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They Sold Us a Bill of Goods: A Series on the State of Kashruth Today

Halakhah, Kashruth, Modern Judaism

by Rabbi Jeffrey Rappoport

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.

In July, 2016, the Kosher Nexus published a four-part series on the state of kashruth today.

We believe with all our heart and soul in the value of keeping kosher.  We are certified in Nikur (deveining meat according to halacha) by the Jerusalem Chief Rabbinate. We trained to be a mashgiach under two rabbis who each served as a Rav Hamachshir in their respective agencies. We  worked as a mashgiach for over 35 years. As you will see later on, the New York State Kosher Law Enforcement Agency used a store where I was the mashgiach as a training site for new inspectors.

Along the way, we gained some measure of expertise in food technology and ingredients.  For a number of years, we ran the Passover Hot Line (the very first 1-800 number for Pesach questions) for the Union for Traditional Judaism.  We created the Kosher Nexus Newsletter, and own the Kosher Nexus Daily Blog.

It pains us, therefore, to observe the current state of affairs in kosher food supervision today. We have remained silent for too long. Today, we speak out.  This is a long article which will appear on the Kosher Nexus Daily Blog over the next many days.

Continue reading here.

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About Rabbi Jeffrey Rappoport

Rabbi Jeffrey Rappoport served as a pulpit rabbi in Staten Island for 20 years, and in Bayside, Queens for 15 years.  During that time, he developed a conversion program that was used by Orthodox and Conservative rabbis for their Jew-of-choice candidates. But his career in the pulpit is only part of the story.  The State of New York approved Rabbi Rappoport to serve on the Institutional Review Committee of Staten Island University Hospital where he also served on the Ethics Committee. And, together with Father Nick Anctil and Msgr John Servididio (OBM), Rabbi Rappoport founded what became the NYPD Clergy Liaison Program where he served for 30 years. It may be in the field of kashruth that Rabbi Rappoport is best known. He received his official certification in nikur (davening) from the Jerusalem Chief Rabbinat, and also trained in hashgacha under two different rabbis who served as rav hamachshir in different companies. His passion for kashruth has extended into the world of publications. In December 1993, Rabbi Rappoport anonymously mailed 50 copies of a newsletter called the Kosher Crusader.  One month later, 105 copies were again mailed anonymously. When people guessed the author, they were quick to comment.  They all loved the newsletter, but hated the name.  In short order, with the help of Ms. Andrea Herrera, contributing editor and head of the UTJ’s Southern Test Kitchen, the name changed to the Kosher Nexus. The Kosher Nexus began as a quarterly newsletter sponsored by the UTJ. An additional, special Pesach edition, quickly became our most popular issue every year.  With the 21st century’s embrace of social media and blogging, the Nexus evolved from print and became the Kosher Nexus Daily Blog. Rabbi Rappoport was not a founder of the UTJ, but he has been a member since its very founding.  Rabbi Rappoport served as the Director of Morashah, the Rabbinic Fellowship of the UTJ, as well as coordinator of the UTJ’s famous Passover Hot Line, the first 1-800 number for Pesach questions.  During his 16 years as an employee of the UTJ, Rabbi Rappoport coordinated the UTJ’s conversion Bet Din.  He also taught Practical Rabbinics and liturgical cantillation in the Metivta, the UTJ’s rabbinical school. Rabbi Rappoport currently is retired and living in Jerusalem, where he continues to teach, write, and maintain the Kosher Nexus Daily Blog.