Magen Tzedek

Magen Tzedek, original known as Hekhsher Tzedek, (Hebrew: הכשר צדק‎ 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.

Creation

The Magen Tzedek certification was created by rabbis within Conservative Judaism and is sponsored by the Rabbinical Assembly, the international association of conservative rabbis after questions were raised about employment policies of the Iowa Kosher meat plant, Aggriprocessors. Rabbi Asher Zellingold, of St. Paul, once a close fried of Rabbi Morris Allen claimed that the Heksher Tzedek was created by "tormenting a fellow Jew" and the Conservative movement waged a campaign against Aggriprocessors of "unsubstantial claims of worker abuse"

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. Other rabbis in the region claim that Allen acted dishonestly and unethically.

So far it has been a failure, after almost five years of efforts not one product is under its supervision.

Justification

Hekhsher Tzedek proponents claim that food production must comply with various Biblical and rabbinic 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 Deuteronomy 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 Mishpat 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 chayim 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."^{[citation needed]}

Reception

The certification has been criticized by those affiliated within Orthodox Judaism 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.^{[citation needed]}

Other criticisms include the view that this is a stealthy way for the Conservative movement to return into the arena of kosher supervision.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Some have criticized that Rabbi Morris Allen, founder of Magen Tzedek made many unsubstantiated claims against the owners of Aggriprocessors that were proven in court as unfounded, raising questions about the ethics of Rabbi Allen.

Others have raised serious questions about the employment policies of many Conservative congregations that do not follow the guidelines of Magen Tzedek for its own workers. Claiming its hypocritical for the movement to demand of the food industry what it does not practice.

References

• Adapted from the Wikinfo article "Hechsher Tzedek" http://www.internet-encyclopedia.org/index.php?title=Hechsher_Tzedek&oldid=84955, licensed under the GFDL.

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

External links

• Official website
• Rabbi Allen's blog on Magen Tzedek
• "Al Pi Din"