The Kashrus scandal in Los Angeles continues to brew, with the latest report via the Jewish Journal website. In their article, Daryl Schwartz, the owner of Kosher Club, a retailer and distributor of kosher meats, claims that he witnessed Doheny Kosher Meats repacking meat in boxes labeled “Glatt Kosher” as early as 2010. He also says that he reported what he saw to the Rabbinical Council of California, and was told that they “would look into it”.
The following is from the Jewish Journal:
The Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) abruptly revoked its certification from Doheny Glatt Kosher Meats on March 24, but the RCC, Los Angeles’s leading kosher oversight agency, had first heard about the distributor’s suspicious practices years earlier.
Eric Agaki, an investigator who had been independently monitoring Doheny’s warehouse on Pico Boulevard and another location in the San Fernando Valley for the past six months, told KTLA on Sunday that he had discovered the company was selling meat as Glatt Kosher that had not been certified as such.
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23 Responses
I had a brisket from them at my Seder and it was yummy
Several aspects of this story are confusing. First, is Agri Star the same company that used to be owned by SMR? Second, the RCC issued a statement eruv yom tov when the story broke that any meat sold “after 3:00 PM” were treifus. How could they conclude that the same meat was Glatt at 2:59 and treif at 3:01. Third, why would the RCC ignore multiple warnings that Doheny was selling treifus unless their mashgichim were part of the scam and being paid off by the owwners? Hopefully, not too many frum yidden on the West Coast were eating this stuff for the sedorim.
My great-grandfather visited NYC (he lived in Hungary) in the 1920s. After a short stay to see what all the tumult was about, and why his children were moving to America, he returned to Europe. Family legend has it that his departing words were, “In America even the windows are treif!” I believe his observation is still correct, and I became a non-carnivore over twenty-three years ago. Spending years studying Yoreh De’ah convinced me it is impossible to correctly shecht, be bodek, and kasher meat on a large scale commercial basis.
what a disgrace. Not just for this misdeed but more importantly, for the rabbonim who fail to learn from previous scandals and fraud on the unsuspecting kosher consumer. The lesson to be learned is to have a masgiach temidi with proper training. The head of such hasgochos need to set policy for their directors such as a masgiach temidi, lock & key only to him, checks invoices with suppliers etc. the head rabbonim of the rcc are well respected and want it to be a very reliable hechsher. they need to run it better ithout compromises.
#2
Yes to question 1. And therefore? Therefore NOTHING!
To GadolHadorah and all ywn readers:
Good questions deserve good answers but unfortunately it isn’t over yet so clear answers aren’t completely availible yet.
First and foremost, It should be known that the RCC is the largest most accepted Kashrus organization in California and holds by the highest standards, while priding itself as being highly acclaimed worldwide. Rabbi Vann and Rabbi Davidi are Rabbonim par excelance whom both have years of experience in the field of kashrus and are known and repected by all in the Los Angeles community and by great rabbonim across the globe.
Such allegations that the RCC was lax regarding this situation is nothing short of a lie. And I happen to know that first hand. Also for the YWN to quote the jewish urinal in an interview with someone who I know and wouldn’t care to say loshon hora, or better yet motzi shem rah against rabbonim is despicable and unexcuseable.
#2 Apparently regarding your second question, the meat in question may have been non-Glatt, rather than treif. I heard that they were relying on Bittul BeRov, that most of the meat was actually kosher. (I have no idea if any of this is true, it’s only what I heard from relatives there). The question still remains that Kol Kavua k 50/50, however since it sounds like they were dealing with non-Glatt (which is OK for Ashkenazim) that might add more room to be Mattir (especially in such a Hefsed Merubeh and l’Kovod Yom Tov). They pulled their Hashgacha at 3 pm – which I guess means they no longer take responsibility from then…
This article begins: “The Kashrus scandal in Los Angeles continues to brew ….” So there is a gebrochts issue too?
What does the RCC say about this? How disgusting for them to ignore the situation, if true!
In answer to laptops questions. 1.The Halacha in this case is that since it was only found out at 3.00 any time before then is considered Kosher (as clarified to me by someone who knows the Halacha). 2. Rabbi Davidi did check into the matter, but before he came the owner hid all the repackaged meat in a office that Rabbi Davidi did not know about. Also, the R.C.C. sent Rabbonim to the store after this whole scandal came out to warn everybody that there was a sheila of tarfus. Additionally this in no way reflects bad on Agri Star since the owner of Doheney’s misused there labels but, Agri Star’s meat was not the issue.
