Tiveria Mayor Ron Kobi is going head-to-head with the city’s Rabbinate, seeking to challenge the local Rabbinate’s monopoly, working to permit the city’s many hotels to accept kashrus supervision from Tzohar Rabbonim if they so choose. This would have a major impact on chareidi tourism to the Tiveria, which by and large is less than likely to rely on Tzohar’s kashrus.
According to the Yediot Achronot report, Kobi has instructed his staff to contact Tzohar Rabbonim towards moving the hotels to its kashrus towards ousting the local Rabbinate, which has furnished kashrus services to the hotels to date. Mayor Kobi then hopes to expand Tzohar’s services in the city, to permit giving kashrus to private business in stage two, and then introducing Tzohar Rabbonim to handle marriage service too, for those wishing to avoid dealing with the Rabbanut.
Kobi is quoted explaining, “From my discussions with hotels and local businesses, I realize there is room for standardization in the city’s kashrus, and we have decided to also permit Tzohar Rabbonim to enter and to provide its kashrus services in Tiveria providing it is compatible with that of the State of Israel. We want to bring in a body that knows how to inspect and supervise properly, without draconian decrees imposed on hoteliers and business owners beyond the official requirements of the Rabbinate.”
According to the Yediot report, Ron Kobi charges the religious council member of his faction, Rabbi Moshe Krauthammer, to conduct the talks with Tzohar Rabbonim, with both insisting the mayor is not motivated by anti-religious bios as some accuse. In the past, Krauthammer served as head of the city’s chevra kadisha, deputy director of the local religious council, and principal of the local religious public school.
In a conversation with Yediot, Krauthammer explains that “the hotels in Tiveria employ hundreds of mashgichim who belong to the local rabbinate, and the hotels also spend a lot of money on private supervision.
“The main problem is that the local rabbinate provides kashrut certificates, and with this comes a list of stringencies which has no connection to the decisions of the Chief Rabbinate Council vis-à-vis kashrus, and thus, in the ‘Salami system’, each and every attempt is made to become more stringent with hotels and private businesses. Our motto is to allow every business owner to act according to his will and according to the kashrus provided by Tzohar Rabbonim, this is a hotel’s right and privilege.”
Krauthammer adds, “Tzohar Rabbonim does not charge for its kashrus service, but only demands payment for mashgichim. Instead of compelling the hotel to buy greens that are several times more expensive, the Tzohar mashgiach will clean the regular greens, as well as inspection of legumes and flour. This saves money. I sat with the rav in charge at Tzohar, and I was impressed that the kashrus will be far better.”
Kobi is convinced that with the entry of Tzohar in the kashrus field, the hotels will save significant amounts while operating kosher kitchens. Kobi adds, “We will strive to establish a legal and practical process that will help promote tourism and the food and catering industry in Tiveria. We will be happy to see the signs of change that have come from Tiveria and the entire whole country”.
Kikar Shabbos News adds that Krauthammer is working with Tzohar and performing marriages while circumventing the local rabbinate. In response, Ravaad Tiveria HaGaon HaRav Avraham Dov Auerbach has banned Krauthammer from his shul, but Krauthammer davens at a 6:00AM minyan in the shul of the rav nonetheless.
Rabbi Krauthammer is quoted explaining to Kikar Shabbos that he has been in talks with Tzohar Rabbonim and with local stores and hoteliers, insisting the level a mehadrin hotel operates on will remain unchanged, citing the only change will be Tzohar will only deal with kashrus, without any added regulations as the local rabbinate insists upon.
Krauthammer feels that it is because of the many unreasonable demands from the local rabbinate that some hotels operate without kashrus supervision and with Tzohar, a change will occur, and they will be willing to accept Tzohar and its kashrus supervision.
Regarding Rav Auerbach’s shul, Rabbi Krauthammer adds, “I daven in this shul since I was born. My bris was held in the shul and I will continue davening there”.
Tzohar Rabbonim responded, “We do not make a habit of commenting to the media regarding ongoing negotiations with our clients”.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
What is Tzohar, and what is their level of kashrus?
Kashrus is one thing, if a establishment wants a lower level of kashrus…less universally accepted, then the business should have that right.
It will lead to confusion but that’s one thing, it only affects the business and those consumers who choose to trust it.
However, in the cases of marriage and conversion, we are here talking about the entire Am Yisrael.
The effects aren’t just a questionable meal, but long terms effects that will affect all Jews.
In such far-reaching effects a standard by which all feel confident must remain.
Good Luck on Tzohar who claims that they can “clean” greens containing aphids.
I would think that hours and hours of a mashgiach’s inspection would be much more expensive than just buying the plentiful greens that are grown in special conditions that greatly limits the presence of such insects.
But, I see, the the service is “free,” except that the mashgichim will be paid.
No wonder they refuse interviews.
In other words, Krauthammer is looking to show what a great man he is, regardless of what all the other Rabbonim say. The Tzohar people cannot be relied upon for Kashrus anywhere in the country. As soon as it is known that a hotel has abandoned reliable kashrus, foreign travel agents should be notified and notices should be placed in all the US and European Jewish papers advising tourists that these hotels are off the map now.