Claiming they lack “connections” and therefore are passed over when seeking work abroad under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, a number of shochtim (ritual slaughterers) on Wednesday began a vigil outside the Jerusalem office of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger Shlita, with some hunger striking. They insist that since they are not in the political loop, they are not given employment as they should be.
300 shochtim travel abroad under the Chief Rabbinate’s auspices, traveling to South America, Europe and Australia. The striking shochtim explain that there is work home in Israel “but you cannot compare the money working here and abroad” they exclaim, insisting this is their right.
Seeking to stand up for their rights, many of the shochtim have formed an organization, which has petitioned the labor court, seeking to be recognized as employees of the Chief Rabbinate. Their petition was rejected. They then appealed to the National Labor Court which ordered they be recognized as employees, a partial victory, recognized as employees of the meat importers, not the Chief Rabbinate which was their goal.
A meeting was arranged with Rav Metzger but as the hour approached, the shochtim were informed that since they did not fold up their protest, there did not seem to be any purpose to such a meeting.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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4 Responses
surely the sochtim should be employed by the rabbinate to enforce their policies, and not by the importers, who might have financial concerns, or are their supervisors who supervise the sochtim?
also, why not emply local shochtim in europe, s.america etc – surely cheaper than flights and hotels for the israelis?
I guess these shochtim will be hungry.
Gee, gonna be lottsa hungry shochtim runnin’ around.. at least they have (had?) jobs.. how many don’t have jobs and it wasn’t their choice?
#2 UKbloke: the reason they don’t employ local shochtim is that the Israeli shochtim are willing to work for substantially less pay.