In Tenaach, there are hudreds of detaled episodes of Jewish life. No-where do we encounter anyone looking specifically for Kosher food.
But, we hardly encounter any other acts of the everyday Mitzvos D’oireiso that we do today.
Lazerc
The rcc has not ignored the situation at all. As soon as the scandal broke Rabbi Davidi stood outside of the place and informed everyone that entered that it its supervision was revoked “for cause”
Secondly they issued emails to all of la residents concerning the status of the meat and poultry etc.
Why didn’t u post my comment?????????????
Moderators Response: Besides that you used a four letter word? Nothing else.
Lazerc
The rcc has not ignored the situation at all. As soon as the scandal broke Rabbi Davidi stood outside of the place and informed everyone that entered that it its supervision was revoked “for cause”
Secondly they issued emails to all of la residents concerning the status of the meat and poultry etc.
They NEVER ignored the situation prior to the discovery of the scandal. The evidence didn’t add up until now. And to go and believe a competitors take on the story I.E. Daryl shwartz as mentions is ridiculous. Its unfortunate ywn posted his nonsense
“.. the owner of Kosher Club, a retailer and distributor of kosher meats, claims that he witnessed Doheny Kosher Meats repacking meat in boxes labeled “Glatt Kosher” as early as 2010.”
COMPETITOR?? Why is he at all believed?
(See gemara yevamos case where we don’t believe certain people regarding ne’manus because they are like “competitors” I.E. A second wife etc. )
THE JEWISH JOURNAL?? Fech! As more correctly referred to previously as the jewish urinal. YOU WOULDNT READ THEIR DISCUSTING , ANTI-FRUM PAPER ALL THE TIME, SO WHY WOULD WE TRUST THEM ON A MATTER LIKE THIS SO HUGE!!!
Cmon people, don’t be so niave..
When I was working in Kashrus I had the keys to the store and changed the locks regularly even though my supervisor was not makpid. The own was not Shommer Shabbos and I would not trust him with a penny never mind the keys to the meat shop. We had battle like him bring tails in the store and selling it to Jews. After the first week I told him if one tail enter the store I will through it in the middle of the road. He did not do it again and the Jews no longer bought it.
As a frequent visitor to Los Angeles. Bnei Tora in LA have long been weary of the rcc hechsher in spite of its rabbonim being prominent. This scandal has not taken all by surprise.
#6,12,14
the old addage is an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. This scandal could have been prevented with more stricter mashgiach (temidi)policies. I do not live in LA nevertheless, I know the rabbonim of the RCC and indeed they have years of experience in the field of kashrus and enjoy the repect by the Los Angeles community. However, there have been previous scandals in other frum communities while under most respected rabbonim, e.g.monsey, brooklyn. All those incidents would not have occurred if there was a trained mashgiach temidi. when the kosher consumer/baalei batim start demanding a better standard of kashrus [for which they are already paying a premium], these kind of problems won’t happen. today glatt does not mean only glatt meat but rather glatt is used to glatt kosher, glatt chickens, glatt pizza, glatt vegtables etc. Glatt means 100% no shailos, no kulos kosher!!
Folks,
Let’s not forget this story was reported by the “Jewish” journal whose only tie to Jewish is the name.
Don’t jump to conclusions about this.
Fascinating how history repeats itself… Back in the early 90’s Emes Meats on La Cienega Blvd in LA (not 5 miles from Doheny Meats) went through the exact same scandal– also found out by a Japanese inspector from the govt who saw Zacky Farms chikens being re-labeled as kosher– happened right before Mothers day so that the Sunday of mothers day an LA wide kashuring of all the people’s kaylem both on the beverly hills side as well as the hancock park side, was done in many shuls— Emes was also under the RCC— makes you wonder???
azny i dont know where you picked up your mistaken information from, but i’ve been in la for many years and EMES MEATS WAS NOT UNDER THE RCC, IT WAS UNDER ANOTHER HASHGACHA!!!
and lakewooder2, your talking like someone who really doesn’t know los angeles, because most of the prominent rabonim in the community are associated with the RCC and there is not one ben torah who doesn’t trust the RCC.
so please, both of you, stop talking like the media and get your info straight
EMES WAS NOT RCC!!
GET UR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU WRITE SOMETHING!
I distinctly remember that it was, but if i’m wrong and someone knows different i apologize in advance– however, it doesn’t change the strangness of having two eerily similar choteh u’machteh es harabim incidents within 5 miles of each other, one would think extra vigilence would be in order from now on, and wonder why it wasn’t put in after the emes scandal