Monsey, NY - Rabbis and Community Look for Elusive Answers

Monsey, NY - At meetings of rabbinic groups and certification agencies, a number of proposals were floated to protect kosher consumers from the type of scandal that rocked the community just a fortnight ago, as Shevach Meats, a popular glatt kosher butcher, was caught selling non-kosher poultry as kosher.

One rabbi suggested banning the sale of fresh meats in supermarkets and returning to the days of the local kosher butcher. Others promoted the idea of requiring a mashgiach temidi, permanent kosher supervisor, at such stores, while another proposal called for rabbis and agencies to have the keys, codes for alarms, and combinations to establishments selling fresh meat.
Meanwhile rabbis were busy quashing rumors that a popular Boro Park butcher was also involved in the scandal. One rabbi said that the store had actually been fingured by Mr. Shevach, but that a close inspection of the store showed that there was no basis for the accusation, and the rabbis interviewing Mr. Shevach found his story to be “less than credible” which was confirmed by a subsequent investigation of the Brooklyn store.

Residents of the community were still asking “how it could have happened” in their community. This past Sunday was declared a fast day in the community to atone for the unsuspecting violation of kashrus law by so many residents. Some residents are temporarily going vegetarian while others are eating only on paper and plastic plates and using plastic utensils, the scrubbing and cleansing of kitchens continues in many homes.

The question that many are asking these days is if this serious scandal in Monsey will at last prompt both rabbis and the community into action.