New York – In the wake of yesterday’s devastating tornado in Oklahoma, a major kosher meat distributor is donating twelve pallets of meat products to disaster victims.
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Agri Star Meat and Poultry has 20,000 pounds of meat and poultry ready to be shipped to Oklahoma City. Agri Star is working in conjunction with Masbia to raise the necessary funds to transport the meat to its intended destination, Chabad of Oklahoma City.
“We are sending a variety of foods as per the request of Rabbi Goldman, the local Chabad rabbi,” Jo-Ann Chadbourne of Agri Star told VIN News. “We are sending rapid prep foods including deli, chicken nuggets, beef patties, hot dogs and other items that can be distributed quickly to tornado victims. Providing some sort of relief is the least we can do and we are privileged to be able to help in any way we can.”
Masbia has undertaken the task of raising the $3,000 needed to transport the donated items from Agri Star’s Postville, Iowa plant to Oklahoma City and is urging the public to contribute funds to defray the cost of transportation. Donations can be made at https://www.wepay.com/donations/519048913
“Food is most essential to victims of disaster,” explained Alexander Rapaport, Executive Director of Masbia. “We found during our on the ground Sandy relief work that the victims need food, the first responders need food and the volunteers need food. I cannot ever forget those smiles on their faces when we arrived with food.”
While the most urgently needed items at the moment in the tornado ravaged area are water, toiletries, baby items, cash and gift cards to stores such as Walmart, Target and Sam’s Club, the Agri Star donation will be a major boon to area residents, according to Rabbi Ovadia Goldman of Chabad of Oklahoma City, located approximately twenty miles from the devastation, who is working with local officials on the relief effort.
“Right now we are distributing ready to eat meals but down the road there will be a heavy need for protein and as soon as we can assess those needs, we will distribute the meat products,” said Rabbi Goldman. “As of now we are working with local food banks to make sure that we can house the meat properly when it comes in.”
Rabbi Goldman explained that there has always been a warm relationship between the Oklahoma City Jewish community and it’s neighbors.
“From the governor, to state officials to individuals, everyone has positive feelings toward Jews and Eretz Yisroel as the land that belongs to the Jewish people. It is beautiful for them to see the Jewish community coming out to help them in their time of need.”
Chabad of Oklahoma City is accepting donations for tornado victims which can be made at https://jewishokccom.clhosting.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2230154/jewish/Relief-Donation/lang/en
I don’t get it. Why kosher meat? Are these displaced people Jewish?
Isn’t there a shortage of kosher meat? (aside from being more expensive).
The headline says, “20K LB. Of Kosher Meat “. Why would Agri send Kosher meat? Every slaughter house has a percentage of cows that ate treifos. Why not send the unkosher meat? It doesn’t need to be distributed to yidden. How many yidden live in Moore, OK? Its a town that almost no one knew about until yesterday!
It is a beautiful way to show our care to fellow Americans, but why give away the Kosher food??
Chabad to the rescue! Keep up the kiddush Hashem!
beautiful, mi k’amcha yisroel!!!!
Who cares that the food is kosher. There is an emergency. To the above: you mistake your own needs for the worlds ways and you do not understand that Hashem wants our people to contribute as best we can to helping others being jewish or a non-jew. So this is a blessing for Israel to help in any way it can and kosher food is edible food.
Probably “kosher style” meat. Makes no sense to send them real kosher if they also produce treif at the same plant. Unless they have such a surplus of kosher which I highly doubt is the case.
Reply to 1. How would it look to the world if it was said that the Jews gave their seconds to the Gentiles? Better give them kosher (maybe not glatt) and make a Kiddush Hashem!
Of course you would find people who would complain about this on VIN. Such special individuals.
Who needs anti Semites.
There’s yidden there in Moore Ok?
Hahaha, I laugh so hard at the beauty of this move by Agristar. Having a deep understanding of the meat business, this one is a grand slam. Bravo!! Bravo!! Finally someone at Agristar has his business figured out. It’s a brilliant move.
In a situation like this, it is best to send money. With money, the town can buy just what it needs. What are they supposed to do, have a barbecue?
So many ignorant people here. Maybe the owner is so pious and sincere, that in the event there is even one Jewish person in Moore, OK, he will take the financial hit and give only the kosher meat, to ensure he plays no role in a Jewish person eating treifos.
By sending clearly marked kosher meat these Jews are showing that they appreciate being American citizens and that they support their country like any other American citizen should and would.
of course they would send kosher. what if they sent treif and some non religious jews ate it? this way they know they have the jewish people that eat it following kashrus for the meat and those who are not jewish can eat it as well. nothing will happen. Kiddush Hashem AGRI!