The highly controversial kashrut reform spearheaded by Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana is expected to be approved soon, Israel Hayom has learned from sources involved in the matter.
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The wording of the bill has reportedly been finalized and will be approved as part of the Arrangements Law, which is a bill presented to the Knesset each year alongside the State Budget Law. It incorporates various economic and financial legislation amendments needed for the government to fulfill its economic policy.
According to the final version of the bill, by 2023, private companies will also be able to be certified to provide kashrut licenses for businesses, as opposed to the current supervisors, who work for local religious councils and therefore for the Chief Rabbinate.
The coming year will be a transition period for establishing the systems and regulations needed to implement the change.
In addition, approval from the Rabbinate will not be required for the establishment of a kashrut licensing institution. As per the reform, three ordained rabbis will be able to establish such a company and be able to grant kashrut certificates.
Religious councils will no longer be limited to their respective locales and will be able to issue kashrut certificates throughout the country. Also, private companies will be able to license kosher products from abroad, thus facilitating import.
The request from representatives of the Reform Judaism denomination – to amend the bill in a way that would allow them to provide such licenses as well – was denied by Kahana from the start.
The Rabbinate and the ultra-Orthodox community and Knesset members have outright rejected the reform, claiming it would "destroy kashrut" in Israel. They also said contrary to statements by Kahana, the legislation would not make matters easier for kosher business owners.
The Tzohar rabbinical organization, meanwhile, has come out publicly against the Chief Rabbinate and in favor of reforms to Israel's system of kashrut certification.
In a position paper obtained by Israel Hayom in August, Tzohar pointed out a series of problems with how food vendors currently obtain kashrut certificates.
If Kahana's reform is enacted, the Tzohar kashrut supervision, which is currently in use but forbidden to feature the word "kosher," will be able to supply its services to thousands of businesses.
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