Community Magazine September 2009

38 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE A rriving at a popular local makolet (grocery store), Rabbi Bussu noted the reliable certification on the chickens and the equally impressive kosher symbols on various other ingredients. But then, he observed something else. A gentile worker, matter-of-factly turned on the fire and nonchalantly placed one of the raw chickens in to cook. The rabbi was flabbergasted to see such a blatant instance of bishul akum – food cooked by a non-Jew, which is forbidden for consumption even if it is otherwise perfectly kosher. Even according to the more lax Ashkenazic definition of bishul akum , this food is deemed unfit for Jewish consumption! But the biggest shock was to come later. When Rabbi Bussu confronted the owner of the shop about this incident, he expressed surprise at the notion that allowing a gentile to turn on the fire and place the chickens in the oven was even an issue at all. Keeping kosher has become easier than ever nowadays, but also much more complicated. Despite dozens of certifying agencies and symbols, and stores that cater exclusively to kosher customers, kosher is not always kosher. The food industry is still, unfortunately, laden with pitfalls that unwary consumers can easily fall into. Rabbi Moshe Bussu, the mashgiah (kosher supervisor) of Shaare Zion, has been involved in kashrut for many years as both a teacher and a crusader. Unaffiliated – and therefore not beholden – to any organization, he works tirelessly to enlighten the community about his personal experiences with various kashrut issues. His objective: to make people aware of the many problems in the kashrut industry, empowering them to take responsibility for their own kashrut obser- vance. Rabbi Bussu does his own research on kashrut agencies and the stores they supervise. He is also not afraid to challenge commonly accepted practices that he finds to be unreliable. Recently, he has uncovered a number of serious lapses at local establishments, which he ultimately attributes primarily to consumer complacency. Where’s the Mashgiah? While some grocery stores and supermarkets maintain kosher supervision through a certifying agency, a sizeable number are considered “reliable” because the proprietor is deemed trustworthy. The result, ironically enough, is that even the most cautious kosher consumers barely see themselves as part of the process of ensuring that all the food brought into their home is kosher. Many now rely almost completely on the local kosher supermarket or Jewish grocery store owner, and have stopped being cautious consumers. For those who are truly concerned about what they put into their mouths, this trend can be extremely perilous for a number of reasons. Every business selling repackaged, opened or cooked food as kosher, whether it is run by a pious Jew or non-observant business- man, must have a mashgiah on staff, according to Rabbi Bussu. For a conscientious professional mashgiah, ensuring the kashrut of open and/or cooked food can be a full time job. So even the most trustwor- thy and well-intentioned proprietor, who likely has a plethora of other concerns on his plate, like prices, promotions, payroll, profits, etc., is not likely to be able to devote the required time and energy to ensure the level of supervision required for strict kashrut observance. We’ve become accustomed to expecting restaurants and caterers to have Rabbinical supervision, but for some reason, Rabbi Bussu points out that many do not apply the same standards when it comes to the food bought in groceries and supermarkets. “People just generously assume that since it’s a kosher store, and the owner is an observant Jew and a nice guy, all the food he sells must be kosher.” This generosity Rabbi Bussu maintains is sorely misplaced. Whom Do We Trust? The fallacy of this phenomenon is clearly revealed in the oft- repeated story of a Jewish man who traveled into a faraway town. Upon arriving at the inn, he took note of the innkeeper’s religious appearance, and asked him if the food was kosher. The innkeeper said that he was a shohet (kosher slaughterer) and all the meat was slaughtered properly. When the traveler settled down to order his meal moments later, the innkeeper approached him and asked to borrow one hundred rubles. “Do you think I’m crazy?” the traveler exclaimed. “Why would I trust a total stranger whom I just met to repay a large loan?” The innkeeper smiled knowingly, and said, “And yet, when I tell you the food is kosher, for that you trust me?” It’s not so much that stores are trying to dupe their unsuspecting NOT RACHEL DAYAN KOSHER at the Grocer