Rabbi Yeshayahu Herzl, Rav of Nazareth Illit and known as a prominent in the Chabad community has removed the mehadrin kashrus status of the Lavi Hotel. Person close to the rav are quoted as saying “unfortunately, the standard of the hotel is not in line with a badatz that is relied upon by the chareidi community which seeks to visit there with a feeling of comfort”.
An official announcement appeared in the daily HaMevaser on Monday, 29 Iyar 5772, stating the rav removed the hotel’s mehadrin kashrus, adding “from here on in, I take no responsibility for the kashrus in the hotel in Kibbutz Lavi. Since there was erroneous information released regarding the hotel’s kashrus of late, the tzibur must be wary and not to blindly follow ads for this hotel [or any hotel for that matter. One must check out all kashrus claims by verifying it with the hashgacha]”.
There have been numerous kashrus “problems” over recent months, and efforts were made to reach an amicable solution but it appears this did not occur. The rav explains the hotel management is unwilling to correct the issues to the rav’s satisfaction.
Kashrus officials add that of late, requests regarding the hotel’s kashrus have been met with foot-dragging and refusal leading to “an intolerable situation” compelling the revocation of the kashrus certification.
Rav Yosef Chaim Rosenblatt, rav of the Lower Galil explains the hotel is under his jurisdiction. Rabbi Rosenblatt refused to comment on the incident, adding from his point of view the hotel remains under his mehadrin supervision only.
Hotel management declined to comment other than as far as it is concerned, the kashrus in the hotel remains unchanged, under the mehadrin supervision of the Lower Galil Rabbinate.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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14 Responses
huh??? How can Rav Herzl remove Rav Rosenblatt’s Hashgacha w/o his agreement???
I truly have no idea what this article is saying.
don’t worry the two rabbis are friends and in agreement. the Lavi hotel has been popular, but seems not to take kashrut seriously as do many non- or not very- religious places that have facilities for the very religious who demand mehedrin and not plain kashrus or worse, none.
bottom line: when you travel, don’t trust everyone who claims it is kosher, check with the local rav and the mashciah.
What this article says is that the PRIVATE Hechsher of Rabbi Hertzl is no longer in place and the local Hechsher given by Lower Galil Rabbinate.
Rabbi Rosenblatt ( who is the son-in-law of Rabbi Herzl) of the Lower Gallil – Mehadrin is still in effect meaning nothing new has happened only possibly the fact that Rabbi Herzl was identified with Chabad and no longer gives his personal Hechsher
Sounds like another case of politics overshadowing halacha…
I am a travel agent in Israel and I know all the staff (from the manager to the front desk staff) and they are definately trustworthy people. I spoke to them regarding the below and I will not write their response out of respect to both parties however all details of their Kashrut stay exactly as they were before (they are officically – with certification – under the Rabbanut of the Lower Galilee – Rabbi Rosenblatt, Rav Herzl’s son in law!!) – the hotel staff and mashgiach are happy to speak to anybody personally should the traveller need to verify or need reassurance regarding the level of kashrut (04 679 9450) the hotel manager Yitzchak Flanzer – an observant jew – is also available at any time.
P.S. They do not have any arabs as part of their kitchen staff so I don’t think any issues come up with bishul Akum
This doesn’t make sense. It smells like a Rabbi from a different area is being annoying and whipping up a scandal. Further, it’s sloppy journalism, mixinng up “no supervision” and “one rabbi, who is from a different region and not from a national kashrus organisation, removed his possibly invalid in the first place supervision”.
There are typos, such as “Person close to the rav are” – Is this one person, or several people. Who are they? What are the vague issues that have been alluded to?
I suggest this article is removed as it doesn’t say anything.
Sounds like a jruisdictional (money) with Lavi stuck in the cross fire.
its a bunch of shtus. just someone trying to make his hechsher sound more machmir and make it more well known so that he will get more business.
this is how the hecshairim work in israel . its all a game of money
I don’t know the particulars here. In EY it is common for many establishments to have multiple hashgachos. In this situation it looks like one Rav is pulling his hashgacha, while another is keeping their certification active.
