Jewish dollars help Agri workers

By · July 14, 2008

A New Jersey-based Jewish charity helped provide for families affected by the raid on Agriprocessors.

The Good People Fund, in cooperation with Temple Israel-Ner Tamid and Gleaner’s Food Bank, both of Ohio, delivered 24 pallets of food and humanitarian relief – enough to fill a 53-foot truck – to a food pantry in Postville, Iowa.

Nearly 400 workers were arrested in a May 12 raid in Postville on the country’s largest kosher meat producer, leaving many families without income and dependent on outside assistance to meet their basic needs.

“The undocumented workers arrested during the raid included mothers and fathers who were later released on humanitarian grounds to care for small children,” said Naomi Eisenberger, the fund’s executive director. “But these people cannot work and have no way to pay rent or put food on their tables.

“Since Agriprocessors is the largest kosher slaughterhouse in the country, we felt it was particularly appropriate for the Jewish community to step in and help.”