A panel discussion was held in Beit Avi-Chai in Jerusalem on Tuesday night the eve of 11 Elul to discuss the significance a kashrus seal on a food item has on Israeli society.
During the event MK (Yesh Atid) Elazar Stern expressed criticism on the state kashrus, namely the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s kashrus. He lamented the fact that corruption is linked to the state kashrus, and he expressed his strong opinion that kashrus must be taken out of the hands of the Chief Rabbinate and handled as it is in the United States, by hechsherim running independently.
Stern cited that even today, the Chief Rabbis do not eat foods certified by the Chief Rabbinate, adding “even the director of the nation’s largest religious council told me the kashrus certification must become more friendly and the current system must be dismantled and built anew”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Of course the Chief Rabbis wouldn’t eat foods they certify, not because it’s not kosher but because unlike like guys like Stern, the Chief Rabbis are more stringent in what they take into their mouths.
To: Mr. Stern,
No. 1: Let us assume that you heard correctly that he said “the current system must be built anew”, this does not imply that he does not eat his own Kashrus.
No. 2: “The Kashrus certification needs to become more friendly”, Mr. Stern, how did you figure out from these words that he is not eating his own Kashrus.
No. 3: Many people these days say all kinds of things, prior to making their statements, they only have one concern; Can the victim sue me? If he can’t sue me, then it is perfectly fine to make my statement.
And unlike guys like Stern, the Chief Rabbis are more stringent in what they let out of their mouths.
Their was a famous Jewish comedian who frequently joked that he would never want to belong to a club that would accept him as a member. Of course these rabbonim wouldn’t eat their own cooking (to borrow from another expression). Most of them will only eat from a good chassideshe hashgacha (or perhaps Badatz) given that these hashgachos are the gold standard. The hashgacha they provide for the State is “ok” for most yidden who are not machmir in matters of kashruth and is designed to be affordable and commercially viable for those who subscribe. However, many of these rabbonim are true yireh shamayim and they should not be criticized for providing a vitally needed public service.