This picture has been making the rounds...


it is a package of chicken "pargiyot" -  boneless chicken thighs. In addition tot he sticker form the store with the price and weight, it bears a sticker claiming to be kosher under the supervision of the Rabbanut of Kfar Kassam - an Arab town - with the mashgiach's [Arabic] name and phone number.

At first I thought this was a cute joke and the picture had been photoshopped. Nothing worth posting about. The kashrut sticker looks to be photoshopped in to me, and the other packages of chicken behind it don't have a similar sticker visible (though maybe it is just not visible) but also present on those.

A friend of mine jokingly pointed out that it must be real as the price for the chicken as seen on the price sticker is so high it could only be for kosher, and probably mehadrin, pargiyot.

It seems the Rabbanut has seen this photo as well and is taking it seriously, which makes it post-worthy for me. At least, seriously enough to investigate. On the Rabbanut Facebook page they posted the picture and said that while it looks like a joke they are looking into it. They mention that, obviously, no such Rabbanut (of Kfar Kassem) exists, and the phone number listed is not real.

The Rabbanut does point out that any area without its own religious council, including Kfar Kassem,  responsible for kashrut would give certification using the name "הרבנות לכשרות ארצית" - Rabbanut for Kashrut around the country.

While it almost definitely looks like a photoshopped joke, if you come across it, or any other suspicious looking kashrut certification, contact the Rabbanut (at achifa@rabbinate.gov.il or 02-5313163) and let them know. I have done so on a number of occasions, and they really do look into the issues raised.