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Jews launch new appeal for Iowa meat plant
Sep. 11, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionRebuffed after seeking a meeting with the new owners of an Iowa kosher meat plant that was devastated by an immigration raid last year, a social justice group is using the upcoming Jewish New Year to send a message from the marketplace.
The Agriprocessors plant in Postville, Iowa, now owned by SHF and called Agri Star, has scaled back production since a May 2008 raid arrested nearly 400 suspected illegal immigrants, including children, working in allegedly unsafe conditions.
Jewish Community Action, a nonprofit group that belongs to the Postville Community Benefit Alliance coalition of local and religious leaders, is distributing a Rosh Hashanah card that concerned Jews can print and send to new operator Daniel Hirsch.
"In the spirit of new beginnings, we hope you will accept a meeting with the Postville Community Benefits Alliance to develop an agreement that will ensure: the health and safety of the workforce, strong and open lines of communication with the town, much business success and renewed consumer confidence," the card reads.
Hirsch, who could not be reached for comment, has said he is currently too busy turning the bankrupt business around to meet with the group. According to a Sept. 9 article in the New York-based Forward newspaper, which has closely followed this story, Agri Star representatives are concerned about demands for a binding legal agreement, though coalition members say they simply want to ensure that employees are treated legally and fairly.
"This is a new year, a new beginning, it's an opportunity for a new start," said Jane Ramsey, executive director of Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, which also belongs to the Postville alliance.
"It's in Hirsch's interest and Agri Star's interest to send a message that this is not just a new company, but is going to operate with the highest ethical standards and with great transparency and with great concerns for the community of Postville and for its customers around the country."
Members of the Rubashkin family, which founded the company, and several former supervisors face criminal charges for the alleged immigration and child labor violations. The federal trial, postponed to accommodate the Jewish holidays, will begin Oct. 13 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
What is news about violation
What is news about violation of human rights by modern Jews in our society and with regard to Palestinians in their home country? It is truly immoral to be part of human trafficking and child labor. And Gaza is probably the largest concentration camp in the world. Shameful.
Was this story supposed to be a public relations piece?
Where did you get what is
Where did you get what is obvious hatred for Jesus own people, the Jews?
Repent or perish
It's quite a generalization
It's quite a generalization that hm makes. What is news here is that Jewish groups are challenging the Jewish owners and urging them to act ethically. When people of faith work to improve the lives of those around them, I think that's newsworthy. And by the way, these Jewish organizations have worked extensively with a local Catholic church in Postville to support workers.
And what does Gaza have to do with this?
Why pick on the Jews? The
Why pick on the Jews? The implication is that all Jews violate human rights. This is simply not true. We can look at Bishops and priests. A few live in conflict with what the Church teaches/requires, most of us do not think all are bad because they are not. The same thing for Muslims because a few are terrorists, most do not regard all Muslims as terrorists because they are not. When making comments, it is important not to use too broad a brush, the actions of a few do not represent a whole people or religion. It is simply not acceptable to say "all" believe or act in a certain way.
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