Chief Rabbinate Rejects Kashrut License for Tzohar Despite Initial Approval

After years of dispute, the Tzohar organization was initially granted a license to provide kosher certification by the Chief Rabbinate's CEO. However, the Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services quickly issued an urgent letter stating that the approval has no validity, emphasizing that the Chief Rabbinate Council did not authorize the move. Subsequently, the Chief Rabbinate Council aligned with this position in their own letter, declaring that they do not permit granting the license to Tzohar at this time.

Currently, Tzohar provides kosher supervision in some locations, but under Israeli law, establishments cannot label themselves as kosher unless they are under the official supervision of the Chief Rabbinate. This ongoing conflict highlights the tension between the Ministry of Religious Services and the Chief Rabbinate regarding kosher certification authority.