Leviatan Sues Chief Rabbinate Over Kosher Certification Cancellation on 198 Tons of Meat

Leviatan Trade, an Israeli kosher meat distributor, has filed a 5.7 million shekel lawsuit against the Chief Rabbinate after the cancellation of kosher certificates for 198 tons of meat imported from Argentina. In 2022, Leviatan purchased approximately 630 tons of meat from Nahum Import and Marketing, relying on kosher certifications issued by the Rabbinate for distribution during the Jewish High Holidays. However, in July 2022, the Rabbinate's fraud department issued a special kosher update canceling certificates for about 275 tons of this meat, prohibiting its use due to a change in the slaughter team.

The dispute centers on the replacement of the approved slaughter team leader, who left in February 2022 and was replaced by an external inspector not accepted by the Rabbinate. Leviatan claims the issue was administrative rather than a halachic kosher violation and sought permission to sell the meat under a lower kosher standard, supported by rabbis who witnessed the slaughter. The Rabbinate rejected this request.

Leviatan also petitioned the Supreme Court, which declined to intervene, citing the Rabbinate's halachic authority. Consequently, Leviatan sold the meat at a loss to customers in the Palestinian Authority and others who did not require kosher certification. The company alleges it suffered millions in losses, failing to recoup even the purchase price, and blames the Rabbinate for negligence, arguing that timely reports about the slaughter team change should have prevented issuing kosher certificates in the first place.