OU pushed for Sholom Rubashkin ouster

By Mayer Fertig

Issue of May 30, 2008 / 25 Iyar 5768

It is at the insistence of the Orthodox Union that Sholom Rubashkin is to be replaced as chief executive officer of Agriprocessors, the kosher meatpacking giant his father, Aaron Rubashkin, founded, The Jewish Star has learned.

"We have said that if there were criminal culpability that we would withdraw our supervision," said Rabbinic Administrator Rabbi Menachem Genack in an interview Tuesday. "The OU spoke to the company to say that we would suggest — for lots of reasons — that they should look for professional management."

No indictments of Agriprocessors, Inc. officers had been announced as of Tuesday afternoon.

Last Friday, after 270 of his employees were convicted of violating immigration law and sentenced to five months in prison, Aaron Rubashkin announced that his son would be replaced a chief executive.

"The best course of action for the company, its employees, the local community [in Postville, IA] and our customers is to bring new leadership to Agriprocessors," Mr. Rubashkin said in a news release.

Several calls for boycotts of Rubashkin products — including at least one by an Orthodox rabbi in Washington, D.C. — have largely gone unheeded.

"They're an important source of supply," Rabbi Genack noted. "Without them on the market prices go up significantly."