Israeli Ministry of Religious Services Demands Cancellation of Kashrut Certification for Tzohar

Just hours after the Rabbinical organization Tzohar received official certification from the Chief Rabbinate to operate as a kosher certification body, Yehuda Avidan, CEO of the Ministry of Religious Services, declared the approval invalid and illegal. In a strongly worded letter sent on Thursday, Avidan sharply criticized Yehuda Cohen, CEO of the Chief Rabbinate, for signing the recognition certificate for "Tzohar - Food Supervision Ltd." without proper legal procedure.

Avidan revealed that after an official inquiry with Chief Rabbi Kalman Bar, head of the Chief Rabbinate Council, it was confirmed that neither the council nor its president were consulted or discussed the matter as required by law. He stated that the certification was granted without the necessary approval from the Chief Rabbinate Council, rendering the license invalid and issued unlawfully.

The Ministry of Religious Services warned against the rapid dissemination of this certification by Tzohar among business owners, noting that dozens of complaints have already been received nationwide regarding its use. Avidan demanded immediate legal action to instruct that the certificate is invalid and to prevent any field actions that could lead to legal challenges.