The associations representing Israel’s hotels and restaurants have petitioned the High Court of Justice against the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s monopoly on kashrus. This follows the original petition filed by Jerusalem restauranteurs against the kashrus system.

The Hoteliers Association ascertains that most hotels want kashrus and wish to serve kosher food that is certified but the current system under the Chief Rabbinate, the regulations and enforcement lead to distancing some from kashrus entirely. Association head Shai Berman says “Many restaurants wish to be kosher certified but they are deterred due to the bureaucracy. He adds “They feel like hostages to the local rabbinate and their dictates, many having nothing to do with halacha or the kashrus of the food served. They dictate how many hours the mashgiach will have to work and his salary all in the name of kashrus but without delivering kashrus”.

Hoteliers add at times; the Rabbinate demands a higher level of kashrus than a hotel seeks or requires and compels hotels to adhere to regulations that do not reflect the level of kosher it seeks.

Both the restaurants and hotels argue there is an extensive economic system hiding behind how they choose food products in line with kashrus, often not in line with the actual regulations from the Chief Rabbinate.

Major hotel chains including Dan and Isrotel at times find themselves working under dictates that are contradictory, given the different relationships with mashgichim and the varying requests so the standards may vary significantly even in the same city.

They site often they are compelled to buy expensive ingredients and food products and this is added to the expense of the kashrus supervision. They cite the expense hotels incur for double kitchens, dishes and cooking utensils and the fact a mashgiach must be present 27/7. It is pointed out that in addition to the cost of the mashgiach, he occupies a hotel room on Shabbos and Yomim Tovim, adding some of them come with an entire family. One hotelier adds “It is not rare that the mashgiach in a hotel of 70-80 rooms will occupy three room for Pesach, all because he does not want to bother kashering his own house”.

Restaurant owners add “Some are simply scared to complain aware at times, the local rabbinate will yank the store’s kashrus certification”.

One hotel manager complains, explaining “Many of our [kitchen] employees are Christian and Muslim yet only a Jew can turn on an appliance and this compels paying mashgichim for long hours”.

The appeals to the High Court began back in 2014, when Nachlaot area eateries in the capital petitioned the court as they ousted the local rabbinate hashgacha, taking on the “Hashgacha Pratit” hechsher owned by Rabbi Aharon Leibowitz. That hechsher did not charge. The problem was advertising as “kosher” without having the local rabbinate hechsher is a violation of the law but Leibowitz and the restauranteurs decided to challenge the system. They presented evidence of nonfeasance and malfeasance by the Jerusalem Rabbinate to justify the move.

An ongoing State Comptroller’s Office probe into the Jerusalem Religious Council has indeed documented widespread corruption. Some senior officials may be permitted to retire while others may face criminal charges. As soon as being appointed to become Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Aryeh Stern Shlita began gathering evidence in the hope of cleaning house in the city’s religious council.

What is clear is the High Court of Justice is going to demand some changes. Chief Rabbi of Israel Dovid Lau Shlita has also been working to modify the system, well-aware of the consequences if the High Court rules to end the Chief Rabbinate monopoly on kashrus and open the door to private hashgachos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)