In a move that is receiving a bit of media notoriety in Israel, the Efrat Religious Council has given a hashgacha to the Metropole Hotel located in Hanoi. It appears the Chief Rabbinate of Israel is probing the move, for as a rule, a local religious council does not give a hashgacha outside of its domain, not to mention out of the country.

In this case, the hechsher was given to accommodate a three-day trip organized by Naomi Tours, a tour that is geared for Shomer Shabbos individuals. Mashgiach Rabbi Menachem Fogel is in Vietnam, in the hotel, and he confirmed the move was a unique one to accommodate the group for a total of three days.

Mr. Bob Lang, who heads the Efrat Religious Council, told Kippa News the food was not taken from Israel but cooked in Vietnam. He added the religious council would not give a hechsher to another area in Israel because each municipality has a religious council but this is not so in Vietnam, hence the decision to accommodate the tour agency. Lang added there is no legal reason to prohibit the Efrat Religious Council from doing it.

He adds Rabbi Fogel is a community resident who was briefed in advance by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Rabbi Shimon Golan, with the latter running the hashgacha in Efrat. Rabbi Fogel was paid by the travel agency, unlike the mashgichim in Efrat, who are paid by the religious council or the business receiving the hashgacha.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)