Kosher - Kashrut Authority

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Newsletter #2 Thursday December 9 2010
Y
om Holedet Sameach! Boy how time flies … we
simply can’t believe it is our 20th birthday! Yes,
it has been two decades since the Kashrut Authority
pitched its proverbial tent here in Sydney …a day
Rabbi Gutnick describes as “a defining moment in
Sydney kashrut”. We have so much to reflect upon
and chat about - so let’s get schmoozing!
L’ chaim! Over the years, tremendous leaps and
bounds have been made in the quality of Australian
kosher wines, such as the
Teal Lake range. We happen
to think there is something
very special about the
incredible upwards
trajectory of our Australian
kosher wine industry, and
its worldwide reputation.
It definitely filled the KA
Team’s metaphorical cup
with pride to see that last
month, at the colossal
sit-down dinner of 4000
(ending the International Conference of ChabadLubavitch Shluchim), each table showcased our very
own Teal Lake wine with our diamond-KA logo
stamped on each cork.
We can all attest to the mind-blowing leaps that
technology has made over the last 20 years. Back
then, our office didn’t have email, rather we wrote
and faxed letters and sent them via snail mail. From
beepers to car phones, and then mobile phones …
today, technology is a critical part of our everyday.
One example is an incredible resource we use called
Digital Kosher.
This is an amazing tool that assists us with ensuring
that the kosher certification process of ingredients is
paperless, efficient and secure - and all in real time.
So if a company requests a kosher certification, they
simply enter the ingredient names and formulae into
their unique site which is part of a worldwide data
base. If all is certified kosher, a digital kosher certification letter is issued and this, in turn, can be sent
to customers or certification agencies in an instant.
Every part of their certification is instantly accessible
by the KA and the company on-line.
This week, we also wanted to share with you some
insights about our membership of the respected
Association of Kashrut Organizations (AKO). Let us
explain: being a member of AKO is a big deal in the
world of kashrut. AKO serves Jewish communities
and aims to unite different agencies with a clear goal
to raise and maintain the highest level of kashrut
possible.
So effectively, the leaders of kashrut organisations
worldwide (note: only those who unanimously
satisfy the rigorous requirements of its executive)
have this fantastic forum whereby they can come
together and discuss many different and often
complex situations that arise. From those needing
immediate action, to simply establishing minimum
mutually acceptable standards; to pooling and
sharing information and devising ways to better
educate different communities, it all happens under
the AKO umbrella.
AKO has been described as the ‘nucleus of
international kashrut administration’. As it’s still
Chanukah, let’s use a kosher analogy here –imagine
if you will, that kashrut is a Chanukah jam-filled
doughnut…with AKO at the centre. We know that
the core is obviously the most important component
… The KA is proud to be right there in the middle,
networking with many other respected kashrut
organisations. Recently Rabbi Gutnick was invited
to speak at the AKO conference. That truly was an
honour …. and a sweet one at that!
By being involved in AKO, we as kosher consumers in Australia have an added level of protection. It
is important that the KA understand issues overseas
that one day may arise here in our own backyard.
Knowledge is power, and only by understanding can
we put processes in place to pre-empt kashrut crises.
Rabbi Gutnick recalls a serious discussion that
revolved around a breakdown in the overseeing
of meat production in the United States. In one
case, non-kosher meat was deliberately mislabeled
‘kosher’, and knowingly sold as such. This was
known as the “Monsey” scandal. He informed the
forum that even though on the world stage the KA is
considered a small kashrut agency, we have always
enforced the following: whenever or wherever
kosher meat is handled; we have a mashgiach
observing every step of the process…whether from
the rural countryside to the inside of a commercial
kosher kitchen.
So what was discussed this year? Cows were a
feature.  Very simply, if cows aren’t given the
appropriate feed, they can have serious stomach
issues and get very sick (with a disease called
Displaced Abomasum). Now the thing is that for
an animal (that fulfills the requirements of kashrut)
to be considered kosher, it needs to be healthy, so
important questions were raised surrounding this.
resumed.
Rabbi Gutnick observed that “what was truly
incredible was the overwhelming support garnered
from all members of AKO. For example, the head of
the Orthodox Union in New York took this on board
and met the ambassador of New Zealand. Think
about that: Jewish people from all over the world
came together to assist their Jewish brothers and
sisters who want to buy and consume kosher meat in
New Zealand. AKO members truly worked together,
in this case, to provide the small New Zealand
Jewish community with access to kosher meat for
their Shabbat table and beyond.” Members of AKO
appreciated the insights from Down Under.
Here in New South Wales, we feel empowered by
our connection to AKO. If we need it, help, advice,
guidance and solidarity are at hand. Looking ahead,
we truly aim for the highest kashrut standards
possible, we strive daily to increase the number
of kosher symbols on packaging, and we focus on
maximising the number of kosher products available.
Speaking of new products, stay tuned for our next
edition of Kosher KApers - fun facts on new tasty
treats will be coming your way.
Deep breath … just blowing out our 20 candles!
 The KA Team
The good news for us situated happily below the
equator is that our bovine buddies are merrily
munching on good quality Aussie grass, so this
is virtually a non-issue. Yet members of AKO
recognise that this needs to be watched closely in
the USA. And by us understanding this challenge
overseas, it helps us to be ready and prepared. We
are able to be proactive, rather than reactive to global
changes.
This year, Rabbi Gutnick spoke at AKO of the
shechita ban in New Zealand, specifically the legal
challenge and measures being taken to overcome
the problem. This year, for the first time ever, New
Zealand authorities had forbidden shechting or
kosher ritual slaughter, stating that not stunning
livestock before shechting was inhumane. In the few
weeks since the AKO conference, the ban has been
partially lifted and limited shechting of poultry has
cont’d
OU Daf picture .........
nounced visits that they equate it to having a
mashgiach sitting and watching!
operate through the night and on Shabbos
(24/7). Although the RFR is dedicated and
continued on page 9
daf notes
The 25th Anniversary of AKO (Association of Kashrus Organizations) was recently held at OU Headquarters. Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky, Shlita, Rav Shlomo Miller, Shlita,
and the OU’s Rav Yisroel Belsky, Shlita were among the esteemed rabbonim to address the conference. Many kashrus organizations were represented from as far away as
Australia. The shiurim can be viewed on the ASK OU channel at www.ouradio.org/askou.
aKo conference at oU headQUarters
(L-R) Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky,
Rav Shlomo Miller and Rav Yisroel Belsky
Large gathering of representatives
from kashrus organizations
Rabbi Moshe D. Gutnick –
NSW Kashrut AuthoritySydney, Australia makes a point.
To his left Rabbi Sholom Fishbane –
CRC R.A. and
Executive Director of AKO.
Published by the Orthodox Union, Eleven Broadway, New York, NY 10004
please direct your comments to rabbi yosef Grossman, editor at 212-613-8212 or Grossman@oU.orG
Reprinted from The Daf Haskashrus with thanks.