UP FOR SALE IS A STATIONARY PAPER/RECEIPT OF THE FRANK COFFEE CHICORY FACTORY IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. BEAUTIFUL DESIGN.

YIDDISH.

This STATIONARY PAPER/RECEIPT GURANTEES THE PRODUCT IS 100% KOSHER.

12*18 cm approx.

Chicory - the coffee substitute that was a subject of controversy for many years. Chicory was presumed to be permissible until one of newspapers printed an anonymous report that the gentiles mix [forbidden] fat into it. Every once in a while the topic would be brought to the rabbis' attention. These disputes agitated the Jewish world, and most Jewish sages argued with each other, and the entire Diaspora was afire. [Refer to the fundamental articles by Rabbi Yechiel Goldhaber 'Polmus Kashrut HaChicoriah, ' Yeshurun, Volumes 19-20.]

In Kashoi there was also a factory for the production of coffee and chicory, which was under strict supervision. Kashoi's rabbi, Rabbi Moshe HaLevi Jungreis, supervised the kashrut of the ingredients and the production process. He gave them four conditions: 1) That there be a constant G-d fearing kashrut supervisor [mashgiach], 2) The mashgiach hold the keys to the factory, and he open and close the factory, 3) Purchase of the fat be done only by the mashgiach and 4) The factory be closed on Shabbat and Yom Tov.

Over the years, the factory was purchased by the Frank brothers and they held the franchise for producing coffee and chicory throughout the Austro-Hungarian empire. The (non-Jewish) factory owners requested that Rabbi Zalman Shpitzer give a certificate of kashrut to the factory in Kashoi as well. Rabbi Zalman indeed responded to their request and appointed his son-in-law Rabbi Shimon Sofer, Av Beit Din of Erlau and son of the author of Ktav Sofer to supervise the factory.

Apparently Mr. Frank did not want to fulfill all the conditions mentioned, and Rabbi Moshe began to suspect his deeds. His heart pounded with concern over the kashrut of the chicory. Rabbi Sofer turned to the country's rabbis to hear their opinion on the matter.

He stated as follows: "To the rabbis and righteous geonim who guard the boundaries, given that Rabbi Zalman Shpitzer decided to kosher the chicory factory in Kashoi, and I know that it is certainly produced with lard, as they did not want to accept the conditions I made with them. Even if they did accept them, I would still hesitate to give them a hechsher, given that the Frank company has other factories that are certainly not kosher, and they could easily take my certificate of kashrut and affix it to products that are not supervised. Many rabbis have aroused me to not stay silent on the matter, because silence would be considered acquiescence, and they explained that I would be among those who permit, and I have not said anything out of respect for the rabbi who permitted it. I thought in my heart that the rabbi who certified the kashrut would reconsider and reverse his decision.

However, although I waited, I saw that he still maintains his position and many are transgressing by consuming forbidden food. I therefore joined together with most of the G-d-fearing rabbis in our country and we forbade chicory made here in Kashoi at the Frank factory, and even their vessels are not kosher. Every Jew with a mind in his head and whose fear of Heaven has not been extinguished in his heart, should judge with his mind's eye all the aforementioned and not believe said rabbi.

Most of the country's rabbis did not get involved and did not express an opinion, and those few who did supported the mashgiach, and did not accept Rabbi Jungreis' objection. With the exception of one of the rabbinic leaders of Galicia, none other than Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, Av Beit Din of Shinova, author of Divrei Yechezkel.

Toward the end of the summer of 1889, the Av Beit Din of Shinowa accepted Rabbi Moshe Jungreis' appeal but was active as was his wont: to examine and investigate and determine the truth of the matter for himself. He turned to Rabbi Zalman and recommended to him that the two travel together to Kashoi, to examine the production process from up close. Rabbi Zalman accepted the recommendation. They visited the factory together and after their investigation and demands and face-to-face rebuke, Rabbi Yechezkel issued a proclamation forbidding it.

When he returned home on 20 Elul 1889, Rabbi Yechezkel published an announcement entitled "Removal of the Stumbling Block" in which he vehemently forbade chicory, and even added that anyone who has used it must kasher his dishes.

He reveals his main concerns in the proclamation: The factory owners stopped fulfilling the conditions of the city's rabbi. Not only that, but there is no supervision on the type of fat, and there is concern that the imported roots have already had fat poured on them before they reached Kashoi.

He continues, saying that one cannot rely on bittul b'shishim, and there is no place for leniency because food with no flavor is not considered, as it clearly has an explicit flavor.

This publication shocked the Jews of Galicia. Despite this firm opinion, the mashgiach continued to issue 'kosher' stamps on the merchandise that left the factory. [R' Y. Goldhaber planned to continue publishing his research, with respect to everything related to the attitude to the Av Beit Din of Shinowa's opinion, both among his family and among the Chassidim of Sanz, and in the meantime, has refrained from publishing it.]