The Chief Rabbinate of Israel this week came out against what is called in Israel Sylvester parties, aka Gregorian New Year’s parties. The rabbonim did not ban the events, but did explain that hotels and restaurants with kashrus supervision may not advertise them as “kosher” since mashgichim will not be present to supervise the events.
The Chief Rabbinate seeks to draw from the realities of shabbos, explaining that a restaurant that operates on shabbos cannot receive a hashgacha since a mashgiach is not present. It feels the same holds true with New Year’s parties.
One must understand that in line with the state’s kosher law, the Chief Rabbinate may not take the venue or other factors under consideration when granting a hechsher; only the food, its storage, preparation, service and storage. Therefore, by right, the Chief Rabbinate cannot disqualify New Year’s parties but the rabbonim feel that drawing on the shabbos model, they have a right to act as they have since they cannot ask or order a mashgiach to be present at such an event.
The Chief Rabbinate says any establishment that does not comply may lose its kashrus supervision.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
While in the Anglo-American tradition, January 1 is a purely secular holiday – in many other Christian traditions it is a religious holiday (in part, being the eighth day after the birthday of someone born on Dec. 25). However it is an interesting question whether a restaurant can be banned from having a hecksher if it attracts customers who do avodah zarah.