A number of cafeterias in schools in Rishon L’Tzion have shifted to the kashrus of Tzohar Rabbid. However, according to a Ministry of Education regulations, the food supplier must present a kashrus certificate from an authorized agency under the “Prohibition of Deception in Kashrut Law, 5743-1983”. The kashrus supervision of Tzohar Rabbonim is not accepted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

The cafeterias in the schools are not alone and they join ten more restaurants and cafes in the city that gave up the Kashrus certificate from the Rabbinate and accepted the Kashrus of the Tzohar Rabbinate. Among the places that received the Kashrut of Tzohar: the Arcaffe branch, the Dabush Restaurant and the Cafe Bella Victoria. In this way, Rishon L’Tzion became one of the leading cities in the kashrus of Tzohar alongside Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ashkelon.

However, unlike private restaurants, there is a problem with presenting a kashrus certificate not approved by the Chief Rabbinate in schools, according to a directive issued by the Ministry of Education.

In addition, according to paragraph 11.2a of the law: “Every buffet, cafeteria or kiosk in the educational institution must have a valid business license from the local authority and be subject to the supervision required by law, and every buffet, cafeteria or kiosk must be certified by the competent authority as required by the Prohibition of Fraud Law as mentioned above, all of which is the responsibility of the person who sells the food”.

As of today, less than a year and a half since the establishment of the Tzohar Kashrus, the project has experienced steady growth in the restaurant industry with more than 120 restaurants under its supervision, most of which have not been kosher before.

The response of the Education Ministry: “According to what is written in the law enforcement circular on the subject of kashrus, the kashrus was given to the educational institution, which opened a cafeteria”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)