Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Cancels Kashrut License Granted to Tzohar Organization

The legal advisor to Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, Attorney Yaakov Ofer, informed Tzohar Food Supervision Ltd. today that its license to operate as a kosher certification body has been revoked. The decision follows consultations with the Ministry of Justice’s legal advisory department, which identified a significant procedural flaw in the license issuance process that occurred just days ago. Ofer declared the license "granted unlawfully," instructing the Chief Rabbinate’s CEO to immediately annul it. Tzohar will have the opportunity to present its arguments according to legal procedures.

This development comes shortly after Tzohar’s kosher certification system received official approval, allowing it to issue updated kosher certificates to most businesses under its supervision. However, the Ministry of Religious Services CEO, Yehuda Avidan, sent a stern letter to the Chief Rabbinate CEO, Yehuda Cohen, stating that the certificates lack validity.

The Chief Rabbinate Council clarified that although Tzohar was notified of the license, the certification standard it intends to use is that regulated by the Chief Rabbinate Council. According to Israeli law, one condition for granting such a license is that the Council must not oppose it. The Council emphasized that it was not informed by the Chief Rabbinate CEO about the license issuance, so the matter has not been reviewed by the Council or its Kashrut Committee. The Council requires all relevant documentation, including the licensing decision and supporting materials, to properly evaluate the case within the 30-day legal review period. Until then, the Council does not approve the license.

In response, Tzohar stated that the Ministry of Religious Services CEO has no authority over kosher certification licenses, which are solely granted by the Chief Rabbinate CEO. Tzohar also claimed the Chief Rabbinate Council was aware of its license application and had responded to petitions in court, raising only administrative objections unrelated to kosher law.

This dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Tzohar and the Chief Rabbinate over kosher certification authority and regulatory procedures in Israel.