5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread

[justaregularguy]

how many times have fake letters circulated and the first thing everyone asks for is where are the signatures? why would the one who posted it rush and post this? literally as i was reading it it sounded fake. If you have an agenda you miss it. seriously

[elazarmn]

If this thread ever splits into a 5 Towns Thread and a Rockaway Thread we'll know we are in trouble. 

Great Neck doesn't have a Vaad. I think to quote an above post, it may be time to rethink the value of the Vaad entirely.

Great neck has many issues with the kashrus there,
Some that cant hold a hashkagacha for more than a few days

[yitzgar]

Why is the fact that other cities don't have a vaad relevant? Having a vaad (while it could potentially cause politics, and kulos in standards across the board), definitely stops more politics and kashrus issues. When it's every man for himself it's harder for the consumer to know whats good and what isn't, and can cause tons of l"h etc. Even if you find another community that doesn't have one and seems like everything is fine, that doesn't negate these obvious benefits.

[yaakov35]

The vaad has a monopoly on all the hashgscha in the 5 towns. This isn't 1990 where one type of frum person lives there. The community has grown tremendously and its about time someone shakes things up a little bit. They don't run the community and let people another hashgacha, or be able to open their shul when some rabbanim are against it.

[yitzgar]

The vaad has a monopoly on all the hashgscha in the 5 towns. This isn't 1990 where one type of frum person lives there. The community has grown tremendously and its about time someone shakes things up a little bit. They don't run the community and let people another hashgacha, or be able to open their shul when some rabbanim are against it.

[JMHO]

The vaad has a monopoly on all the hashgscha in the 5 towns. This isn't 1990 where one type of frum person lives there. The community has grown tremendously and its about time someone shakes things up a little bit. They don't run the community and let people another hashgacha, or be able to open their shul when some rabbanim are against it.

Did you know that the Va'ad is not one person, rather it's a large list of dozens of community Shuls and Rabbonim?

[yaakov35]

Did you know that the Va'ad is not one person, rather it's a large list of dozens of community Shuls and Rabbonim?

I'm well aware... but its not all.

[ushdadude]

Did you know that the Va'ad is not one person, rather it's a large list of dozens of community Shuls and Rabbonim?

did it have to lower it's standards to get more shuls on board?

[JMHO]

did it have to lower it's standards to get more shuls on board?

Ask your Rav and do you remember or know what Kashrus in FR/5T was like before the Va'ad?

[ReadsTheT&C]

Ask your Rav and do you remember or know what Kashrus in FR/5T was like before the Va'ad?

It was like this in 1987: https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/04/nyregion/five-towns-where-two-worlds-meet.html
And this in 2000: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/08/nyregion/long-island-journal-more-kosher-than-thou-in-the-five-towns.html
Uniformity brings with it certain benefits for sure but there is also a cost to individuals who want to be more machmir or more meikil but are beholden to the decisions of an opaque organization. I think the l"h the vaad got rid of brought with it a whole nother kind of l"h, much of it directed at the vaad itself.

[JMHO]

Uniformity brings with it certain benefits for sure but there is also a cost to individuals who want to be more machmir or more meikil but are beholden to the decisions of an opaque organization.

This new 'Hashgacha' will not help elevate the standard or provide a more Machmir option.

Do you use R' Forst's list btw?

[sammyp]

This new 'Hashgacha' will not help elevate the standard or provide a more Machmir option.

Do you use R' Forst's list btw?

I wish the "Rabbi First list" would actually provide a list instead if the format they use now via email. It would be a lot more helpful that way.

What is ironic is that the list is mainly put together by Rabbi Eisen who works for tha Vaad. He has his own Kashrus organization called Kehila Kashrus in Flatbush where he establishes and decides the standard he is comfortable with. The Rabbi Forst list is basically a list of local establishments which meet the Kehila Kashrus standards.

Here Rabbi Eisen is just a worker and must abide by the (lower) standard of the Vaad which is grandfathered in. This standard does not satisfy many who now live in town, including many of the newer younger Aguda style Rabonim. Many attempts have been made, led by Rabbi Forst, and recently joined by many other Rabbis and lay leaders to higher and improve the current Vaad policies. But there was strong resistance from the left.

It would be so nice to have a new mehudar competing hoshgocho in town. Unfortunately this new hashgocha is not going to help improve the situation at all.

[ushdadude]

This new 'Hashgacha' will not help elevate the standard or provide a more Machmir option.

Why do you assume that?

[JMHO]

Why do you assume that?

Ask your Rav or people who know.

[ushdadude]

Ask your Rav or people who know.

I did and they would eat at the new hechsher before some of the places under the vaad

[sammyp]

I did and they would eat at the new hechsher before some of the places under the vaad

You did ask a Rav, or you did ask someone who knows?

Just because the Vaad has its faults, that does not make this new thing any better. In fact, this all started with Keneret which did not even meet Vaad standards.

I personally wouldn't eat anything Rabbi Eisen does not put in the mehudar list..

[YitzyS]

If anyone would like to chip in for baby gifts for Dan and JJ, click here.
WARNING TO DAN AND JJ: DON'T EVEN THINK OF CLICKING!

[stooges44]

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

[yaakov35]

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

Lots of names missing. I love how when someone else posted this everyone jumped... and turns out its legit.

[momo]

Lots of names missing. I love how when someone else posted this everyone jumped... and turns out its legit.

Um no. It wasn’t legit. This is an official release. What was posted was very obviously not.