Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein’s ruling that a business may circumvent the Chief Rabbinate’s state kashrus and obtain a private hashgacha is his office’s opinion, which was submitted to the Supreme Court. The nation’s highest court is hearing a petition filed on behalf of the Reform Movement on behalf of Jerusalem restaurants. The restaurants have been hit with fines by the Kashrus Enforcement Office since they operated as “kosher” but had a hashgacha other than the local rabbinate, in this case Jerusalem. Weinstein feels that as long as a business explains the kosher certificate is not from a local rabbinate, consumers are informed and may do as they please. He does not feel the current system, which compels one to take a Rabbanut hashgacha if one wishes to advertise as “kosher” does not have to continue.

Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau Shlita calls Weinstein’s ruling a mistake, and the Chief Rabbinate is planning to engage outside legal representation to respond to the case.

While Weinstein’s announced ruling does not change the law, it does make enforcing the current kosher law significantly more difficult for the Chief Rabbinate and local rabbinates around the country. Those wishing to defy the current kosher system feel their defiance is now backed by the attorney general.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)