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Nov 24, 2020

Rabbanut clarifies kashrut removal policy

One of the frustrating aspects of a kashrut organization removing its kashrut certification form a product or company  or restaurant (or being removed by the company/restaurant) is the announcement of the kashrut removal. 

Sometimes, perhaps even often, the announcement is worded vaguely and sometimes makes one suspicious of troublesome behavior, or fraud or deception. Sometimes all that happened is the restaurant or company decided to switch to a different kashrut certification, yet the consumer sees the announcement of the kashrut being removed without necessarily seeing anything about the new kashrut certification and gets an impression that kashrut was removed because of a problem. That announcement stays in his head and he then suspects the place is no longer kosher, and might even not rely on the new kashrut, if he finds out about it, thinking they must be pulling something over on the new organization that they haven't found yet. 

The wording of these announcements, which are necessary, can be very pareve and neutral, or they can be dangerous and destructive.

The Rabbanut has issued a clarification regarding the wording of such announcements. Obviously this only applies to such announcements from the Rabbanut and not form other organizations, but at least they will be working according to rules of reasonable announcements, and that's a start.

According to the Rabbanut's clarification, it is important to make such an announcement of a kashrut removal, regardless of the reason, so that those who are kashrut observant and used to eating in an establishment with kashrut certification will know that it is no longer certified as kosher. If the removal of certification is due to breaking the rules of kashrut in a way that justified the removal, they reserve the right to announce the removal of certification along with the reason as it sees fit, along with a kashrut warning if deemed necessary. If the reason for the removal is initiated by the customer, whether financial or other reasons, the wording of any announcement should be carefully crafted to not give the impression of any wrongdoing or attempt to cause people to sin, and they should bear no kashrut warning to the public and just leave it as an announcement of the removal of the certification (with the reason) with the local Rabbanut bearing no more responsibility.

Hopefully this clarification will help the public know the true situation of any given restaurant and eatery and will not cause unnecessary damage, while still helping the public keep kosher and be educated about current realities.







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1 comment:

  1. This is good although I doubt that it will change practices of Chareidi hashgachot. I heard of a pizza shop in Romema that a premier hashgacha announced that it was no longer under their supervision. Lots of consternation until it was apparent that the owner merely switched to another hashgacha - perhaps for financial reasons.

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