Inspection of the Postville ‘Shlachthoise’

Press Release

It was late night on a Sunday, when members of the Beth Din of Crown Heights suddenly appeared at the Rubashkin family’s huge meat plant complex in Postville, Iowa, for a surprise inspection. Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, long-standing Halachic authority of Crown Heights, was accompanied by two of the Beth Din’s newly elected members, Rabbi Shlomo Yehuda HaLevi Segal and Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind, together with representatives of the Crown Heights Vaad Hakashrus, Yossi Brook and Rabbi Shneur Zalman Osdoba.

More Pictures in the Extended Article!

When they arrived at 11:00 p.m., the guests immediately visited the turkey slaughterhouse, where they watched how mashgichim (kashrus inspectors) check the birds’ innards for any defects that might render them non-kosher. Then they inspected the koshering process, which includes rinsing and salting. In both areas, they were pleased with the way the mashgichim carefully discharge their holy responsibilities.

Early next morning, at 6:00 a.m., the Rabbonim visited the slaughterhouse for large animals. They inspected the entire process of slaughtering, checking carcasses for disqualifying defects, deveining, and koshering the meat. The Rabbonim observed the special stringencies established at the plant for all these processes. After the slaughter of each animal and before the next, Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba carefully checked the absolute sharpness and smoothness of the slaughtering knives used by every shochet (ritual slaughterer).

In the area where carcasses are deveined, rinsed and salted, they observed how, at every key point, a special mashgiach fully supervises the process to ensure it is accomplished perfectly according to every detail of halacha (Jewish law). As required by halacha, the livers are roasted, which is done by a mashgiach using a roasting machine specially built for this plant under the guidance of Rabbinic experts.

They continued to the chicken slaughterhouse, where Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba again checked every shochet’s slaughtering knife and was most satisfied. The guests inspected how the birds’ innards are checked by mashgichim for possible defects, and they inspected the koshering process. They also inspected the area, supervised by another mashgiach, where the chickens and parts are packaged, using state-of-the-art machinery to ensure the highest level of hygiene and quality. At each key point, the Rabbonim spoke with the mashgichim and heard about the various stringencies established for every step of the process from slaughtering to final packaging.

Next they inspected the meat processing plant, which has lately expanded dramatically, with an impressive financial investment and installation of the most advanced state-of-the-art machinery. Its internationally acclaimed quality, superlative standards of kashrus and wide range of products have increased demand for these products throughout the United States and beyond. The Rabbonim were interested primarily in the details of kashrus, of course, and were pleased to see how everything was meticulously supervised by the mashgichim.

All shoch’tim and mashgichim in Postville are pious Hassidic Jews who are most meticulous in their work, and the Rabbonim were impressed by how the entire process is accomplished in the best possible manner according to every nuance of halacha.

After inspecting the entire Postville complex, the Rabbonim met with the head kashrus workers and supervisors – head shoch’tim, those who check the slaughtering knives, head mashgichim and bod’kim (who check carcasses for defects) etc. – to listen to their comments and suggestions for further improvement of standards. Some had important ideas, including proposals to ensure that certain kashrus workers not work such long hours that could fatigue them and affect the quality of their work and supervision. The Rabbonim promised to examine these ideas and whether they can be implemented in practice. They gave great encouragement to all the kashrus workers, thanking them for their faithful devotion to the task of ensuring that the greater Jewish public can eat meat products at the very highest standards of kashrus.

Later the Rabbonim met with the Rubashkin brothers R’ Sholom Mordechai and R’ Hershi which are running the operation in Postville, in addition, the Rabbonim thanked the owners, Mr. Avraham Aharon Rubashkin and his sons, Yosef Yitzchok, Sholom mordechai and Heshy, for their efforts to maintain high kashrus standards and its full cooperation with the team of kashrus workers. The Rubashkins in turn thanked the Rabbonim for their visit, telling them what an honor it was for them that members of the Beth Din of Crown Heights were visiting their little town. The Rabbonim, especially the newly elected members, Rabbi Zirkind and Rabbi Segal, gave the family their comments and suggestions for certain improvements that could raise kashrus standards even further.

The Rabbonim took the opportunity to visit Postville’s Torah schools, which they found most impressive. They were particularly impressed by the towns’ new Jewish library, operated by one of the shoch’tim, Rabbi Aron Schimmel, whom they praised for his dedication to this project.

