This past week marked the official launch of Magen Tzedek, the world’s first ethical certification for kosher food products. Initiated by the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (with seed funding provided by the Nathan Cummings Foundation), this certification has received support and endorsement from a wide variety of organizations across the American Jewish community. According to the Magen Tzedek website:
The Commission’s seal of approval, the Magen Tzedek, will help assure consumers that kosher food products were produced in keeping with the highest possible Jewish ethical values and ideals for social justice in the area of labor concerns, animal welfare, environmental impact, consumer issues and corporate integrity.
The Magen Tzedek, the world’s first Jewish ethical certification seal, synthesizes the aspirations of a burgeoning international movement for sustainable, responsible consumption and promotes increased sensitivity to the vast and complex web of global relationships that bring food to our tables.
This certification is not meant to determine the kashrut of an item, but rather to ensure that the product has been prepared with adherence to the highest Jewish and American ethical standards. It remains to be seen how popular this initiative will be, but as members of a Conservative synagogue we should applaud any effort to bring an ethical Jewish voice and social justice consciousness into the public square of the food industry market.
For one opinion about how this idea might be expanded, please check out the following article.
As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this important initiative!