MK Rav Yoav Ben-Tzur (Shas) is sponsoring the new kashrus bill that prohibits one from advertising as kosher or under hashgacha with having it. He explains that while the current kosher law exists, his bill is in response to a recent ruling of the High Court of Justice, which Attorney General Eliyahu Weinstein feels permits one to advertise as kosher without an official hashgacha.
Ben-Tzur explains that Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef spoke with him after conferring with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, who is quoted saying “So change the law that it will not be permitted”, explaining this is what he is doing. The new law is worded a bit differently but in essence, mimics the current law, which compels a business to have a local rabbinate hashgacha in order to advertise as kosher. In addition, a business cannot have a private hechsher, such as one of the badatzim, without first having rabbinate supervision.
Ben-Tzur told Kol Chai Radio that while chareidim and others are backing it there are many opposed and he is uncertain if the bill will pass. However he points out the coalition agreement compels coalition members to back it, but it is not certain this will be the case and if there is opposition from within the coalition, Shas will have to decide how to respond.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
There is no hole in the Kashrut law. When I go into a restaurant today and see a certificate that does not use the word Kosher, I know it’s not Rabbanut. For that matter, were the law to allow certificate to display a logo not of the Rabbanut and say “Kosher” I would also know it wasn’t Rabbanut.