Finally, the Rabbonim met with Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Meizlish, who serves as head of the shoch’tim in Postville and is responsible for all the kashrus arrangements. A close disciple of the late Rabbi Shlomo Lipschitz of Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Meisels previously served in the same capacity for the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis of Jerusalem, and is known as a great expert on all aspects of shechita (Jewish ritual slaughter). They reviewed with him all details of the shechita and kashrus processes at the plant, gave him their directives for the kashrus standards they demand for meat and products bearing Crown Heights Kosher certification, and which shoch’tim may be employed for this certification.

The visiting Rabbonim concluded their tour of duty by expressing their deep satisfaction with the commitment to high kashrus standards prevailing in Postville and with the owners’ close cooperation to ensure that the Jewish public everywhere can enjoy these high standards.

38 Comments

  • Yasher Koach

    Yasher Koach to the Shimmels… you have really upgraded the library beyond belief! It’s amazing!! Yasher Koach
    from PL

  • A resident of Crown Heights

    It is great to see these wonderful pictures. It makes me more confident with the meat that I eat.

  • dovid

    very nice
    just for the record rabbi shvei was asked to come along and refused

    if he does not want machlokos he should join and there will be shalom in this community

  • Keep your nose clean

    Why are you taking sides in a Terrible MACHLOKES.

    You are very well aware that the majority of Crown Heights did not take part in the election. Do not force your views on the community.

  • Israel

    Why don’t these surprise visits take place more often? and it would be interesting to know if there are any special hidurim afforded to the CHK hechsher if yes what are they? Also, is there a full time Lubavitcher Mashgiach to look out for the interests of the Lubavitcher community?

  • Dov

    Looks reassuring as to the kedusha of
    the process. Gives a good feeling that
    there is a tight ship being run over there.

  • Wonderful journalism!

    This is a MARVELOUS work of public relations expertise. Are we really supposed to believe that Moshe Rubuahkin, Yoshev Rosh of the Vaad haKohol – parent body of the CHK, kept the secret of this "surprise visit" from HIS FAMILY???? Since we ae in the Aseros Y’mei Tshuva, I suppose we should.

  • standerd of kashrus

    for all those who comment on the kashrus of CHK in meat foodstuf WHAT IS THE STANDERD OF "CHK" SINCE THE TIME OF R’Dvoskin BEFORE THE BAIS DIN OF THE REBBE you would be supprised at what is considered Lubavitch KASHRUTH (i thought it was a lot more then it realy is)

  • diff between shor habor and aarons best

    So what is the hasgacha of meat under CHK?

    Is it only now Shar Habor or is it also Aarons Best?

  • A member of Anash

    I would like to thank our Rabbonim Shlita, for working together to benefit our community.

  • Anonymous

    HOW DO U DO THAT??? wrote:
    AMAZING HOW SOME PPL CAN FIND SOMETHING BAD ABOUT EVERYTHING

    I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY

  • Out of Town Shliach

    No mention of Rav Weissmendel. I thought he was the chief rabbi at Rubashkins plant. Does anyone know the answer to this?

  • Eliezer

    WOW! how comlicated everything is! everybody has something up theyr sleeve, and everybody else has an opinion on the matter!

    Kaan Tziva Hashem Es HaMACHLOKES!

  • Hirsh

    "All shoch’tim and mashgichim in Postville are pious Hassidic Jews ".
    It is high time that the ‘Shor Habor’ label whether on turkeys, chickens or meat be slaughtered exclusively by Lubavitcher shochtim (Anash) and be supervised by a Lubavitcher mashgiach. There is a great demand for this…and it would increase Lubavitcher consumption exponentialy and of course profits that are lost to David Elliot and Argentina schita. The Lubavitcher community needs and demands this and its about time this was implemented.

  • Kippur Snacks

    Don’t be fooled by the article and the pictures. Although it is rather refreshing that steps are being attempted to rectify the kashrus situation of our hechsher, and believe me I hope they are blessed with success, the churban and machloikes brought about by those responsible for not supervising these products till today as is befitting a hechsher that is associated with lubavitch is enormous. Yitamu chataim v’lo chotim. Gmar Chasmah Tovah to all.

