Kof-K Kashrus Organization Releases Statement On Ben & Jerry’s Controversy

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TEANECK (VINnews) — In the wake of the controversial decision by Ben & Jerry’s to boycott and not sell their products to parts of Israel, many people have been calling on the Kof-K Kashrus Organization, who currently certifies Ben & Jerry’s, to pull their certification. This would serve as a statement of how the Jewish community feels about the decision, as well as harm sales for the company.

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On Monday, the Kof-K released a statement, saying that they will not be pulling their certification at this time, but will use its influence to ensure that this new policy from Ben & Jerry’s will never be implemented.

The full statement reads as follows.

“Although Ben and Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever announced that they will not be leaving Israel, the KOF-K is quite concerned about Ben & Jerry’s decision not to sell to Yehuda and Shomron as of January 1, 2023. Unilever has committed that the company will adhere to their contract. The KOF-K has been in contact with the Israeli Government and the Yesha Council to determine the most effective way to respond. Based on the advice of the Yesha council the KOFK will continue to fulfill its contractual obligations to Ben & Jerry’s while using its influence to make sure that this anti-Israel policy never becomes implemented. The KOF-K has expressed to Unilever and Ben and Jerry’s CEOs the negative repercussions of this policy.

We encourage everyone to advocate on behalf of Israel. Please address your concerns about this policy directly to Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s. This is a highly volatile situation and the KOF-K remains in contact with the Israeli Government and the Yesha Council as the most prudent way to make sure the policy never becomes implemented.”


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53 Comments
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Abba
Abba
2 years ago

I agree- pulling the hechsher make Kosher certs political.

They need to stay Apolitical.

Anonymous
Anonymous
2 years ago

Let Unilever continue to pay for the Chof K certification thus ensuring that Yidden get paid. However, the rest of us will continue to boycott the product. Screwing both Unilever and Ben and Jerry’s.

don arye
don arye
2 years ago

I’m not interested in seeing that the policy is not implemented. I’m interested in seeing to it that b&j is no longer sold in israel and no jew around the world ever buys that ice cream.
It is obvious that the money is of more importance to the kof kay. than standing up for israel.

YITZCHOKLEVI
YITZCHOKLEVI
2 years ago

What a cop out. They will try to see that it will not be implemented? This will not be accomplished. Are they going to be able to change their decision to change vendors in Israel, because he refused to join their boycott?
The kof k is biding their time. What will they do if & when the boycott goes into effect. I suspect that they will give some kind of b.s. explanation about “contractual obligations.
They are after all yiden first and their first “obligation is to support their brothers.

huh
huh
2 years ago

$$$$$ $$$ $$$$ $$$$$ $$, yes that explains this interesting statement, what should the gentiles say?

Rod Kanehl
Rod Kanehl
2 years ago

KofK kashering anti -Semites ? what a parve press release.

Yankel
Yankel
2 years ago

The KA- Kosher Authority of NSW, Australia under Rav Moshe Gutnick have pulled their hechsher from Ben & Jerry products.

Lo Soguru
Lo Soguru
2 years ago

The WOKE companies in the USA boycott , fire , censor individuals and other companies with whom they disagree , despite financial loss. Yet here a kashrus outfit won’t stand with Israel and the Jewish people because of possible financial considerations.
What message is KOF-K sending ?
I refuse to buy KOF-K . A small sacrifice for my people.

Fulton Ferry
Fulton Ferry
2 years ago

Reads like CK lawyers cobbled together a piece of literature that says nothing. What a disappointment. Finally , Jewish people and businesses are fighting strong against BDS all over the world and CK is not. That’s the message.

Mendel
Mendel
2 years ago

All the supermarkets can have the same excuse and CK!!

Dear CK,

The boycott is not just about them implementing this or that. It’s more important for other companies to see what will happen to them if they go down the same road B&J is going.

Many haters are watching. If B&J get’s hit really hard they won’t go that route. It would be the right thing for you to stand will Klal Yisroel at this important juncture.

Do the Right thing.

Mendel

solomon b
solomon b
2 years ago

Your response is about what I suspected when I urged you to pull your certification. Couch it as you please but your decision is based upon your bottom line (IE $$). IMHO your decision is reprehensible. You had a chance to stand strong on principal with your fellow Jew at a time when we are being attacked from all sides, instead, you stood with your hand in your pocket. For Shame.

shmuel ben KARL32
shmuel ben KARL32
2 years ago

did i mention $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ rules over all..

Jews4Kosher
Jews4Kosher
2 years ago

If they pull their hechsher, it might let ch’v to yidden not realizing and eating treif. Although it might be a good policy to not give a hechsher to any BDS company, pulling a hechsher from a company that has a kosher reputation would be a terrible michshal. In the case of Ben and Jerry’s, it would not be prudent (from a kashrus perspective) to withdraw a hechsher.

C L
C L
2 years ago

lol they just got themselves a billion Muslim customers.

Nachman ben feiga
Nachman ben feiga
2 years ago

lol I came here just for the comments after reading the title there is always juicy stuff in this section who agrees?

Hezy
Hezy
2 years ago

Money talks and loving your fellow Jew walks

Not Surprised
Not Surprised
2 years ago

I, along with my siblings’ families have all dumped our Unilever stock. I hope you will all join us.

Just2Truth
Just2Truth
2 years ago

What a disappointment. Wish Klal Yisroel had one less emergency ice cream to choose from.

triumphinwhitehouse
triumphinwhitehouse
2 years ago

i agree with then, this is what the liberals wanted to do when they boycotted Rubashkin for hiring those imbecile illegal aliens.

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
2 years ago

So many people with BIIIIG mouths and small hands with even smaller wallets. SHAME ON YOU ALL! YOU DONT CARE ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE’S PARNOSA! You are NO different than those leftist b’haymos who burn down cities and wreak havoc in the name of “justice,” while always hurting the ones they are “trying to protect” the most.

This is a contractual issue which BJ would have the right to turn around and sue about. I am sure the leftist mamzeyrim at BJ would LOVE this to happen. Will you defend the kashrus agency as they incur thousands of dollars in legal fees? Im sure not.

Time for all of you to go back and care only about your dalad amos. There is soooooo much going on here that isnt being said.

C L
C L
2 years ago

If Ben and Jerry’s is forced to cave, it will show yet again, the power of the ZIonist lobby, that’s all it will show. It will not dissuade BDS, just motivate them to fight harder. The zionists have been fighting “anti-semitism” for 70 years and it’s worse now than ever before and getting yet worse by the day.
Maybe it’s time we stop following the pied piper of zionism to ruin and revisit what our Gedolim said about zionism all these years ago.

Iyar5
Iyar5
2 years ago

Kof-K is now no longer a reliable Hechsher, and we should>>>shall use other Hechsherim going forward:- Mr. Yehudah Rosenbaum should go & spend sometime visiting gas chambers in Europe, and see his true friends in Europe who did & still support gas chambers.

hashomer
hashomer
2 years ago

Not sure what the big deal is. They want to stop selling in the occupied territories and the Israeli distributed does not want to comply? Does anybody have an issue with their position? International law says Israel doesn’t belong there..