A well-attended meeting of the Vaad Hamasmedet -- Standing
Committee of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) was held
in Paris to discuss the present situation both in Europe and
Israel.
Concern was expressed about the secular nature of the newly-
elected Israeli government and the reported legislation it
intended to enact which could ultimately detrimentally affect
orthodox Jews in Israel. It was felt that this could have a
ripple effect in the Diaspora.
Rabbi M. Levinger, Chairman of the ECK, the Kashrus arm of
the CER, gave a detailed report. He gave particulars of the
assistance being given to European rabbis who were embarking
on supervising products for the international kosher food
market. Many rabbis lacked experience in this field and were
turning to the CER for advice and guidance. With the
increased awareness by Jewish communities of the importance
of keeping kashrus in their homes, the kosher food
market is fast expanding.
The ECK is currently advising rabbis on all aspects of kosher
food production in Italy, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Turkey,
Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Serbia, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Bulgaria, Greece and Switzerland. The ECK is also
organizing training programs in the field of shechita
and meat production.
Rabbi Levinger stressed the importance of ensuring that the
public is made aware that many seemingly innocuous
ingredients currently being used in the manufacture of food
products need to be carefully analyzed, as they could often
be nonkosher. He also warned about products that appear on
the shelves of shops, with Hebrew writing with marked
supervision by unknown kashrus authorities, that may
not meet the minimum standards of kashrus.
It was also announced that the CER, as an official Non
Governmental Organization (NGO), would be appointing its own
representative at the European parliament in Strasbourg.
A report on the current activities of the CER was presented
by the Secretary General, Aba Dunner. Current efforts
included the planned expansion of communal facilities in
Kaliningrad, with the help of the Ronald Lauder Foundation,
assisting the schools and orphanages in Moscow, Odessa, Kiev
and Pinsk; and efforts to build ten mikvas in cities
in Russia that currently do not have a mikveh.
He also reported on the regional meeting of rabbis from the
northern countries -- Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia,
Estonia, and Finland -- which met in Helsinki under the
leadership of Dayan Ch. Ehrentreu and Rabbi A. M. Rose, the
Executive Director of the CER. Similar regional meetings are
planned for the future.
He also reported on the establishment by the CER of a special
department headed by Rabbi A. Nesher, to encourage tourism to
Israel. With the current drop in tourism, it is felt that
rabbis should encourage their communities to organize trips
to Israel whenever possible. These could be to celebrate Bar
or Bas Mitzvs, weddings or even synagogue annual general
meetings.
Other projects mentioned were the distribution of sifrei
Torah and scrolls from Lithuania, where the CER continues
to negotiate for the remaining scrolls to be released. Also
the CER's role in Brussels, where it advises through a forum
entitled the "Soul of Europe" on initiatives to be taken by
the European Commission on various moral and ethical
issues.
He also informed the meeting of efforts being organized by
the CER to bring more Jewish awareness to Jews arriving in
Germany from Russia.
A statement was issued by the Standing Committee, concerning
the reported planned mass "conversion" process for would-be
immigrants that is to be organized in Europe prior to the
arrival of these immigrants in Israel. A letter was also sent
to Prime Minister Sharon expressing the concern of the CER on
this issue.
