Summary

STORY ABOUT A RABBI WHO WAS INJURED WHEN ANOTHER RABBI ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIM WITH A HARPOON LIKE INSTRUMENT USED TO KILL CATTLE AT A MEAT PACKING PLANT. SAMUEL EIDELMAN 24 OF UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS IS IN FAIR CONDITION WITH A WOUND IN THE ABDOMEN. ACCORDING TO POLICE THE INSTRUMENT WHICH SHOOTS A 4 INCH RETRACTABLE ROD DISCHARGED AS RABBI AVROHOM GREENBERG 31 ALSO OF UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS WAS TRYING TO UNJAM IT. IT WENT OFF HITTING EIDELMAN JUST ABOVE THE BELT. THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHY THE RABBIS WERE EVEN HANDLING THE INSTRUMENT. GREENBERG HAD APPARENTLY TOLD POLICE THAT EIDELMAN WAS USING THE DEVICE TO KILL CATTLE WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEVICE IS PLACED AT THE BACK OF THE ANIMAL'S HEAD AND FIRED. HOWEVER USE OF THE DEVICE BY THE RABBIS WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF JEWISH KOSHER LAWS. THOSE LAWS SPECIFY THAT FOR MEAT TO BE CONSIDERED KOSHER THE ANIMAL MUST BE KILLED BY SLICING THE JUGULAR VEIN WITH A SPECIAL TWO-FOOT RAZOR SHARP KNIFE. RABBI JOSEPH BROOK KOSHER ADMINISTRATOR WITH BETHDIN OF CROWN HEIGHTS IN BROOKLYN SAID THE TWO MEN WERE PROBABLY PLAYING WITH THE DEVICE. THE GROUP SUPPLIES SIX RABBIS WHO SPEND NINE HOURS A DAY THREE DAYS A WEEK AT THE SANDUSKY PLANT OVERSEEING THE KOSHER PROCESS. SO FAR NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED IN THE CASE. THE PLANT SLAUGHTERS 800 TO 1 000 CATTLE A WEEK FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN. LESS THAN HALF IS USED FOR KOSHER PRODUCTS.