A new era began this past week in the historic kashrus certifying partnership between the Rabbinical Council of America and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, organizations that together are responsible for the venerable Orthodox Union OU kashrus symbol.
The chairman of the Rabbinic Kashrus Commission (RKC), Rabbi Emanuel Holzer, stepped down after decades of distinguished service in the advancement of communal kashrus. Rabbi Holzer had been involved in the growth of OU kashrus since its inception, and as such had been intimately involved in the enormous growth of corporate kashrus production under OU auspices. His successor as chairman of the RKC is Rabbi Kenneth Auman, a past president of the Rabbinical Council of America, with extensive experience in community kashrus affairs.
The Rabbinic Kashrus Committee, together with the Joint Kashrus Committee (JKC) constitutes the joint RCA/OU kashrus partnership. In the words of Rabbi Dale Polakoff, President of the Rabbinical Council of America, “The RCA is excited at the prospect of further enhancement of our strategic partnership with the Orthodox Union in providing services to kosher consumers around the world, at a time when there is more interest and demand than ever for kosher products and services, utilizing fully knowledgeable rabbis, experienced lay communal leaders, dynamic technologies, and eager food companies. A new age in communal kashrus supervision is in the offing.”