The following statement was given to YWN:
“Although Ben and Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever announced that they will not be leaving Israel, the KOF-K is quite concerned about Ben & Jerry’s decision not to sell to Yehuda and Shomron as of January 1, 2023. Unilever has committed that the company will adhere to their contract. The KOF-K has been in contact with the Israeli Government and the Yesha Council to determine the most effective way to respond. Based on the advice of the Yesha council the KOF-K will continue to fulfill its contractual obligations to Ben & Jerry’s while using its influence to make sure that this anti-Israel policy never becomes implemented. The KOF-K has expressed to Unilever and Ben and Jerry’s CEOs the negative repercussions of this policy.
We encourage everyone to advocate on behalf of Israel. Please address your concerns about this policy directly to Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s. This is a highly volatile situation and the KOF-K remains in contact with the Israeli Government and the Yesha Council as the most prudent way to make sure the policy never becomes implemented.
KOF-K Kosher Supervision”
Rabbi Yehuda Rosenbaum
Administrative Director
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
14 Responses
The KOF-K should have sent a letter to Ben & Jerry’s stating that it is contrary to the values of the KOF-K to work with organizations that participate in anti-Semitic boycotts of Israel and that consequently they will not be renewing their supervision contract with Ben & Jerry’s. Instead, KOF-K has chosen to cop-out. For shame.
Kof-K became zionist?
Hechsherim must remain outside of any non-Halachic issues. Otherwise it opens a Pandora’s box that allows pressure from animal rights’ groups, worker’s unions, enviornmental groups, etc. Their response is perfect – not ignoring the gravity of the issue, but not confusing two worlds with potentially negative consequences.
@ujm It is truly baffling. Is there one, just one mainstream “Orthodox” organization that actually advocates for Kvod Shamayim and true Torah values? The level of sheker in the world is simply unbelievable. Mashiach must be close.
its all about the holy dollar
So many people with BIIIIG mouths and small hands with even smaller wallets. SHAME ON YOU ALL! YOU DONT CARE ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE’S PARNOSA! You are NO different than those leftist animals who burn down cities and wreak havoc in the name of “justice,” while always hurting the ones they are “trying to protect” the most. THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO HERE!
This is a contractual issue which BJ would have the right to turn around and sue about. I am sure the leftists at BJ would LOVE this to happen. Will you defend the kashrus agency as they incur thousands of dollars in legal fees? I’m sure not.
Time for all of you to go back and care only about your dalad amos.
Have cholov yisroel instead – bring geulah closer yet!
Kof K is not hashgacha temidi, so it is based on our trust. Can we trust Ben & Jerry’s?
As if the Kof K will have so much influence. This is shameful. A real Chillul Hashem putting money ahead of what is right. I guess if they had a contract with nazis, they would also keep it. When I spoke on the phone with the Rav there, he told me his children live in Israel. It’s like saying some of my best friends are Jewish!
“ Hechsherim must remain outside of any non-Halachic issues”. What if it was actually called “Jew-Hate flavored ice cream”? Technically it’s kosher… Obviously there is a point where even though the ice cream is technically kosher, the hechsher should be removed. The question is where you draw the line.
mobico – There are limits to the reasonable use of the slippery slope argument.
A contract is a contract. They, of course, can decline to renew when it expires. However, until then their hands are tied. Keeping one’s word is also a Torah value.
Chof-K, shame on you.
The only reason you are keeping your hechsher on them is that you refuse to give up a lucrative contract with Ben & Jerry’s.
If money controls your decisions, we all must wonder, how reliable is your hashgocha?!
How far will you go to turn a blind eye to “keep your contractual obligations”?!
You have placed a cloud of suspicion on your hashgocha. Where is your integrity???
Don’t arabs buy ice cream?