Local Leaders Demand Halt to Kashrut Law Over Cost and Job Mandate Concerns
Local and regional government leaders in Israel have called for an immediate stop to the proposed Kashrut law reform, warning it will impose the employment of thousands of kosher supervisors at a cost of tens of millions of shekels on municipal budgets. The letter, signed by Haim Bibas (Chairman of the Local Government Center and Mayor of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut), Ron Huldai (Chairman of the Forum of 15 and Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo), and Shay Hajaj (Chairman of the Regional Government Center and Head of the Merhavim Regional Council), was sent to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice and Religious Services Minister Yariv Levin, and Public Projects Committee Chairman Ohad Tal.
The lawmakers oppose the reform, which has already passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset and is under discussion in the Public Projects Committee. The bill would require local kosher authorities to provide kosher supervision services to businesses by employing supervisors directly or through outsourcing, with the number of positions set by the Ministry of Religious Services. The reform is strongly supported by Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, aiming to create jobs for kosher supervisors.
The local leaders argue the law is advancing without securing funding sources and disregards existing collective agreements. They warn it will burden local authorities with thousands of new jobs, harming public budgets already facing deficits. They also criticize the lack of flexibility in employment terms and the rapid legislative process, suggesting it raises concerns about ulterior motives unrelated to the law's substance.
The reform effectively reverses a previous market-opening reform initiated by former Minister Matan Kahana, which allowed competition in kosher certification. Under the new law, all city rabbis would be subordinated to the Chief Rabbinate, and kosher supervisors currently employed by businesses would be transferred to local kosher authorities, mainly religious councils. This would eliminate competition in the kosher certification market, potentially increase food prices, and raise the cost of living.
The government plans to bring the bill for a first reading vote in the Knesset soon. The local leaders urge halting the legislation until all issues regarding supervisor employment, employment flexibility, and funding sources outside local budgets are resolved.
