The Tzohar rabbinical organization has broken its silence and taken a public stance against the Chief Rabbinate and in favor of reforms to Israel's system of kashrut certification.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

In a position paper obtained by Israel Hayom, Tzohar points out a series of problems with how food vendors currently obtain kashrut certificates.

The reform proposed by Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana would form associations that would provide kashrut supervision for businesses, as opposed to the current supervisors, who work for local religious councils and therefore for the Chief Rabbinate.

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.

Haredi MKs have claimed that Tzohar is actually behind the proposed reform.

"The system of kosher certification in its current form has problems that harm government kashrut certification in Israel," the Tzohar paper claims. The paper goes on to note the state comptroller's findings about the problems with the national system, and states that "the reform will save government-provided kosher certification, and allow those who keep kosher to feel more confident about the food they consume."

One of the problems with the current state of kosher certification Tzohar cited was the lack of oversight of the supervisors themselves: "In many of the larger cities, there is no rabbi who has the job, or any rabbinical oversight. The current state of the kashrut system creates a situation in which each local rabbinate sets its own demands and the practices of supervision. This reality does not allow businesses and customers transparency and a clear understanding of the standard of kashrut."

The Tzohar paper went on to note that businesses paid the salaries of kashrut supervisors, which Tzohar says violates Jewish law. In addition, the organization claims that "As the years have passed, the current system of kosher supervision has created a sense of loathing, distance, and lack of trust among the public. Many businesses are forgoing kosher certification, or reaching out to non-halachic groups to replace the rabbinate."

"The root of the problem lies with the structure of kosher certification in Israel, which operates as local monopolies: every city or council rabbi has the exclusive authority to confer kosher status in his jurisdiction, according to standards and practices that he has decided on, with nearly no external oversight," Tzohar claims.

"The monopolies create a lack of unity it terms of Jewish law, a lack of unity in pricing, corruption, nepotism, and a lack of control over the national system that is wrongs business owners. The reform is a golden opportunity to restore the public's faith and build support in the world of kashrut and tradition, while strengthening the Chief Rabbinate," Tzohar wrote.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Tzohar rabbis support reform to Israel's kashrut system appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A court in eastern France convicted a delivery driver of anti-Semitic discrimination on Thursday for refusing to take orders for kosher food, and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the Algerian man would be deported after he completes his prison sentence.

 Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

The conviction in the city of Strasbourg came two days after a regional Jewish institution, the Israelite Consistory of the Bas-Rhin region, said two kosher restaurants had reported that drivers working for Deliveroo refused to handle their food because they didn't want to deliver to Jews.

The group and restaurants filed a legal complaint, the consistory said Tuesday, denouncing what it called "openly anti-Semitic discrimination." Only one deliverer was ultimately involved in the court action.

The interior minister tweeted that the Algerian man, who was in France illegally, had been convicted and handed a four-month prison sentence.

"I decided to expel from the national territory the food 'deliverer'...who said he did not want to handle deliveries to Jewish clients," Darmanin wrote.

The Strasbourg prosecutor's office had opened an investigation into "discrimination based on ethnic origin in the framework of providing a service," according to a prosecutor's aide.

Deliveroo spokesman Damien Steffan said Tuesday on local broadcaster France Bleu that the company thinks "anti-Semitic acts, like all racist or discriminatory acts of all kinds, are unacceptable."

Deliveroo has around 14,000 drivers in France and has seen business grow considerably during the coronavirus pandemic.

The case drew the national government's attention amid long-running efforts to fight anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination. France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa, met Tuesday with the management of Deliveroo France.

 Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post France decides to deport delivery driver who refused kosher food orders appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

French prosecutors are investigating complaints by Jewish groups in the eastern city of Strasbourg that one or more delivery drivers refused to take orders of kosher food.

The Israelite Consistory of the Bas-Rhin region said that two kosher restaurants reported that drivers working for delivery service Deliveroo refused to deliver their food because they didn't want to deliver to Jews.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

The group and restaurants filed a legal complaint, the consistory said Tuesday, denouncing what it called "openly anti-Semitic discrimination."

The Strasbourg prosecutor's office opened an investigation into potential charges of "discrimination based on ethnic origin in the framework of providing a service," according to a prosecutor's aide.

Deliveroo spokesman Damien Steffan said on local broadcaster France Bleu that the company is investigating internally and that "anti-Semitic acts, like all racist or discriminatory acts of all kinds, are unacceptable." The company has around 14,000 drivers in France and has seen business grow considerably amid coronavirus lockdowns.

The case drew the national government's attention amid long-running efforts to fight anti-Semitism and other acts of hate. France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa, is meeting Tuesday with the management of Deliveroo France.

 Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Sorry, no kosher food orders: French delivery service accused of anti-Semitism appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

In a move designed specifically to cater to the Israeli market, Nervian Cruise Line (NCL), announced the launch of a kosher meals menu.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

While most kosher meals will be available as sealed packages, large groups have the option of having their food prepared on board. To cater to religious travelers, challah and wine will be offered on Shabbat, as well as matzah on Passover.

"We are now setting a new standard in the global industry, and now kosher, rich and varied food will be part of the culinary experience we offer in all of our ships," Norwegian Cruise Line Vice President Nick Wilkinson said.

The post Norweigan Cruise Line to offer kosher meals to passengers appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.