MK Uri Maklev explains the recent session of the Knesset Finance Committee addressing the cost of kashrus on products was not conducted out of genuine concern but rather out of disdain for the kosher consumer and kashrus in general. Maklev refers to those who feel blaming kashrus for high food prices, but they prefer to ignore all of the other factors. “It seems as if we have discussed all business expenses and the reasons for the high costs, and therefore, all that remains is the kashrus” he explained, adding “It reminds me of a captain who saw that the load on his vessel was too great so he decided to throw his tallis and tefilin overboard to lighten the ship’s load”.

Maklev responded angrily to the session which was entitled “the cost of kashrus to the economy”. It was during that session MK (Yesh Atid) Elazar Stern tried to present the matter of kashrus as an economic component rather than a fundamental value for the majority of the nation’s consumers at a time the treasury reports 75% of the nation is interested in buying kosher. According to Maklev, the MKs presented a distorted picture of the data and exhibited disrespect for kashrus requirements and they are calling for removing the monopoly held by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Stern opened the meeting explaining the tzibur is fed up with the religion and state issues, and now it is aware that the government is not going to do what it must so others are acting. He said the kashrus industry is rampant with corruption, and the Chief Rabbinate maintains its monopoly and is funded to the tune of NIS 600 million annually. “Kashrus has turned everything into a Chilul Hashem instead of a Kiddush Hashem” he added.

Nachlaot resident Rabbi Aharon Leibowitz who launched “Hashgacha Pratit” to circumvent the Chief Rabbinate, blamed the cost of kashrus for the high prices in the marketplace. He too was attending the session. He said his hashgacha is proof there is another way, that it does not have to be expensive.

Maklev insists some of his colleagues are not driven by costs but their disdain for kashrus and the kosher consumer. He questions why many complain that the Chief Rabbinate has a monopoly on kashrus while the various government ministries have a monopoly on their areas of responsibility too, insisting this is simply an opportunity to attack kashrus and the system that provides it. He warned that some of those involved in so-called “kashrus alternatives” are operating illegally, and while all they are asking is “how much does the kashrus cost” they fail to ask “How much more profit results from the kashrus supervision” because despite their objections the kosher market continues to grow.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)