. ויהי נעם ה' עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו. Blessings for a sweet and kosher - in every sense - year!
So many Jews I know, of all denominations and those who simply say they are Jews, eat only or mostly organic and fairly traded foods. There are so many horrifying practices in the food industry, kosher and non-kosher, as we have seen. This hecksher is a welcome addition, showing deep honor and love of Hashem and ALL of Creation. It will help make sure that such egregious violations of halacha such as we have seen will be much less likely to happen. This hecksher will also bring more Jews, who are deeply concerned about ethical and social issues, into kosher restaurants and groceries, knowing they can get "safe" food. I have emunah that the standards will be refined in such a way that suppliers can meet them and workers are protected. We, the consumers, can make this work by saying we will only buy your products and visit your establishments if you meet these standards. May you all have blessed and sweet new years.
shalom v'ahava,
R Menachem Cohen
So the ones who are constantly complaining about overbearing religious/rabbinic intrusion in to their own lives, are now *the ones* setting up (what they hope to be) the *biggest* and most *unnecessary* intrusion into Jewish people's lives (both consumers and businesses).
Dear self righteous "Tzedek" organizations: Get a life, and stop breathing down my back.
(Your "righteousness" reminds me of how Sodomites would "welcome" their guests: they would offer them a large bed, and then proceed to pull at their "guest" and try make him fit to the size of the bed. That was Sodom's version of "kindness" and your version of "righteousness" is its close first-cousin).
A truly ethical form of diet would not entail killing for one's food but rather an animal free diet. No pilpul or rhetorical acrobatics in justifying this human weakness. Kosher is totally outdated and far from "Divine"
Wow. The lack of humanity shown by my more "observant" brethren -- never mind the imbecilic comments about "Hussein Obama" -- is truly breathtaking. What, doing justice and loving mercy are important when we presume to tell the Sudanese what to do, but if it gets in the way of a slaughterhouse squeezing a few more shekels out of the workers, then it's frivolous, not worthy of Jewish attention, and we should leave it to secular authorities which, let's face it, can be bought?
Talk about a shanda...
I've not had a chance to look at all of this, but their are some values that I simply cannot go along with. For example, there is an assertation that avoiding animals in testing is a Jewish value. The Jewish value is doing the testing most effectively to preserve the safety of human beings. Animals need be treated with concern for their welfare, but I see no value in avoiding their use in testing. Another example is providing training in non English languages. To me it would be better to help the employees learn English. The tractate is prounion, but I think workers should have the right not to join unions. As far as salary, who are we to set the level.