By Rabbi Moshe Kletenik, Va’ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle
This Shabbat we will to begin to read and study the Book of Shemot. It is the book of slavery and of redemption, of Torah and of Mishkan — the beginning of Peoplehood.
The Midrash attributes our redemption from bondage to our merit of maintaining a unique Jewish identity and morality within the alien pagan society of Egypt. The objective of redemption was to receive the Torah through which we could become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Becoming a kingdom of priests and a holy nation is no small task. Our Torah and Mitzvot are our practical blueprint and framework for achieving our collective holiness. For Jews, holiness is a communal endeavor. The intricacies of halachah demand training and expertise in many areas. It truly does require a communal effort to support halachic observance for each of us.
Here is an overview of particulars of some of the services of the Va’ad of Seattle that are central contributors to maintaining our unique Jewish identity.
- Kashrut — The Va’ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle is a local and regional kosher supervision agency that enjoys a professional relationship with the Kashrus Division of the Orthodox Union, the largest and most recognized kashrut supervising agency in the world. The Va’ad supervises industrial plants that market their products regionally, nationally, and, in some cases, internationally. Additionally, as most of you know, the Va’ad supervises kashrut for local restaurants, caterers and Seattle-area Jewish institutions. Local supervision is done as a community service. We sometimes break even, though at times the Va’ad actually ends up providing its services at a loss.
- Beit Din — The court of the Va’ad provides services recognized throughout the world. Although dina d’malchuta dina — the law of the land is the law — means as Jews we are required to abide by the laws of the area in which we reside, Jewish law does stipulate that monetary disputes among fellow Jews should be adjudicated in a Beit Din, a Jewish court, and not in a secular court. The Beit Din of the Va’ad provides both mediation to resolve disputes or binding arbitration with a hearing by a panel of judges: Our rabbis. Decisions made by the Beit Din with binding arbitration are generally accepted and enforced by the secular courts in monetary cases. The costs of this service are incidental compared to the costs of litigating a case in secular court.
- Divorce — The Va’ad arranges Jewish divorces, the get, here in the Pacific Northwest for couples. The Va’ad also works with religious courts nationally and internationally to obtain and execute the religious divorce if one of the parties resides elsewhere.
- Conversion — The Beit Din of the Va’ad is part of the national Network of Regional Batei Din, Jewish courts, for conversion under the auspices of the Rabbinical Council of America. As such, conversions performed by the Va’ad are recognized nationally and internationally, including by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
- Collectors of Tzedakah — The Va’ad scrutinizes credentials and letters of recommendation of individuals from outside the Seattle area soliciting charitable funds for institutions and other needs. The Va’ad participates, as well, in a national database that shares information among organizations in Jewish communities throughout the United States that oversee tzedakah collection.
- Proof of Jewish Status — The Va’ad provides letters attesting to Jewish status of individuals that are recognized nationally and internationally, including by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
- Halachic Resource — The Va’ad serves as a resource to respond to inquiries of Jewish law in the area of Jewish medical ethics, business ethics, Jewish law and technology, and other areas of halachah.
- Education — The Va’ad provides lectures and educational offerings concerning kashrut, Jewish medical ethics, and other areas of Jewish interest.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my esteemed rabbinic colleagues: Rabbi Simon Benzaquen, Rabbi Mordechai Farkash, Rabbi Ben Hassan, Rabbi Yecheskel Kornfeld, Rabbi Shalom Ber Levitin, Rabbi Solomon Maimon, and Rabbi Ron-Ami Meyers. It is a privilege to work together with them on behalf of the community. I would also like to thank the Jewish community for support of our efforts. I invite you to share any suggestions you may have as to how the Va’ad can better serve your needs by contacting me at [email protected].
Rabbi Kletenik is Av Beit Din of the Va’ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle.