Preempting to avoid the case being brought before Israel’s High Court of Justice on Monday, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel announced a policy change by which it will no longer question or probe the Jewishness of any person because s/he is a member of a certain community, such as Israel’s Russian-speaking or Ethiopian community.

The case began with a petition filed against the Chief Rabbinate regarding the latter questioning the Jewishness of employees of Ethiopians working with food in Kiryat Gat just because they are Ethiopian. A petition was filed with the High Court, a case that was scheduled to be heard by the court on Monday, but the Chief Rabbinate preempted and announced the directive before the case was heard.

As per the new directive, one’s Jewishness will only be challenged when there is a basis for suspicion and not simply because the person belongs to a certain sect or community. This has been an issue for many Ethiopians employed in the food industry and employed in factories which are certified with a mehadrin hechsher.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)