August 2, 2000

ORTHODOX UNION DISAPPOINTED IN COURT RULING
STRIKING NEW YORK'S "KOSHER LAWS"

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America - through
its Institute for Public Affairs - expressed its disappointment with the
ruling of a federal district judge in Brooklyn finding New York State's
kosher food consumer protection laws unconstitutional.

Judge Nina Gershon held that the laws, designed to protect New Yorkers
who seek to purchase kosher food products from fraud, were a violation
of the Constitution's Establishment Clause since they empowered the
state to interpret and enforce religious strictures.

IPA director, Nathan Diament, issued the following statement in the wake
of the court ruling:

The Orthodox Union is disappointed with Judge Gershon's ruling against
New York's kosher consumer protection laws.  These laws are not, as she
has asserted, designed to further or endorse religion, they are designed
to protect New Yorkers who seek to purchase kosher food - often priced
at a premium - from fraud.  This is something that all consumers are
entitled to have the state protect them from.  We anticipate an appeal
of this ruling and hope for a positive ruling from the Second Circuit.

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