Resolution on Hekhsher Tzedek

 “You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice.  You shall not judge unfairly:  you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the pleas of the just.  Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.  (Deuteronomy 16: 18 – 20) 

Whereas it has been three years since the establishment of the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission,  a joint project of the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism to bring the Jewish commitment of ethics and social justice directly into the marketplace and the home;

Whereas since that time the Commission has created Magen Tzedek, the world’s first Jewish ethical certification seal which will help assure consumers that kosher food products are produced in keeping with the highest possible Jewish ethical values and ideals for social justice in the areas of labor concerns, animal welfare, environmental impact, consumer issues and corporate integrity; and

Whereas the Commission is working assiduously to bring the Magen Tzedek seal to market so that businesses can apply for certification of the seal.

Therefore be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly thank those synagogues and other institutions who have given their support to Magen Tzedek in the past and encourage other synagogues and institutions to lend their support for this important effort;

Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly acknowledge the financial support from the Rabbinical Assembly, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and individual RA colleagues so that Hekhsher Tzedek can continue its important work;

Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly reaffirm its support of Hekhsher Tzedek and will redouble its effort to sustain Hekhsher Tzedek financially and through advocating on its behalf;

Be it further resolved that members of the Rabbinical Assembly continue to support and promote Hekhsher Tzedek and Magen Tzedek among Conservative Jews through sermons, articles and educational materials; and

Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly commend the tireless efforts and countless hours of those who have helped to bring Heksher Tzedek and Magen Tzedek into reality, among them Rabbi Morris Allen, Project Director; Rabbi Michael Siegel and Jerold Jacobs, co-chairs of the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission; Dr. Joe Regenstein, professor of Food Science at Cornell University, who developed the guidelines and standards for the Magen Tzedek application process and certification. The Rabbinical Assembly expresses its deepest appreciation to its leadership including Rabbis Julie Schonfeld and Joel Myers and to the leadership of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism including Rabbis Steven Wernick and Jerome Epstein.

Passed by the Rabbinical Assembly Plenum, May, 2010