Israeli Religious Services Ministry Limits Kashrut Certification to Local Jurisdictions

The Israeli Ministry of Religious Services, led by CEO Yehuda Avidan, has issued a directive clarifying a recent legal amendment that restricts local rabbis' authority to grant kosher certification exclusively within their official jurisdictions. This change, stemming from an amendment to the Law Prohibiting Fraud in Kashrut enacted last month, means city rabbis can no longer certify businesses outside their cities, and similarly, regional and settlement rabbis are confined to their respective areas.

Avidan's letter to city, regional, and settlement rabbis nationwide emphasized that this is a legal obligation, not a recommendation, and the ministry intends to enforce it rigorously. Exceptions exist only if a rabbi receives explicit authorization from the Chief Rabbinate Council to certify kosher in a specific geographic area or establishment beyond their jurisdiction.

The ministry also addressed transitional provisions: kosher certificates issued lawfully before the amendment outside a rabbi's jurisdiction remain valid until their expiration or one year after the law's publication, whichever comes first. However, certificates granted unlawfully before or after the amendment are not retroactively legitimized. Businesses displaying invalid kosher certificates risk enforcement actions.

Avidan framed the reform as strengthening the authority of local rabbis and the overall kosher certification system in Israel. He called on heads of religious councils to report any violations promptly. The ministry also referenced existing guidelines for employing rabbis and handling cases of noncompliance.

The kosher certification organization Koshrot praised the ministry's clarification and enforcement plans, highlighting that the reform addresses previous issues of unregulated certification beyond local authority, thereby enhancing accountability and supervision in kosher certification nationwide.