Cedarhurst, NY - Vaad Hakashrus Pulls Kosher Supervision from Gourmet Glatt

Cedarhurst, NY - Controversy over Gourmet Glatt Emporium, a popular kosher supermarket in Cedarhurst, grew with the decision of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway to withdraw its kosher supervision.
The Vaad had said earlier that Gourmet Glatt had until Feb. 1 to sell its business or lose the Vaad’s supervision.

“I feel totally drained from this fiasco,” said Mark Bolender, a partner in the supermarket. “I gave my life and soul to this community and I hope the community does not turn its back on me.”
Bolender, who added a second kosher supervisor just a week ago, continued to insist this week that the Vaad’s action stemmed strictly from a “personality” conflict.
“There were no kashrus issues whatsoever,” he said.

But in a “message to the community,” the Vaad said it acted after Gourmet Glatt hired the second kosher supervisor, Rabbi Yehuda Kravitz, in “violation of its contract and policies with the Vaad.” In addition, it said Gourmet Glatt had “serious halachic and contractual violations over time” and that it was unable to get the owners to correct them.
Bolender said “I respect the Vaad of the Five Towns,” adding that he hired Rabbi Kravitz only “to protect my investment.”
Bolender noted that his recently expanded supermarket has been in the Five Towns about 30 years and was one of the first to sign on with the Vaad.

A number of people were critical of the Vaad, with one saying that though the Vaad must be supported and every eatery held to the same standards, the Vaad “is being somewhat vague — perhaps suspiciously vague — on the actual reasoning behind their decision.