The debate over whether kosher laws are kosher in some states

ATLANTA — Rabbi Mark Zimmerman is the twelfth in a line of rabbis that dates back centuries. He has led a suburban Atlanta synagogue for 21 years. He considers himself well-versed in the intricacies of Judaism's dietary laws.
Still, due to a Georgia law that kosher food meet "Orthodox Hebrew religious rules," the rabbi from the Conservative Jewish movement does not have the authority to certify kosher restaurants.
Georgia is the latest front in the debate over whether kosher laws are kosher after Zimmerman and other rabbis, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, challenged the law. Similar rules have been struck down in at least two other states, and attorneys say five others could be targeted: Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin.
"You can't have the government of the U.S. or the government of the state of Georgia determining which branch of Judaism is authoritative," said Zimmerman.
The rabbi and his allies, all members of the Conservative stream of Judaism, say the law should be overturned because not all Jews are Orthodox — the most traditional interpretation of Jewish teaching. The state, they contend, breaches the First Amendment when it favors one religious group over another. APP (click HERE for the rest)