Kosher sign (illustration)
Kosher sign (illustration)Flash 90

A source in the Chief Rabbinate told Arutz Sheva on Wednesday morning that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein's published opinion on the kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) certification for businesses will not have any impact.

Weinstein opined that establishments can present themselves as kosher even if they only have a private kashrut certificate and not a certificate from the rabbinate.

His opinion is in opposition to Israeli law, which mandates that the Chief Rabbinate or local rabbinate are the only sources that can determine the kashrut status of a business.

That law was meant to create uniformity in the kashrut process, ensuring that no false certificates are given to institutions that actually do not meet the requirements of Jewish law and serve non-kosher food.

The Chief Rabbinate source told Arutz Sheva that according to the coalition agreement between the haredi United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party and Likud, the law will be amended to ensure that the authority over kashrut remains with the rabbinate alone.

He noted that according to clause 49 of the coalition agreement, "if the Supreme Court cancels the monopoly of the Chief Rabbinate on kashrut, the government will amend the law to return it."

"The Chief Rabbinate of Israel isn't worried, but at the same time we will arrange for today an emergency meeting with the chief rabbis of Israel and other sources involved in the issue," added the source.