Sep 23, 2020
The Unexpected Victim of CoronaVirus
A boutique bakery in Bet Shemesh named "Bakery Boutique" posted on Facebook about a curious situation..
Generally most kashrut certificates form the Rabbanut for restaurants and other food establishments are renewed twice a year - from Rosh Hashana until Erev Pesach with the new certificate granted right after Pesach, and from just after Pesach until Erev Rosh Hashana, with the new certificate granted just after Rosh Hashana.
We have all been taught to check the kashrut certificate to make sure it is valid and not expired. We hear all sorts of stories about we didn't renew it yet but nothing changed, or the Rabbanut is working on it, the Rabbanut is overwhelmed and will send out the new certificates within the next week, etc. Yet we are all taught to not accept such excuses and if the certificate is expired, you can't eat there because it is not supervised.
Well, listen to this story.
According to the post by Bakery Boutique, the kashrut certificate expired on Erev Rosh Hashana but they have yet to get the new certificate from the Bet Shemesh Rabbanut.
The proprietor contacted the Rabbanut representative and asked for the new certificate to be sent over. The rabbi in charge, whose name and phone number is on the expired certificate, got back to her and explained apologetically that he can't right now because the entire staff of the Rabbanut is either in quarantine or actually has CoronaVirus. He said that her business is still kosher and he will vouch for her and anyone with any questions about it or issues with it can call him and ask.
I do wonder how they can vouch for kashrut if they have no ability to send a mashgiach every now and then to check, but maybe part of it is relying on her and a knowledgeable and religious person (often a "neeman kashrut" employee is relied on so that the mashigiach can be present less frequently).
Regardless of that issue, it seems kashrut supervision has become a victim of CoronaVirus. If you walk into an establishment and see the certificate expired, show some understanding rather than hostility. CoronaVirus is creating unusual and unexpected situations for many people....
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Related Posts
So the kashrus agency should be able to supply them with an emergency extension certificate that they can display in their storefront window?
ReplyDeleteAgree with Les Aym.
ReplyDeleteit seems (I chatted with the proprietor a little bit about this) that there is nobody in the office to do this, as the office was shut down and the workers arent able to work remotely for some unknown reason. some of the mashgiachs are available and continuing to supervise, but nobody is doing any of the office work. They cant issue an extension certificate because there is nobody available to press "print". a bit chelmish that they can't figure out a way to do simple tasks remotely, but that's the way it is
ReplyDeleteHow about sending someone or some teudah certificate from another town, and or a non rabbanut hashgacha?
DeleteDoesn't Rav Lau live in a nearby town?
Maybe a media event with Rav Lau buying a meal?
Rav Lau lives in Modiin, if I am not mistaken.
DeleteI dont really know who has authority on what and who would be stepping on whose toes and who is supposed to get involved or not. But I am sure it isnt just one restaurant or bakery or whatever. And I am sure it is not just happening here, though having the entire office out of commission seems a bit extreme. I am also pretty sure Rabbi Lau is too busy to come signing and distributing tens of temporary certificates, especially when the problems is hopefully short term. At some point they'll come out of bidud and hopefully heal and get back to work.