German Jewry in stir: kosher butcher shop sold treif
Frankfurt kosher butchery admitted that it sold non-kosher meat as kosher • Rabbi Menachem Klein signed on supervision refused to show up in court
Yoel Bittleman , 21 Oct 2014 10:50 (Israel time)
The Jewish community in Germany is in a stir: owners of the kosher butchery in Frankfurt which was selling kosher meat to the Jewish communities in Germany, admitted in court that for two years they sold non-kosher meat as kosher.
The butcher sold kosher meat and wine and kosher food products mostly imported from Israel. The store even marketed kosher meat products to small Jewish communities throughout Germany.
The kashrus embezzlement was discovered by chance by the police, who began an investigation on suspicion of tax evasion. During the investigation, the police listened to phone calls of the shop owner, and the owner of the store was bragging with his friend that he was buying non-kosher meat which cost much less than kosher meat, and sells it as kosher meat with a seal of approval of the Chief Rabbi of Frankfurt, Rabbi Menachem Klein.
Police arrested the owners of the butchery on suspicion of fraud. Police raided the store and found the list of customers and Jewish communities who purchased meat from the shop. Police investigators sent questionnaires to the customers when asked if they would continue to buy the meat if they knew that it was treif.
The matter was brought to court and on Hoshana Raba the hearing started. The butchers admitted that for two years they would buy non-kosher meat, bring it to the store late at night, where he 'kashered' the meat and sold it as kosher meat.
The Jewish butcher, when asked why he defrauded buyers, pleaded that he was told that if one kashers meat it is fine, in addition he claimed that this was in effect for years in the butchery, and he just went on with the procedure.
The butcher's admittance stunned the Orthodox community in Frankfurt, especially given the fact that the Rabbi of the community, Rabbi Menachem Klein, who signed the store's kosher certification, did not appear in cout, though summoned.
Local media who published the case extensively asked the rabbi's response, but he claimed by reason of the law he has a privilege and does not have to appear in court.
The testimony of the butcher along with the absence of the Rabbi at the hearing, provoked anger in the community: "People were perplexed, they did not know if they need to kasher their utensils and what to kasher and how, the only kosher restaurant that operates in Frankfurt which markets food to Lufthansa, was also among the stores which purchased meat from time to time from the problematic store, and the haredi passengers in Lufthansa refuse to eat the food that comes from the restaurant and catering in Frankfurt.
Rabbi Klein also declined to comment to Behadrey Haredim and said that he will respond in the coming days when the judge will announce his decision on the matter. The Rabbi also said: "All those who ask if they need to kasher the utensils, the instruction is negative."
