Chief Rabbinate Declares It Will Not Cooperate With Gov't Kashrut Reforms

The Chief Rabbinate has declared it will not cooperate with the government’s proposed reforms to the kashrut supervision system, describing them as “dangerous” and “the destruction of kashrut and Judaism in Israel.”

Following a meeting of the rabbis of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate on Monday, the organization’s executive arm, the body issued a decision stating that any rabbi utilizing the proposed reforms would violate Jewish law and said it would not accept the dictates of the religious services ministry on the issue. 

The decision was signed by head of the council Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and the 11 other members ofthe council, while Chief Rabbi David Yosef, applauded the decision. 

Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Last month, Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana announced a program of reform which would allow independent kashrut authorities headed by a Chief Rabbinate-qualified rabbi to provide kashrut supervision, with the Chief Rabbinate establishing standards and functioning as a regulator, including operating an inspection authority to oversee the work of the independent kashrut authorities.