Kashrut inspectors
Kashrut inspectorsFlash 90

MK Michael Malchieli (Shas) attacked the Tzohar rabbinic organization which established an alternative kashrut body despite the national kashrut authority of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva, Malchieli said, "Today it was again proven that at the head of the Tzohar organization are people who have not yet succeeded in accepting the fact that they lost the elections for Chief Rabbi of Israel. Instead of accepting the electorate's opinion, they oppose the Rabbinate through all kinds of odd and delusional ventures."

"The Torah-observant public, loyal to the path of its forefathers, will continue to rely on the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Chief Rabbis, and will not be fooled by a group of people who love aggrandizement and power."

MK Malchieli referred to the claim that the haredim also maintain private kashrut bodies: "I think that only rabbis of great stature who know kashrut should provide kashrut certification, but all the various kashrut organizations are not an alternative to the Rabbinate's kashrut. If they want to set up something in addition, I have no problem with that. The problem is that Tzohar is trying to undermine the Chief Rabbinate."

The haredi kashrut bodies certify food for those who wish to keep voluntary stringencies which extend beyond the regular laws for kashrut, but Tzohar's certification is on the regular kashrut level.

"Anything in addition to the rabbinate that does not harm the Rabbinate - let them do what they want, and market forces will determine," MK Malchieli stressed.

ח"כ מלכיאלי: צהר מנסים לקעקע את הרבנות