Reply To: The incredible Star-K

I’m not coming with taanos on them; I don’t hire them. I’m just trying to help them do their job.

Sure, if they are a business, then they probably are fairly within their contractual rights to their customers (the companies who hire them).

But if they view themselves as a public service, and they view their interests as advancing public kashrus observance–I think they’re being a little shortsighted and irresponsible.

The fact is that when they announce that they are certifying a company, and that the stuff is good without a hechsher on it, and put out lists of the stuff which includes everything, and we all know it is made in the same plants–people start using all of it. That’s just how it happens, for better or worse.

If they think they cannot adequately administer such a situation– perhaps by ensuring there are no exceptions, or by making timely lists so that people won’t rely without a list–then fine. But if they cannot, or don’t want to, they should not allow such situations to arise.

It’s all just about the interests they are trying to advance. If the interest is kashrus, they should care about the real results, and not just about “patturing themselves.”