Director General of the Chief Rabbinate Yehuda Cohen has stated that the kashrut certification license he granted to the Tzohar organization remains valid, despite the Rabbinical Council and the legal advisor ruling that it was issued without authority. Cohen wrote to the legal advisor arguing that the council was aware of the process and did not object, according to a report by journalist Shila Friedman.
The Zioneer has reported on the ongoing dispute over Tzohar's kashrut license. On Wednesday morning, Chief Rabbinate Director General Yehuda Cohen wrote to the Rabbinate's legal advisor, insisting that the license he granted remains valid. Cohen argued that the Rabbinical Council was aware of the licensing process and did not object, making the license binding. This directly contradicts the council's ruling that the license was issued without authority.
The sequence of events began on Tuesday, July 7, at 15:16 Jerusalem, when the Rabbinate's legal advisor ruled that the license was illegal, according to N12's Eli Hirschman. Tzohar rejected the ruling and continued certifying businesses. Shortly after, the Rabbinate officially revoked the license. The initial authorization had been granted on July 2 by the Chief Rabbinate following a High Court ruling, but the Rabbinical Council later said it was not approved, as The Zioneer reported on July 2 at 17:16 Jerusalem.
The dispute highlights internal tensions within the Chief Rabbinate over the kashrut reform, which aims to delegate certification authority to private bodies like Tzohar. The Zioneer reported on July 2 that the Religious Affairs Ministry's director general had no authority over the matter, and Tzohar asserted that only the Rabbinate's director general can grant licenses.
It remains unclear whether Cohen's position will be accepted by the Rabbinical Council or the legal advisor, and whether the license will remain in effect.
4 developments
- StrongChief Rabbinate rules Tzohar kashrut authorization was not approved by Rabbinical Council
- StrongTzohar: Religious Affairs Ministry director has no authority over kashrut certification
- DevelopingChief Rabbinate certifies Tzohar as official kashrut body following High Court ruling
- DevelopingThe Times of Israel daily briefing: Chief Rabbinate's kosher monopoly faces legal challenge
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