בס"ד

Glatt Kosher? 

Dear Editor,

Mr. Eli Sacks’ letter concerning “Glatt-Kosher’’ published in your Aug. 6th edition caught my eye. Having practiced ‘‘Sh’chita Ub­dika’’ several years, I feel I have some knowledge — as well as questions — in this matter and would like to express my opinion.

An animal slaughtered kosher requires “B’dikas Hore’oh” — inspection of the lungs. If this inspection turns up a “sircha’ — an adhesion — the entire animal is taref. The Ra’moh, whose decisions we (The Ashkenazim) usually accept in matters of Halacha, is lenient in this case. He permits the practice of “Mi’uch U’mishmush” — rubbing gently the ‘sircha’ between the ringers of the “bodek” and if this process removes the “sircha” the animal is kosher (Ramoh, Yore Deah, 39:13). Those who refuse to accept this lenient view of the Ramoh or question whether the ‘bodek’’ was gentle enough in the handling of the ‘‘sircha” insist that their meat be from an animal with “glatt’’ — (smooth, in Yiddish) lungs with no “sircha” at all  and are willing to pay the price. So much for the basic halacha:

 May I now ask several questions. based upon practical experience:

1) Beef cattle without a “sircha’ is very rare. At times, as little as 0-5% are really ‘‘glatt. ‘Where does all the beef sold in New York as “Glatt-Kosher’ come from?

2) The Ramoh (ibid) specifically excludes calves and lambs from his lenient decision concerning ‘‘Mi’uch U’mishmush,’’ Consequently, a calf or a lamb which has a ‘sircha” is treif even according to the Ramoh. What, then, is ‘‘Glatt-Kosher” veal or lamb?

3) Poultry requires no inspection of the lungs. In fact! the lungs of all poultry is adherent to the ribs. What, then is “Glatt­ Kosher” chicken or duck?

                 I have been asking these and similar questions for the last 45 years and, to date, heard no satisfactory answer. Isn’t it time that the authorities in charge of Kashruth listen to them seriously and begin mending fences?

 Most respectfully,

Rabbi Joseph Goldberg      Brooklyn. N.Y

IF THESE PEOPLE, RABBIS AND BUSINESSMEN ALIKE, LIE ON THE PACKAGING, THEN WHAT WILL THEY DO IN PRIVATE WHEN NO ONE SEES THEM? HASHEM YISHMOR

A Letter From Rabbi Shlomoh Greenberg of Niedderhaz Regarding the Status of Nikkur (Purging the forbidden fats out of animals) in America

Truth Will Spring Forth From the Earth

With a joyful heart and tears of happiness, I offer thanks to the Great Creator, blessed be He, for His kindness, with which He favored us in the recent past. When I had just arrived in America, I looked for work in kosher butcher shops, since I had experience in the old country in the field of Nikkur. To my great astonishment, I discovered that the procedure of Nikkur was much different from what it was years ago. What was called Chelev years ago, is kosher here in America. I went from one establishment to another, but without success; one was not any better than the other. Despite my strong argument that the Geonim, the great Rabbis and menakkerim of yesteryear in the old country were greater scholars and better trained, more pious and more experienced than those in America, To my deep chagrin, all these fell on deaf ears. Not willing to compromise my traditional way of Nikkur, I sought employment in permissible fields and Thank G-d, He did not forsake me.

HOW COULD WE HAVE SUNK SO LOW
IN KASHRUT OBSERVANCE

At the same time, however, my conscience bothered me, how during the few years that elapsed since the Holocaust, we had sunk to such a low level, and how holy the eyes of the Tzaddikim of yesterday were, when they said, "in America, even the very stones are treif." Although I would not allow any animal flesh to be brought into my home, I just couldn’t bear to see how people go in and out of butcher shops and buy all kinds of meats, including salami, pastrami, frankfurters, etc. not knowing the damage that they are doing to their souls and to the souls of their beloved children.

GOOD NEWS: THE VISHNITZER REBBE FORBIDS
HIS FOLLOWERS TO EAT MEAT

Therefore, it is very satisfying indeed to hear the good news that the Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita of Monsey strictly ordered all his disciples, followers and friends not to eat any animal flesh (ordinary meat, salami, pastrami, frankfurters, etc.) Here you can witness the devotion of chassidim to their rebbi. They took the very morsel of food out of their mouths and threw it away in order to conform with the directive of their rebbi. Hundreds of pounds of stored-up meat found its way in the garbage can, all because of the Rebbi's order;... that "Animal flesh has unquestionable probabilities of containing Torah prohibited Chelev ... which is an issur D'Oraisa."

THE JOY OF A MITZVAH TRULY PERFORMED FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE 

You should have seen the joy with which this mitzvah was performed! fulfilling a request that would highly please Hashem. It was just like taking an esrog, reciting Hallel, eating matzoh without distinction. I eagerly recited the brocha of Shehechionu, that G-d let us live to experience such a phenomenon: with thanksgiving to the Creator and a prayer for the future that the zeal of the righteous shall increase the fear of Heaven, so that all grand rabbis and their followers roshei yeshivos with their disciples and the entire Jewish people shall emulate their example. This great mitzvah has the power to bring near the complete redemption. Amen

Shlomo Greenberg from Niedderhaz

Brooklyn, N.Y. Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av 5742

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