By Jonathan Cronin
Religious leaders at Kneseth Israel, known as the "White Shul," located just over the county line in Far Rockaway, held an emergency meeting of congregation members on Thursday night, September 21, to address concerns about the merger of two influential Jewish organizations.
With the Jewish High Holy Days around the corner, the leaders of the congregation wanted to quell concerns that had been spreading since the recent merger of the Vaad of the Five Towns and the Vaad of Far Rockaway, which became official on September 1.
The Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns, a board consisting of 10 Rabbis, oversees local establishments to certify their adherence to the Jewish dietary laws; closely supervising the buying of ingredients and preparation of food to ensure that all is kosher. Many stores in the Five Towns where food is sold come under the kosher supervision of the Vaad in order to cater to the large Orthodox Jewish population living here.
At a meeting set to allay community fears about the merger, members of the press were barred from the meeting, which was held at the Far Rockaway congregation. Congregation President Noah Fleschner, after speaking with congregation members, asked them to vote, by standing up, on whether they believed the press should be present. A man stood and suggested that if the members of the press would like to stay they should pay dues and join the congregation.
Members of the congregation applauded after about 60 percent of the 300-member audience voted for the press to leave, citing that the meeting was not open to the public.
"I was prepared to answer any question tonight except what to do with the press," said Mr. Fleschner.
Barbara Bernstein, a spokesperson for the Nassau County Civil Liberties Union, said the congregation did indeed have the right to ask the press to leave because a synagogue is private property, not public.
After the meeting, Mr. Fleschner spoke to the press and admitted that there were people who were not congregation members and who were present at the meeting. He said the meeting was intended only for congregation members because a mailing went out only to them. The emergency session was held "to inform the congregation as to the latest developments of the merged Vaad," he said.
More than 30 years ago the Five Towns Vaad was created and the two Vaads have always functioned independently. He said the Rabbis of the Vaad have met and decided the Vaads should become one, which initially sparked concern among some residents and storekeepers.
Mr. Fleschner said the meeting was necessary because there were many rumors floating around on the streets about the merger which weren't true. The major point they tried to get across, he said, was that there is no major change in the rules of operation.
This new Vaad, called the Vaad of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, is headed by Rabbi Yosef Eisen, and the board president, a paid employee, is Steve Stavisky.
Most kosher establishments in the Five Towns, when asked about their reaction to the merger, refused to comment. Some storekeepers said they did not want this issue in the papers; others said the merger is positive and media attention may spread more rumor. Still other merchants said though they disagree with the decision to merge, they do not want any attention.
One Cedarhurst shop owner, who did not wish to be identified, said, "Nobody is happy about it. [The new Vaad] is a lot stricter with everything. I don't know where to begin."
Simon Scharpira, the owner of Moishes Bake Shop, located at 536 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst, said, "I didn't have a problem with them before and I don't have a problem with them now either."
An owner of the Cedar Club, located at 564 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst, said the new Vaad is a little stricter and "many stores feel that before [the Vaad] was adequate enough."
His belief is that the merger took place because many Far Rockaway residents who are Orthodox are patrons of Five Towns stores but, he added, "I don't think many of the stores will see people from Far Rockaway."
The owner said, "It was a well-respected Vaad before....Nobody had taken to using improper foods. I am only here four years. The Vaad was doing a very sufficient job and in my opinion there was no need for a merger."
He also said there is a full-time Rabbinical supervisor in his kitchen who the Vaad has recommended he pay $13 to $15 an hour. "It's costing me a lot," he said.