  • Danny

    do you think any of the "chasidishe" shochtim are Satmars? If so wouldn’t it be the responsibility of the CH rabbonim to segregate their shchita? Nothing mentioned about it…

  • levi new

    Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, long-standing Halachic authority

    What machlokes/facts are you trying to infer with these words

  • izzy c

    im a big supporter of the new rabbomin, and proud of them for hearing people shame them but remain silent.they are people we should respec and fear. mark my word they are the future of the comunity. not the clowns that make anouncements, without permission.

  • family shopper

    What about quality of product and Price?
    Kashrus is the most important item but the quality of the chicken is terrible compared to david elliot and the price is the same on whole chickens quatered
    Kolel store $2.09 (shor habor or any other label from Iowa)
    Crown Kosher price on same david elliot item $2.09
    with a choice between the 2 i will buy david elliot all the time for quality and freshness
    when will we the consumers get better quality of meat and chicken for his high prices?

  • Yisroel

    I think it was a big mistake that R’ Schwei didn’t want to go. If he would have gone it would benefit the community, that there is a united Bais Din.

  • Cluck Cluck

    Was this visit a response to Monsey?

    I’m sure everything is fine there, but I can’t believe NO ONE knew the Rabbonim were coming!

    Can we get cleaner chickens please??

  • Camp Runamok

    "when will they visit the SHOR HABOR plant?"

    That IS the Shor HaBor plant. Aarons, SHB, Supreme, etc. are all produced by the same process regardless of whose label goes on the packages, under the Hashgachah of R. Weissmandl of Nitra. AFAIAC, the kashrus is perfectly OK; and I say that with the full authority and Ne’emanus that anonymous posting on a blog confers. ;-)

    I will just reflect what an earlier poster said that if you exclusively require Shechitas ANa’Sh then you will only eat David Elliot or Wise Organic.

  • R- Dovid

    I would like to encourage Bochurim who are learning Semicha to learn Shechita. It will be a very good Parnasa and Lubavitch could use a lot more Shochtim.

  • PROUD OF OUR RABBONIM AND WEBBY

    I THINK THAT PUBLICIZING THE DILLIGENT WORK OF OUR RABBONIM IS IMPORTANT, AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE REASSURED THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED RABBINIC LEADERSHIP THAT IS NOT ONLY SCHOLARLY AND G-D FEARING, BUT THAT TAKES AN ACTIVE AND DECISIVE ROLE IN THE ALL OF THE AFFAIRS OF C.H. THIS PIECE SHOULD BE COMMENDED, AND THE AUTHOR ENCOURAGED TO GO FURTHER IN PRESENTING THE BAIS DIN’S INVOLVEMENT OTHER ISSUES OF VITAL CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY. YASHER KOACH. KOL HA KOVOD. GMAR CHASIMA TOVA!

  • standerd of kashrus respnds

    lubavithcer schita means learning chasidus going to mikvah it does NOT mean a lubavicher is the shochet it never ment that

    rabbi Weissmendel is the chief shochet in the plant

    "Camp Runamok wrote That IS the Shor HaBor plant. Aarons, SHB, Supreme, etc. are all produced by the same process regardless of whose label goes on the packages, under the Hashgachah of R. Weissmandl of Nitra" NOT TRUE each hasgocho has shochtim they do and dont use including r’Weissmendel and CHK
    (they dont use all of the same schochtim)

  • Editor of DHL

    Berel!
    Could you beleive I was able to recognize you in your helmet, beard in the net and all?
    Anyway, see you Succos.

  • Camp Runamok

    > each hasgocho has shochtim they do and dont use including r’Weissmendel and CHK

    Is there a letter published by the CHK stating this explicitly? I have never seen one. I have heard that assertion repeated frequently but, barring explicit confirmation from the CHK, it is nothing but "Nafak Aleah Kaloh…".

    Also, it is not uncommon for different "plumbas" to make use of the same Mashgichim or ShuBi"M in a plant. E.G., Alle (MealMart) uses meat from plants in Uruguay operated by the Eida Chareidis and simply attaches their own label. I don’t think R. Teitelbaum (Nirbater Rav) makes any more regular trips there than our CHK Rabbonim make to Postville.

  • AZ

    I don’t understand the big deal!!

    The Rabbonim are doing their job, why is this a fantastic surprise????

    It reflects badly on a hashgocho if the visit of the rabbonim is so few and far between that there is a BIG tumult and a nice big when it happens.