Big news in the kashrut world, and the chilul shabbos world. This can be the harbinger of significant change, whether you consider it for the good or for the bad...
For the first time ever (ever is a big word and I am not sure this is necessarily 100% true), the Rabbanut has given kashrut certification to a restaurant that will be open on Shabbos.
The Ben Gurion airport branch of McDonald's is the first restaurant to be in this, exclusive for now, club as a kosher restaurant open on Shabbos.
The restaurant in Ben Gurion is obligated to be open on Shabbos, to provide a food options to travelers, just like every other day of the week. This was a condition in the tender that they recently won for the right to sell in the airport.
The Rabbanut could have kept to its policy and said, if you are open on Shabbos you cannot be certified as kosher. Instead they contacted the Tzomet Institute and asked them to go in and analyze the branch from a halachic and technological perspective and see what is ok and what can be changed so the branch is not desecrating Shabbos in any way when preparing the food.
Tzomet took on the challenge and sent in their top people to look at the situation. Among the changes they recommended were to not install special thermostats on fridges and freezers that are installed in other branches. Also, the various warming drawers used should be set to remain on the entire Shabbos, along with changing other knobs and buttons to be covered throughout Shabbos so workers will not change temperatures at any time.
The Tzomet people said the situation is very similar to what happens in hotel kitchens.
source:
Kipa (among others)
1. so it is true - when there is a halachic will, there is a halachic way...
2. This will open the door to many others to open on Shabbos. Many have already wanted to, with the Rabbanut refusing to allow them even if they are pre-cooking the food. They have compared themselves to hotels, that the Rabbanut allows to function on Shabbos, but the Rabbanut disagrees.
3. Why does McDonalds get this special dispensation when others have not?
4. One of the problems always mentioned in any discussion about restaurants functioning on Shabbos is that the mashgiach cant come supervise on Shabbos. is there going to be a mashgiach in the airport on Shabbos that can technically go in and check the McDonalds? If not, how can they give the hechsher, with the local branch manager knowing that on Shabbos he can do anythign and never get caught?
5. Thsi will also hurt the social argument against restaurants opening on Shabbos, turning Shabbos, using technology, into a regular weekday. If this is possible, restaurants and stores can open up anywhere, adjusting their procedures to meet halachic requirements, and Saturday can be almost exactly like Tuesday, but now the Rabbanut allows it, at least for McDonalds.
6. No mention was made in the article of the food being cooked before Shabbos and only warmed upon the customers ordering it. So, with all these technological adjustments, is Dave at McDonalds cooking the McNuggets when Rudolph places his order or is he taking something cooked yesterday and sticking it into the warming drawer? How will this meet the quality standards of McDonalds, serving reheated food, and how will this go down with the customers? And, if they are cooking it fresh, all the rules of Shabbos are meant to prevent cooking. The technological advancements we use are designed to prevent cooking and only warming, so if they meet all the Tzomet requirements, which they seem to, how will the food get cooked, if not before Shabbos?
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