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America has issued the following statement regarding the Conservative
movement's new "Hekhsher Tzedek."
The Agudath Israel statement stresses the vital importance of ethical
behavior in all interpersonal and business dealings but "emphatically
rejects" the initiative as distorting the meaning of kashrus. It points
to the facts that "Hekhsher Tzedek" is inexplicably aimed only at
producers of kosher food and no other merchants or institutions, and
that it includes elements that are decidedly beyond halachic mandates as
evidence that the larger goal of the new "Hekhsher" is a redefinition of
the term kosher. What is more, the statement asserts, the Conservative
movement, as a non-halacha-respecting movement, cannot credibly claim to
serve as arbiter of halachic suitability.
The initiative, the statement avers, "is simply the latest manifestation
of Conservative leaders' tradition of exchanging Divine mandates for
contemporary constructs."
Following is the full text of the Agudath Israel statement:
The Conservative movement has embraced a brand new certification for
kosher foods, the "Hekhsher Tzedek," which is designed to indicate a
kosher food producer's "compliance with a set of social justice
criteria." Agudath Israel of America regards the Hekhsher Tzedek idea
as misguided and misleading. It rests upon, and will likely foster, a
distorted understanding of kashrus, and a corruption of the halachic
process itself.
To be sure, Jewish producers of kosher food - like all Jewish businesses
- are halachically bound by obligations regarding fair treatment of
employees, maintenance of a safe and sanitary work environment, and a
host of other strictures that might be called "social justice criteria."
They are, in addition, bound by the principle of dina d'malchusa dina
(the law of the kingdom is law), and must comply with all applicable
laws and regulations. More generally, Jews are called upon to uphold
the highest ethical and moral standards in their personal and business
dealings.
It is of utmost importance that these halachic mandates be observed
scrupulously. But it is also important to recognize that they have
nothing to do with the laws of kashrus.
The halachic tradition defines the term "kashrus" as relating to the
ritual suitability of food. Jews insist on kosher food not because of
ethical considerations, but because Hashem has commanded us to observe
certain ritual dietary requirements. Terms like "kosher," "kashrus" and
"hechsher" are, as a result, rightly associated with those requirements
- those requirements alone.
The "Hekhsher Tzedek" blurs this fundamental distinction. Its promoters
may assert that the certification is not designed to expand the
traditional meaning of kashrus, but that claim is belied by the
certification's very name - and by the fact that it is being offered
exclusively to foods that are otherwise under kosher certification. If
its purpose is simply to assure consumers that the companies they
patronize conduct themselves in accord with social justice ideals, why
limit the "Hekhsher Tzedek" to kosher food producers? Why not extend it
as well to manufacturers of all goods, services and institutions?
It is further noteworthy, and telling, that the scope of the proposed
"Hekhsher Tzedek" goes well beyond halachic requirements. It speaks of
such matters as transparency in corporate governance, generous maternity
leave policies and pension plans - worthy objectives, to be sure, but
not halachic mandates. If the "Hekhsher Tzedek" is simply interested in
ensuring that producers of kosher food comply with the requirements of
Jewish law, why incorporate these types of extra-halachic factors into
the certification?
The answer to these questions is clear, and deeply dismaying. The
Conservative movement, most of whose constituents do not keep kosher, is
attempting with its "Hekhsher Tzedek" a subtle redefinition of the
concept of kashrus. As Conservative leaders have done time and time
again in a variety of modern-day contexts, they are paying lip service
to halacha while in fact seeking to reshape it. The "Hekhsher Tzedek"
is simply the latest manifestation of Conservative leaders' tradition of
exchanging Divine mandates for contemporary constructs.
Sadly, but decidedly, the Conservative movement is not a
halacha-respecting movement. Accordingly, any effort on its part to
serve as an arbiter of halachic suitability - whether regarding a kosher
food producer's compliance with halachic mandates or anything else - has
neither credibility nor legitimacy.
In summation, standing up for ethical practices is laudable, but not
when it is done in a way that redefines a Jewish religious term like
kashrus - and not when it is done under the auspices of a movement whose
claimed fealty to halacha is in fact an exercise in distortion. For
these reasons, Agudath Israel of America emphatically rejects the
"Hekhsher Tzedek."
At the same time, we appeal to all our fellow Jews to rededicate
ourselves to the highest standards of proper and ethical business
conduct. Jews are called upon to serve as a light unto the nations,
people whose interpersonal dealings cause Hashem and His holy Torah to
be loved by all (Tractate Yoma, 86a). During this season of
introspection, may we all resolve to strengthen ourselves in this
respect, and thereby merit Hashem's favorable judgment for a blessed new
year.
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