Who Knows If Kosher Means Kosher

 

A Staten Island rabbi has been granting his kosher certification to city Dunkin' Donuts franchises that have served bacon, ham, and sausage.  

 

''The meats all come prepackaged,'' says the rabbi. ''The employees have to wear gloves. I do not condone mixing kosher with nonkosher.''   

In Manhattan, the same rabbi has also given his ner tamid K stamp to Pongal Vegetarian, an Indian restaurant that operates during the Shabbas, another no-no among Jews.   

 

A spokesmen for the four top kosher-certifying agencies said they would never approve a restaurant that served nonkosher meats or operated on the Shabbas.   

 

But the rabbi insists his methods are 100 percent kosher. ''I know a lot of people with beards who go into my stores,'' he says.</p>