Unfortunately this happens frequently both in Israel AND in the U.S.
For any of a variety of reasons a certain hashgacha will pull out, and another one (that may have ALREADY been there too) comes in, or remains in.
People should NOT be choshaid b’KASHAIRIM (pun INTENDED).
Certainly people SHOULD be careful and SHOULD check things out, but should NOT jump to conclusions and say lashon harah like the above commenter who said “(Lavi)seems not to take kashrut seriously as do many non- or not very- religious places”.
What terrible motzei shaim ra.
i do not understand why yeshiva world published this article… for what reason??? the hechsher left and farshmutzed lavi… kosher politics at its best… Lavi is mehadrin, its a frum hotel on a frum kibbutz…
I simply do not understand the vast majority of the above made comments.
If the FAA would remove their certification from an airline, would you still fly it? Would you say it is “politics”/”money”/”phone the airline and rely on them”/”a frum airline” ?
Have any of you spoken to the Rabbonim involved?
Perhaps do some research before you post.
I have spoken to the Rabbonim, and would advise anyone who needs to know to speak to them; they are working in tandem on this issue, which has many wider complexities involved.
I would also add that the concerns in any Hotel kitchen are immense, (Shmiras Shabbos amoungst them), and without a clear agreement between the Rabbanim and the hotel staff, I do not understand how anyone can blithly say “politics etc.” I have clearly seen in the past Chilul Shabbos happening in a (different) hotel, and when I spoke to the mashgiach there, found that he was a) unaware and b) ignorant of the Halocho!
The bottom line is; DON’T BE A FOOL! Kashrus is complex and easy to get wrong, there is no excuse on vacation!
from the hotel site
http://hotel.lavi.co.il/HOTEL/101/2/781.aspx
בס”ד
, אייר תשע”ב May 2012
Welcome to the Kibbutz Lavi Hotel!
It is our pleasure to host you. Our hotel is noted for its very strict high-level Kashruth which is supervised by Rabbi Joseph Chaim Rosenblatt, Rabbi of the Lower Galilee. Details follow.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE OBSERVANCE OF KASHRUT
IN LAVI KIBBUTZ HOTEL
1. We have an exclusively Jewish kitchen staff, which consists mainly of observant, G-D fearing “Shomer Shabbat” Jews.
2. All the products and ingredients, with the exception of poultry, meat, and dairy products, have one of three hechshers: Eda Charedit, Rabbi Rubin, Rabbi Landau.
3. All leafy vegetables are insect-free products with Eda Charedit / Rubin Hechsher. They undergo an additional inspection and washing, according to Badatz instructions.
4. All dairy products are under Mehadrin supervision, including that of the Mehadrin committee of Tnuva led by Rabbi Witman. (Some of the products are made locally with the above Mehadrin hechsher.)
5. Bread and rolls are supplied by bakeries under the supervision of Badatz Eda Charedit, Rav Rubin & Rav Landau.
6. Products baked in our own kitchen – Flour is sifted by a machine which meets the standards of the most meticulous kashrut requirements and challa is set aside as required.
7.We have a special mashgiach on the premises to supervise the meticulous inspection of all products entering the kitchen – including legumes, nuts and all whole condiments.
8. The meat served in the Hotel is imported with Chalak Mehadrin hechsher of the Chief Rabbinate, in accordance with the severe restrictions of Maran Bet Yoseph.
Poultry products are from the “Off Tov” abbatoir, under the complete supervision of Rabbi A.D. Auerbach of Tiberias / Fleish Mehadrin confirmed by the Hotel Rabbis.
9 .One may order in advance meat and poultry products with a special hechsher – one of three (Eda Charedit, Rav Landa, or Rav Rubin) to be determined by the hotel in accordance with availability. These products are prepared in a special area of the kitchen with ovens and all kitchen utensils set aside and marked for use exclusively with the above hechshers.
10. It is not permitted to bring food or beverages from outside the hotel to the hotel restaurant & the bar area .
11. Any questions should be directed to the Hotel Mashgiach, Yakov Chayun, tel. 050-3231174