The operation began with purchasing outdated meat imported from South America to the Port of Haifa. From there the meat was trucked legally to the town of Ramallah, which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority. Sometimes, the group received the meat as a donation from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

From there the meat was shipped to the Black Angus company in Atarot where it was repacked and given new production and expiration dates. It is also assumed that they used the packing tape, kosher stickers and holograms which were discovered in the facility.

Black Angus shipped the meat to 27 high end non-kosher restaurants, and it was assumed that it was sent also to kosher restaurants, although that is not completely clear. Presumably, the restaurants were offered a very low price for the meat, and so they bought it.

Roy Linger of the Ministry of Agriculture does not believe that the restaurants were innocent. He is convinced that there will be additional arrests based on those findings. There was paperwork accompanying these meat sales but there was none backing up the meat and veterinary inspection which are required. Restaurateurs should have refused the meat, which they did not.

Everyone is asking, “Where were the rabbis in all this?” Supposedly, the mashgichim and administrators of the various rabbinates across the country should have spotted this, which they did not; but the smugglers had used trucks with double walls to conceal their cargo. A month before, an astute mashgiach did spot a box of meat that was forged and the relevant authorities handled the case. Maybe this meat is from the same source, maybe not.

Unfortunately, this is not the only occurrence of meat smuggling.

Rafi Yochai, the one in charge for the Chief Rabbinate to deal with unaurthorized use of kosher claims and other forgeries, commented on Kol Chai Radio. He said that of all 27 restaurants listed among the papers seized, not a single one was kosher. No kosher restaurant, he said, received the non-kosher meat. And no meat was found with kosher tags, tapes or holograms.

The “cRc” Policy on Beer

All standard unflavored beers with no additives are acceptable, even without kosher certification. This applies to both American and imported beers, light, dark and non-alcoholic beers.

Flavored beer, including those flavored with spices, botanicals, or fruits, require hashgacha.

The following are exceptions:

(1) Many breweries produce specialty brews that have additives; please check the label and do not assume that all varieties are acceptable.

(2) Beers known to be produced at microbreweries, pub breweries, or craft breweries require certification.

(3) Milk stouts and other beers which contain lactose, require certification.

(4) Beers from Israel require certification to ensure that terumah, ma'aser, shemita, and related halachos, are observed.

“Star-K” Alert on Maryland Beers

The “Star-K” informs us that two large beer distribution companies in Baltimore and the surrounding areas are Jewish owned. As such, many brands of beer sold in the Baltimore area are chometz she’avar alav haPesach, and may not be purchased at this time. A complete list of the affected beers can be found at http://tinyurl.com/hj3f8v6. These companies are the exclusive distributors of these brands in the listed areas.

The distributors have informed the “Star-K” that the stock of beer that they owned over Pesach will not be depleted until sometime in July. A more precise date will be posted as soon as it becomes available. Please check the “Star-K” website after July 1st for an update. Until that time, these beers should not be purchased. If you have already purchased any of the listed beers since Pesach, please consult your rabbi for guidance.

The “Star-K” believes that all other brands of beers that are not included in the list do not pose a problem. Also, any beer (even the above mentioned brands) can be purchased at Kosher Bite located at 6309 Reisterstown Rd., since they are from before Pesach.

This information applies only to Maryland by county as specified in the list. The “Star-K” does not have any information about beers sold outside Maryland

See the “cRc” website for both recommended and not recommended beers. The recommended list contains hundreds of beers, bother kosher-certified and no certified. For further details about the use of animal products in all known beers and liquors, go to www.barnivore.com

The “cRc” List of NOT Recommended Beers:

21st Amendment Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Abita Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Allagash Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Barley John's Brew Pub - Assorted Varieties

Branchline Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Bud Light - Chelada

Bud Light - Lime

Bud Light Lime - Apple-Ahh-Rita

Bud Light Lime - Cran-Brrr-Rita

Bud Light Lime - Lemon-Ade-Rita

Bud Light Lime - Lime-A-Rita

Bud Light Lime - Mang-O-Rita

Bud Light Lime - Raz-Ber-Rita

Bud Light Lime - Straw-Ber-Rita

Budweiser - Chelada

Cape Ann Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Coast Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Dock Street Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Flying Dog Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Flying Fish Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Fordham Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Goose Island Beer Co. - Fulton Street Blend

Goose Island Beer Co. - Gillian

Goose Island Beer Co. - Halia

Goose Island Beer Co. - Juliet

Goose Island Beer Co. - Lolita

Goose Island Beer Co. - Madame Rose

Goose Island Beer Co. - Sofie

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Harpoon Brewery - Assorted Varieties

HenHouse Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Holy City Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Iron Springs Pub & Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Lift Bridge Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Mackeson - Triple Stout Milk Beer

Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Marston’s Beer Company - Assorted Varieties

Odell Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Oxbow Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Oyster House Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Port City Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Porterhouse Brewing Company - See The Porterhouse Brewing Company

Redhook Ale Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Rogue Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Shock Top - Assorted Varieties

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

Sixpoint Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Spring House Brewing Company-Assorted Varieties

Stewart's Brewing Co. - Assorted Varieties

The Porterhouse Brewing Company - Assorted Varieties

Upright Brewing - Assorted Varieties

Ventnor Brewery - Assorted Varieties

Victory Brewing - Assorted Varieties