And it's now live:
בס"ד
י ז' תמ וז תש"פ / July 9, 2020
To our Beloved Five Towns and Far Rockaway Community,
Our community is very unique in that we have a hashgocha where the kashrus professionals work under the auspices
of the community Rabbonim. In the day to day running of our Vaad, the kashrus professionals answer to a rotating
board of community Rabbonim and lay leaders reflecting a broad cross-section of the community.
There is a great advantage in having a single universally recognized hashgocha in a community. In communities with
competing hashgochas, the consumer is often ill informed of the specific reliability of each kashrus organization,
which leads to confusion, and inevitably lower standards of kashrus. Our community is unique in that any community
resident or visitor, who sees the certificate of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, can eat
without any hesitation as to the quality of the kashrus. Due to the transparency through which the Vaad operates,
even a consumer who accepts stricter standards, can know with certainty whether a given establishment is
appropriate for him.
Two Rabbonim in the community have recently formed a new hashgocha, the “Mehadrin of the Five Towns” which
certifies FiveFifty Restaurant and Shoppe, Chimichurri Charcoal Chicken, and Keneret Fresh Market.
We have no personal ill feeling toward the Rabbonim who provide the hashgocha, and are always open to consider
and incorporate opposing views to enhance the kashrus standards of our community. However, after careful
consideration, we cannot in good conscience, recommend that one rely on this hashgocha.
We are aware that kashrus issues are often contentious, and can easily lead to discord within a community. However,
we feel strongly that maintaining high standards of kashrus is best accomplished when the vast majority of the
community Rabbonim volunteer their time to direct our kashrus professionals, with no motive other than ensuring
the best interest of our community. This is done by Rabbonim who have nothing to gain other than enhancing the
religious life in our community. When the field of kashrus is opened up to those who do not collaborate with the vast
majority of community Rabbonim, there will be an inevitable decline in both standards and unity. We therefore
discourage the members of our community in the strongest terms, from patronizing local food establishments that are
not under the hashgocha of the Vaad of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway.
As a rule, it is worthwhile to remember that if one sees an unfamiliar hashgocha it is wisest to consult with your
trusted local Rabbonim for guidance, just as you do for all religious matters. The established Rabbonim of the Five
Towns and Far Rockaway have earned the trust of its residents over many decades of selfless service and dedication.
It would be tragic to throw this valuable relationship away in one of the most important areas of Judaism.
With heartfelt prayers that our sincere efforts to enhance kashrus and religious life in our community are successful.
We, the 53 undersigned Rabbonim,
Rav Shalom Axelrod Rav Hershel Billet Rav Yaakov Bender
Rav Dovid Bender Rav Eli Biegeleisen Rav Yisroel Meir Blumenkrantz
Rav Meir Braunstein Rav Moshe Brown Rav Dov Bressler
Rav Pinchas Chatzinoff Rav Shaul Chill Rav Shaya Cohen
Rav Ariel Edelstein Rav Aaron Feigenbaum Rav Eytan Feiner
Rav Yaakov Feitman Rav Binyomin Forst Rav Yitzchok D. Frankel
Rav David Friedman Rav Aryeh Zev Ginzberg Rav Daniel Glatstein
Rav Dr. Aaron Glatt Rav Kenneth Hain Rav Simcha Hopkovitz
Rav Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz Rav Yudi Jeger Rav Yehuda Kamravapour
Rav Mottel Katz Rav Moshe Zev Katzenstein Rav Aryeh Lebowitz
Rav Simcha Lefkowitz Rav Yoni Levin Rav Avi Miller
Rav Jonathan Muskat Rav Motti Neuburger Rav Uri Orlian
Rav Ephraim Polakoff Rav Zvi Ralbag Rav Isaac Rice
Rav Shay Schachter Rav Pesach Schmerling Rav Yehuda Septimus
Rav Dovid Spiegel Rav Mordechai Stern Rav Moshe Teitelbaum
Rav Ya’akov Trump Rav Moshe Weinberger Rav Pinchus Weinberger
Rav Akiva Willig Rav Shmuel Witkin Rav Eliyahu Wolf
Rav Zalman Wolowik Rav Mordechai Yaffe
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