Stop Abuses at the Postville Kosher Slaughter Plant

An undercover investigator for the animal rights group PETA found horrific cruelty at a kosher slaughter plant in Postville, Iowa. Shoddy slaughter led to animals dying slow, prolonged deaths over minutes, still struggling and walking. Animals' tracheas were pulled out while they were still conscious and suffering. Animals were found alive and crushed in machinery, and workers used electric prods on animals' faces. These practices are not typical in kosher slaughter, and they should not be considered acceptable.

Watch the Undercover Video

PETA is supported by the Rabbinical Assembly (Statement), by the USDA (Washington Post article), by the Humane Society of the United States (Statement), among others. Many rabbis and Jewish leaders have signed a statement at HumaneKosher.com condemning the cruelties at the plant. Unforunately, the OU and KAJ kosher certifying organizations continue to defend these practices as acceptable.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Please write the people below at the OU and KAJ and ask that they forbid the cruel practices discovered at the Postville slaughter plant, and in particular that they adopt the guidelines for ritual slaughter established by the Food Marketing Institute (which you can read here). For more information about conditions at the slaughterhouse, visit PETA's website.

The most important single thing you can do is to stop eating animals. It lives up to the teachings of Judaism because it's healthier, better for the environment, and saves animals from lifelong extreme suffering on modern factory farms. Becoming a vegetarian doesn�t mean just eating salad, of course. Foods like falafel, vegetarian cholent, pasta primavera, bean burritos, and a whole world of Indian and Asian cuisine are just the tip of a culinary universe for you to explore.