The Israeli Knesset voted 46–41 early Wednesday to repeal a 2021 kashrut reform, blocking private bodies from issuing official kashrut certificates. The new legislation returns control over certification to the Chief Rabbinate, authorized local rabbis, and, within the IDF, the Military Rabbinate. The move mandates that kashrut supervisors be employed through religious councils, or local authorities where no religious council operates, aiming to eliminate the direct financial relationship between supervisors and the businesses they inspect.
Legislative Reversal of the 2021 Reform
The amendment marks a retreat from the 2021 reform advanced by then-religious services minister Matan Kahana. That policy sought to create a competitive market by allowing licensed private corporations to issue official certifications under regulatory oversight. The reform intended to separate the body regulating kashrut from those selling certification services. However, the market never fully materialized, as the current government delayed the licensing of private bodies, leaving local rabbinates with practical control over the system.
Arguments for State-Regulated Kashrut
Supporters of the repeal argue that kashrut is a public and religious responsibility that should not be influenced by commercial considerations. Shas chairman Arye Deri praised the result, calling the 2021 policy a “destructive reform” and asserting that “kashrut is not a business.” Chief Rabbis David Yosef and Kalman Meir Ber, along with the Chief Rabbinate Council, stated the law would reinforce the reliability and uniformity of the system. Religious Zionist Party MK Ohad Tal, who chairs the Knesset Public Projects Committee that prepared the law for its final votes, framed the legislation as a measure to provide a “uniform and transparent national standard” for the Israeli consumer.
Economic Concerns and Public Costs
Critics of the repeal warn that the return to a centralized monopoly could increase costs for both businesses and the public. Tani Frank, director of the Judaism and State Policy Center at the Shalom Hartman Institute, stated the law would “hurt the pockets of Israeli citizens” by deepening the Rabbinate’s monopoly and eliminating competition. Frank further noted that moving thousands of kashrut supervisors into employment through religious councils could transfer substantial costs and employment liabilities to the public sector.
The Future of Private Supervision Services
While the law prevents private bodies from issuing official state-recognized kashrut certificates, it does not necessarily prevent private organizations from providing additional supervision services. The organization Tzohar, which has challenged the state in court over its right to issue official certificates, indicated it would continue its work despite the repeal. Tzohar chairman Rabbi David Stav stated the group plans to continue its daily operations, though it will no longer use the term “kosher” on its certificates, reverting to a practice used prior to receiving its contested July 1 license. A High Court hearing regarding the validity of that license remains scheduled for November 2.
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