Rubashkin's

Just a quick note about the problems at the Rubashkin's/Agriprocessors plant in Postville, Ia., which is accused of workplace violations. The Facebook Group "Things at Rubashkin's Are NOT Kosher" asks, "Can you rely on the kashut of meat schechted and processed at a facility repeatedly investigated and cited by the Federal Government and PETA?"

Here's my note: 1) The Federal Government, or FDA, investigates and inspects all meatpacking operations. So that's no surprise.

2) PETA by its nature is deeply antisemitic. And this anti-Rubashkin Facebook group wants to use PETA as a supposedly neutral, objective watchdog group? Please. In PETA's opinion, EVERY meatpacking plant is illegal. In PETA's opinion, every poultry operation, every dairy operation, every egg collection operation is illegal and cruel. PETA cannot abide by the Jewish concept that one can enjoy meat, eggs, and cattle milk while being respectful of animal life. PETA reels at the understanding that the Jewish people, through their Torah, introduced the idea of animal cruelty to the world (that cruelty is not permitted)--and yet to the Jews, eating meat is acceptable. To PETA, animal consumption (meat) or use (dairy) is always cruel. So what is PETA's response to the Jews? "Holocaust on Your Plate," a recent PETA ad campaign.

Rubashkin probably made a grievous error, to avoid a more vulgar term. It's impossible to consume kosher meat in the U.S. and avoid Rubashkin meat. It's just not feasible. I'm not becoming vegetarian, and I'm not dropping my strict kosher diet. Rubaskin will make amends, and kosher consumers will come back to it. In the meantime, let's leave PETA out of this.