The IDF completed a project to transfer 20 army bases to a civilian kashrut supervisory system. In the coming weeks, another 16 bases will be similarly transferred.
The Chief Rabbis participated in a special conference to mark the event, Rabbi David Lau and Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef were joined by Col. Haggai Wolosky, head of the IDF Rabbinate Department, Lt. Col. Amir Zazot, head of the External Kashrut Department in the Military Rabbinate, and Major Rabbi Avraham Yosef Schwartz.
The project is carried out by the Y.A. Corporation of the Danel Group, as part of a tender by the Defense Ministry to provide kosher services in kitchens and dining rooms in army bases.
The plan was formulated as part of "Plan Gideon" and as part of the trend to reduce the number of personnel in the military rabbinate, while providing a solution for gaps left in the field following budgetary cutbacks.
The supervisors work within the IDF environment and receive their orders while integrating their experience in the field. They passed the Military Rabbinate Committee, obtained security clearance permits, and have experience in kashrut supervision.
In the past six months, civilian inspectors entered dozens of bases, which supply about 15,000 servings a day.In all the bases, more than 20 kashrut supervisors work daily, in addition to Shabbat supervisors.The kitchen managers at the various IDF bases who have passed through the process so far have praised the supervisor's quality and the company's work, and graded the activity as very successful.
Eran Mordechai, VP of Human Resources at the Danel Group, noted that Y.A. Corporation of the Danel Group has extensive experience in providing kashrut services in religious councils throughout the country.
According to him, "the advantage of operating the project is to sever the connection between the supervisor and the supervised, so that the salaries of the supervisors are not dependent on recipients of the service, for their employment rights and social benefits, etc. A unique addition to the project is the integration of dedicated technology for kashrut activities. The technology helps manage the presence of, and specific activity carried out by the kashrut supervisors," he said.
Col. Haggai Wolosky noted that "kashrut affects every person's way of life and soul."According to him, "the instructions given to civilian supervisors are very clear and meticulous. Kashrut in the IDF is the commitment of every single commander, and in this project the spirit of the company chairman is identical to that of the army commander."
Lt. Col. Zazut saluted the civilian kashrut supervisors, saying that "they are not obligated as military men but go everywhere and act with devotion."