The Hisorarus party in Yerushalayim released a report that points to a ongoing kashrus war in the capital. According to the report, 76 sample businesses were checked and most business owners were unwilling to say the mashgiach is doing his job. It should be pointed out that the Jerusalem Religious Council provides hashgacha for over 1,200 businesses, making it the largest hashgacha in the country.
Interestingly, since there are no chief rabbis of the capital, the teudot kashrus are signed by Chief Rabbi David Lau.
The party released its findings ahead of its kenos being held on Wednesday night, 19 Adar I 5774. Among the invited guests expected to attend are MK Elazar Stern and Rabbi Aryeh Stern, with the latter being the dati leumi tzibur’s candidate for Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim.
14% of the businesses polled report the mashgiach is a no-show. 25% report the mashgiach comes but does nothing; 41% report the mashgiach comes but only does a part of what he should while 29% report that mashgiach comes and does what he should.
Hisorarus is interested in taking on the Chief Rabbinate, seeking to end its monopoly on kashrus. The political party feels the nation is not interested in having the Chief Rabbinate of Israel serve as the kashrus regulator and the market should be open to the various hashgachos to permit stores to select without having to be compelled to take on Rabbanut hashgacha.
Hisorarus feels the rabbinate may continue overseeing the agencies towards ensuring basic kosher is maintained and that is all. The party feels there are too many stringencies and too many requirements that are a far cry from the basic level of kosher which is sufficient for the average person. The party also opposes the law that compels any business advertising as “kosher” to have a hashgacha from a local rabbinate.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
The Rabbinate does not have a monopoly. There are many kashrus organizations. Given the current climate, it is likely they will attempt to install a monopoly by banning non-zionist hecksherim.
akuperma, I think your slightly incorrect. In Israel, in order for you to say that you are kosher, you must have a teudah from the rabbinate.
akuperma: The rabbinate does have a monopoly. All “mehadrin” hashgacha (i.e. eida, belz, sheiris etc) can only be placed on a food item or restaurant after there is “basic” rabbanut hashgacha; you have to go through the rabbanut first.
That you make wild assumptions about virtually everything in order to wag your finger at “zionists” is stupifying.
Im sorry #1 but you are wrong, all businesses with a private hechsher must also have a rabanut hechsher. Please stop speaking to subjects that are beyond your purview since it is obvious you dont live in Eretz Yisroel, and it makes you sound silly.
It’s not a true monopoly because other certifying agencies can and do exist in Israel. True, you can’t legally call yourself ‘kosher’, if you are not certified by the Rabbanut, but that’s actually a good thing – it prevents illegitimate hechsherim (i.e. Reform./Conservative etc) from fooling the public.