Chief Rabbinate Rules 'Tzohar' Kosher Certification License Invalid Amid Legal Dispute

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel's legal advisor, Yaakov Ofer, declared that the kosher certification license granted to the organization "Tzohar" is invalid and was issued unlawfully. This decision follows the outgoing Chief Rabbinate CEO Yehuda Cohen's controversial move to authorize Tzohar as a kosher certification body. Ofer's letter, published by Israel Hayom, was sent after consultations with the Ministry of Justice's legal advisory and legislative department and in response to a similar statement by Yehuda Avidan, CEO of the Ministry of Religious Services, who also affirmed the license's lack of legal standing.

In his letter, Ofer stated unequivocally that there was a fundamental flaw in the licensing process and that the license cannot be relied upon or used to perform any certification activities. He instructed immediate action to suspend or revoke the license, while ensuring Tzohar is given an opportunity to present its arguments in a formal administrative procedure. However, Ofer emphasized that this ruling does not prevent Tzohar from applying for a kosher certification license in the future, which the Chief Rabbinate must evaluate promptly and in accordance with the law and court rulings.

This legal opinion is expected to intensify the ongoing dispute over kosher certification reforms in Israel, as the Chief Rabbinate effectively invalidates Tzohar's current license pending a new, lawful licensing process.