The July 30th Boston Globe reported on a new initiative from the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). Hekhsher Tzedek is a food product certification program that is being developed in partnership with KLD. Certification “indicates that a kosher product was made in compliance with a set of social justice criteria, in keeping with the teachings of the Jewish faith,” as explained by working guidelines listed at the USCJ website.

Reports of abusive labor practices at a large kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa helped inspire the new certification program. In a release from Hekhsher Tzedek, founder and director Rabbi Morris Allen explains:

“Hekhsher Tzedek is a holistic celebration of Jewish tradition, uniting ethical practice with ritual observance in the production of Jewish food. Jewish law is concerned not only about the smoothness of a cow’s lung, but also about the safety of a worker’s hand as well as the impact that kosher food production has on the environment. Hekhsher Tzedek grows out of Jewish tradition; it does not seek to redefine kashrut [the body of Jewish law that involves food] as much as enhance it.”

“KLD is very excited to play a part in the Hekhsher Tzedek initiative,” said Michelle Lapolla, Managing Director of KLD Consulting. “The project draws on KLD’s extensive experience in rating companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, and provides guidance for both producers and consumers.”

For more information, including a pdf of KLD’s guideline working document, visit the USCJ website.

Also see the July 30th Boston Globe article and a July 28thNew York Times story on a protest at the Iowa processing plant.