It now appears clear to all except officials in the Chief Rabbinate of Israel that the latter’s monopoly over kashrus supervision in Israel has come to an end. While the Chief Rabbinate continues to fight to maintain the status quo that existed in the past, others are looking to the future, including Tzohar Rabbis, with the organization offering training to certify one as a mashgiach kashrus.

The Tzohar Rabbinical Association, in cooperation with the Emunah movement, will soon develop a training course for mashgichim. The course said the two organizations will be subsidized and will take place in the form of seven weekly and intense meetings.

The course will consist of two stages, the first stage will be basic for the training of the students, and in the second stage the enrollments will be prepared in depth. The content of the course will include training of kashering meat, inspecting for insects in food, technology of food products and more.

Tzohar Chairman Rabbi David Stav said: “We at Tzohar believe that it is essential to include in the kashrut system women who can perform the supervision functions in an excellent manner, and we know that there are other organizations that want to join us.

“We can now say that we are in the advanced stages of examining the feasibility of establishing a kashrus organization.”

CEO of Emunah Women Liora Minka adds: “There is nothing more natural than the integration of women into kashrus supervision, and it is surprising that we have not done so to this day. Emunah sponsored the first course to train woman some four years ago, and unfortunately, we were forced to turn to the High Court because the Chief Rabbinate is not prepared to adapt to reality and did not succeed in renewing itself. This is a professional study program, which may be groundbreaking, but in no way does it steer away from halacha boundaries.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)