Letters to the Editor 5-8-09

Issue of May 8, 2009 / 14 Iyar 5769

Concerned about Vaad’s reputation

To the Editor:

Last week you published a letter from Rabbi Billet and his letter was very telling in many respects (Letters to the Editor; May 1, 2009). I believe it inadvertently strikes at the core of the present Vaad and Streit's problem.

He wrote, "I continue to believe that Streit's of 2009 is no different from Streit's of 1979... Each (shul) has their rabbi to direct their choice of products for Passover." That implies that some rabbonim who are part of the Vaad don't even trust the Vaad hashgacha for themselves or their shul. If there is deliberation among the Vaad rabbonim for any reason, do they personally avoid following majority rule of their own Vaad? If so, what is the point of the Vaad being a unified halachic institution for kashrus in the Five Towns at all if it doesn't bring unity and harmony?

No level of self-scrutiny or number of meaningful steps can fix a Vaad Hakashrus that won't even rely on its own hashgacha or that of rabbinic colleagues. Since the Streit's ban seems to have been rescinded and we don't need to rekasher our homes, we need to know whether a single dissenter, a minority view or a majority view of the Vaad caused this — and why they changed their opinion? This has already cost them their reputation, Streit's unnecessary shipping fees, and much money in lost sales by local stores for refusing delivery on agreed-to shipments of goods. If someone caused this unnecessary problem and machlokes, and if it wasn't authorized by the whole Vaad organization, the individual needs to be fired or quit with dignity to restore the sullied reputation of the Vaad HaKashrus of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway.

When I hear jokes about the Vaad of the Five Towns and Streit's from friends and family in New Jersey, California and Florida, an apology or another committee is just not sufficient to restore the Vaad's reliable reputation to the quality and level that it needs to be at.

Cedarhurst

Homeless in Cedarhurst

To the Editor:

I read Mitch Krevat's article "Still in Mitzrayim" (Guest Editorial; May 1, 2009) with great interest. Mitch is modest about his involvement in assisting the homeless Cedarhurst man. He e-mailed me on Motza'ei Shabbos before Pesach (I run the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty) to inform me of the situation and see how I could help. Met Council was able to raise funds to pay for his stay throughout the holiday, and through working with Ohel CEO David Mandel we began addressing some complex mental health issues.

Mitch single-handedly helped navigate the system and found a place for this man because he cared. Although the future status of this individual is uncertain due to his unwillingness to leave the Five Towns area (Met Council has residences available elsewhere), he found shelter and respite for the Pesach holiday due to the involvement of one caring neighbor.

If all of us can join Mitch Krevat in fulfilling the mitzvah of caring for our fellow Jews the way he cared for this man, perhaps these difficult times will become less bleak.

William E. Rapfogel

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty

www.metcouncil.org