Former Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan Rabbi Yaakov Ariel Shlita blames Tzohar Rabbonim and its leader, Rabbi David Stav, with “jeopardizing everything”, referring to the state’s kashrus and other religious services.

In an interview appearing in Makor Rishon, Rav Ariel referred to the most recent High Court of Justice ruling, that permits a store to advertise its observation of halacha and kashrus for as long as it does not use the word “kosher”. The ruling clearly opened a door to new kosher supervisors to move in and push out the Rabbinate. Following the ruling Tzohar Rav Stav commented this gives him the legal clearance for Tzohar to move ahead with its kashrus supervision. Rav Ariel explained “I am pained” by Tzohar and others moving in, warning “he is פורץ גדר and this will open the doors to others, which he refers to as snakes “נחשים”. Rav Ariel speaks in strong terms of how Tzohar and Rav Stav are “jeopardizing everything” for he fears while Tzohar may provide legitimate kashrus, others who will enter through the same door will compromise the state’s kashrus and lead to a deterioration of other religious services provided by the Chief Rabbinate via its local religious councils around the country today. Rav Ariel is clearly aware that Tzohar’s actions will facilitate similar actions by the Conservative and Reform Movements.

Rav Ariel explained at first, Tzohar began to provide an alternative for weddings, and now, it is veering from its mandate.

Rav Ariel made a point of saying he has nothing personally against Rav Stav but objects strongly to the path chosen by him as head of Tzohar Rabbonim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)