Minister of Religious Services Naftali Bennett held a press conference on Monday morning 3 Adar I 5774 and he used the forum to announce the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s kashrus revolution. Joining him at the dais were Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau and Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan.

Bennett explained “we are going to make order of the kashrus situation in Israel. We promised that we are going to bring a revolution in the area of marriage registration, and a law has since been passed. Today this law applies in all local religious councils nationwide.

“In the area of kashrus there are flaws that will be corrected, including the fact that a mashgiach receives his salary from the business being supervised. This is going to change. In addition there will be levels of kashrus which will be rated by Magen Davids (stars), either one, two or three, permitting kosher consumers to decide which level is relevant and suitable.

“Measures will be taken to restore the public’s trust in the system and its state kashrus certification.”

Rabbi Ben-Dahan

During the first months of my term it became clear to me that I had to address the kashrus in Israel. I have met with business owners and rabbonim alike and we have determined how to implement change for the better. We have learned the majority of the country seeks reliable trustworthy kashrus and as a result there will be a range of standards with an effort to minimize the price increase passed to the consumer.

All of our actions are in total cooperation with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. It is imperative for us to regain the public’s trust.

They begin addressing questions

Rabbi Lau: What about women?

There is a makor in Halacha for this. The Supreme Court ruled a rabbi has a right to paskin according to those who do not agree, but myself personally, I feel there is a place for females to work as mashgichot kashrus

Bennett:

We want to earn the public’s trust. There must be and will be total transparency as Rav Lau believed and accomplished in his tenure as Chief Rabbi of Modi’in.

Rav Lau:

Look at the hashgachos on lettuce for example as an advert where one may see eight different hashgachos. I told one who asked me to view them as advertisements. The owner of the product decides instead of advertising his product in a Belz or Chabad magazine, he places these hashgachos to attract those communities and that is his right. I ask to please trust the Rabbinate and permit us to implement the change and we hope we will earn the trust of the tzibur and then many owners will most likely not feel the need for all of these “adverts”.

For 17 years while rav of Modi’in I ran the kashrus using a manpower agency. A small business does not need nor can it afford a full time mashgiach. One can serve a number of stores. The point is the store must not be a mashgiach’s employer. Each mashgiach must have an “abba” and that is the local religious council and the Chief Rabbinate and this is a major change that will serve to significantly improve kashrus for this will eliminate the unhealthy relationship that existed in the past between the mashgiach and the business he is supervising.

Bennett:

There is going to be increased monitoring of mashgichim and the hours they work. One will not be able to pop in at home for two hours and then continue his day. Ultimately, I am confident this system will cut costs to a business being supervised as well as to the consumer for we will earn back the tzibur’s trust and thereby eliminate the need for multiple and overlapping hashgachos.

We will define the standards of each level of kosher, the one, two and three stars, so every consumer will know what to expect and make a determination as to the adherence of the kosher standard. No more secrets.

Rabbi Ben-Dahan

It is essential that there is standardization and transparency. One must know that whatever level of kosher one seeks, that level is the same in any area around the country carrying that level of certification. The transparency will permit consumers to fully understand what is going on and what level of kosher is being provided.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)