Ben & Jerry’s Politically Incorrect!

Vermont-based Ben & Jerry’s announced with pride on Monday that the company had decided to actively discriminate against all residents of Judea and Samaria, Israel! Their products will no longer be available to not only Judeans and Samaritans, but also to Arabs who live in those areas (which were liberated from illegal Jordanian occupation in 1967).

Israel is the only nation in the Middle East where Arabs, Jews, Druze, Christians, and Bahai faiths all have equal rights. Arabs hold seats on the nation’s Supreme Court, in the Knesset (Parliament), in every level of government, and even hold high rank in the national military (IDF). For Ben & Jerry’s/Unilever to accuse Israel of committing apartheid is ludicrous. As recording artist Ari Lesser has said, those who make such claims apparently have no idea what apartheid was. [1]

Kof-K had considered rescinding their kashrut license from Unilever, the parent company for Ben & Jerry’s, as a result of their antisemitic politics, but instead issued the following statement: [2]

Although Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever announced they will not be leaving Israel, the KOF-K is quite concerned about Ben & Jerry’s decision not to sell to Yehuda and Shomron as of January 1, 2023. Unilever has committed that the company will adhere to their contract. The KOF-F has been in contact with the Israeli Government and the Yesha Council to determine the most effective way to respond.

Based on the advice of the Yesha Council, the KOF-K will continue to fulfill its contractual obligations to Ben & Jerry’s while using its influence to make sure that this anti-Israel policy never becomes implemented. The KOF-K has expressed to Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s CEOs the negative repercussions of this policy.

We encourage everyone to advocate on behalf of Israel. Please address your concerns about this policy directly to Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s. This is a highly volatile situation and the KOF-K remains in contact with the Israeli Government and the Yesha Council as the most prudent way to make sure the policy never becomes implemented.

Thank you.
KOF-K Supervision
Rabbi Yehuda Rosenbaum
Administrative Director

Please join us in BOYCOTTING this antisemitic company!

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsOH2Y_CZE0

2. https://www.jewishpress.com/news/us-news/kof-k-announces-not-withdrawing-its-ben-jerrys-certification-but-does-it-while-singing-hatikvah/2021/07/27/