Chief Rabbinate CEO Approves Tzohar as Official Kosher Certification Body Against Rabbis' Opposition

The Chief Rabbinate's CEO, Yehuda Cohen, has authorized the kosher certification division of Tzohar to operate as an official kosher certification body, a move that contradicts the opposition of the Chief Rabbis and the Chief Rabbinate Council. This decision, revealed to C14, follows a prolonged process involving legal proceedings at the Supreme Court. For years, Tzohar's kosher supervision operated without official status to issue kosher certificates, but after petitioning the Supreme Court to evaluate their request under legal standards, the approval was granted.

Tzohar hailed the decision as "precedent-setting and historic," emphasizing that it will increase competition in kosher certification, enhance transparency, and reduce costs. Following the approval, Tzohar began issuing official kosher certificates to most businesses under its supervision, certificates that explicitly include the word "kosher." This development is expected to intensify internal disputes within the Chief Rabbinate regarding kosher certification authority.