Conservative Jewish leaders in the United States have issued new ethical guidelines for a kosher certification program meant as a supplement to the traditional certification process that measures compliance with Jewish dietary law. The proposed 'Hekhsher Tzedek' ('Certificate of Righteousness') would be awarded to companies that pay fair wages, ensure workplace safety, follow government environmental regulations and treat animals humanely, among other proposed criteria.
Support for the idea has been fueled by controversies at a the kosher slaughterhouse of Agriprocessors Inc. in Iowa, the largest kosher meatpacker in the United States. In May, immigration officials raided the plant, arresting nearly 400 workers. However, many in the Orthodox Jewish world have been skeptical of Hekhsher Tzedek, arguing that ethical issues should not be tacked on to the age-old system of kosher laws.
