http://www.aztlan.net/koshernostra.htm

....What we learned next, pretty much floored me personally. I learned that major food companies throughout America actually pay a Jewish Tax amounting to hundreds of million of dollars per year in order to receive protection. This hidden tax gets passed, of course, to all non-Jewish consumers of the products. The scam is to coerce the companies to pay up or suffer the consequences of a Jewish boycott. Jewish consumers have learned not to buy any kitchen product that does not have the (U) the (K) and other similar markings.

Another shocker was learning who is actually behind these sophisticated "Kosher Nostra Scams." It turns out that the perpetrators of these elaborate extortion schemes are actually Rabbinical Councils that are set up, not just in the U.S. but in other western countries as well. For example, the largest payola operation in the U.S. is run by those who license the (U) symbol. The (U) symbol provides protection for many products sold here in Aztlan and in the United States. This symbol is managed by the The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations with headquarters at 333 Seventh Avenue in New York City.

The scam works like a well oiled machine and is now generating vast amounts of funds, some of which are being utilized by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis to support the Ariel Sharon Zionist government in Israel. The website of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations is full of pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian propaganda.
For full story - http://www.aztlan.net/koshernostra.htm

Are you another one of these anti-Jew nuts that appears on this board periodically?

No, he's just a regular, run-of-the-mill nut who believes any crazy conspiracy theory he sees on the Internet.

Not a regular, more like a 38 long, size 11 hat.

Have to admit. It does seem rather odd, though. Why is it on so many non-edible products? Why would Cascade need to be marked "Kosher"? And sure it's a not-for-profit organization, but I'll never recieve any of the services it provides...
BTW I'm not anti-semetic... I love Whoopi Goldburg!

(In response to Avatar's question):

Kosher applies to anything that would come in contact with the food. For example, a knife used on meat could not then be used on cheese, under any circumstances, cleaned or not. (One of the rules is that dairy and meat can never come in contact with one another, and cannot be eaten together... you must wait 6 hours between). Untensils must be kept seperate, and anything that could be injested or come in any contact with the mouth or food products (possible residues from dish soaps like Cascade for example) needs to follow the dietary guidelines.

Also to know, that claim of a 'scam' is the biggest load of bullshit I've ever seen in my life. This 'tax' to recieve 'protection' is actually part of the cost that is required in order to have a) facilities which do indeed keep foods and products 'kosher' [it can be expensive, seperate kitchens for certain foods etc] b) it also pays the salary of the people who inspect the factories, kitichens, test facilities etc. to ensure they are indeed following the kosher guidelines. Of course the costs for these guidelines to be followed is passed along to consumers, but hell, we also pay for the C.E.O.s of these companies 4 star hotels, their meals, their children's education, a number of things we don't know we pay for.

To pick the cost of maintaining a kosher environment and label it a 'scam' is just another attempt to try to spread bigotry through being uninformed, and providing false information. Disgusting.

Ya, the cost to consumers averages out to $.00000065 per item. Ok, why Laundry detergent then? I just want to be teached... please edjumacate me ;)

To be quite honest, a variety of products are labeled as 'Kosher' when indeed, there is no need for them to be. Companies often don't understand kosher laws, and will throw the (k) on whatever they produce, even if it doesn't -need- to be kosher (in fact I'm trying to even think how laundry detergent could be considered kosher, and I'm not reaching any conclusions unless some people have some very strange dietary habits).

Large companies will pay a set amount to have an inspector come in and verify that they are producing their food products to conform with Kosher dietary restrictions. By having this certification, they can then place one of the many symbols (there are a number of them... everything from (k) to (10) to symbols you'd probably have no clue what they were) on the products... But companies go overboard, and slap the label on many different products that don't require it... ie: aluminum foil, laundry detergent, etc. If you looked in your pantry at the moment, you'd probably find a number of products you had no clue were kosher, that are certified as such.

Throwing that symbol on products is most likely an uninformed decision, sort of a 'just in case' action. It doesn't need to be there, and really doesn't signify anything aside from "this product doesn't conflict with Kosher dietary guidelines", despite the fact it DOES conflict with normal dietary guidelines, such as not eating your laundry soap.

;)

Originally posted by Age
(In response to Avatar's question):

(One of the rules is that dairy and meat can never come in contact with one another, and cannot be eaten together... you must wait 6 hours between).

Where does milk come from, I always thought it to be from a cow which is meat ;) Kind of like telling some one that they can't have steak but they can eat all the burger they want :)

I just checked the site. Looks rather antisemitic - it evens talks about the protocol of the elders of Zion, one of the most shameful antisemitic forgeries of all times.

ya I noticed that too, but I don't dismiss things that easily... If something does seem fishy to me (like the kosher laundry detergent) I try to find out as much about it as I can ;) and Age's explaination just doesn't seem like enough for me... Sorry Age but I'm going to have to consult the Oracle on this one.

OK, tell us what the Oracle says…

Originally posted by mad dog
Where does milk come from, I always thought it to be from a cow which is meat ;) Kind of like telling some one that they can't have steak but they can eat all the burger they want :)

Er, sorry, let me clarify... Meat and dairy cannot come in contact with each other after the meat has been slaughtered and blessed.

Though I'd like to see a cow with a Kosher symbol branded on it's hip. :D

Originally posted by aVaTaR
ya I noticed that too, but I don't dismiss things that easily... If something does seem fishy to me (like the kosher laundry detergent) I try to find out as much about it as I can ;) and Age's explaination just doesn't seem like enough for me... Sorry Age but I'm going to have to consult the Oracle on this one.

*grins* Don't be sorry, but the bottom line from me on the laundry detergent is:

"Throwing that symbol on products is most likely an uninformed decision, sort of a 'just in case' action.It doesn't need to be there, and really doesn't signify anything aside from "this product doesn't conflict with Kosher dietary guidelines", despite the fact it DOES conflict with normal dietary guidelines, such as not eating your laundry soap."

Good responses Age, I learned something from this thread.

Oh, ok... sorry for the delay. The oracle said "little kids suck on their shirts... maybe that's why" (I never said she was a good oracle...)