Jerusalem – Israeli Religious Women’s Group Accuses Rabbinate Of Dragging Its Feet On Recognizing Female Kashrut Supervisors

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    FILE PHOTO illustrationJerusalem – A prominent Israeli religious women’s group has accused the kashrut department of the Chief Rabbinate of dragging its feet in recognizing female kashrut supervisors, and says it will ask the High Court of Justice to intervene if the matter isn’t settled by week’s end.

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    ISRAEL HAYOM (http://bit.ly/11PO9mI) reports that the women’s organization Emunah said requests for a decision on the matter have been repeatedly ignored by the Chief Rabbinate over the past year, and that there is “no reason” for the Chief Rabbinate to continue to dodge the issue.

    On Thursday, 13 women became the first female graduates of a kashrut supervision course that is described by Religious Services Minister Naftali Bennett as “more rigorous” than existing rabbinate guidelines, but cannot work without being officially sanctioned by the rabbinate.

    Liora Minka, chairwoman of Emunah, said this is “gender discrimination, pure and simple.”


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    21 Comments
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    iamoverhere
    iamoverhere
    10 years ago

    why?
    why the heck do you need another kosher supervision, are the hundreds out there not good enough?

    Kosher_Ham
    Kosher_Ham
    10 years ago

    I know that the /cRc\ (Chicago Rabbinical Council) permits & has women mashgichahs. I believe that the OU doesn’t permit or has them. I applaud the /cRc\ for its stance on this issue. If you can’t trust your wife to cook you a kosher meal, then eat elsewhere! There is nothing against halacha to forbid this. It also allows (older) widows a source of income.

    10 years ago

    When my wife decides to let me in the kitchen then maybe I’ll let her tell me what is Kosher.

    10 years ago

    Prominent religious organization? When did Emunah become religious?

    DovidTheK
    DovidTheK
    10 years ago

    Also Rav Teitz in Elizabeth has women mashgichos in the restaurants.

    10 years ago

    Weird. In a country whre they are trying to get men out of koilel and into the workforce, and yet closing yet another previously open door to earning an honest living.

    posaikacharon
    posaikacharon
    10 years ago

    what are they gonna be called?
    women of the hall
    women of the mall
    women on call

    Mashgicha
    Mashgicha
    10 years ago

    The Reviews are In: STAR-K’s Mashgicha Enrichment Program is a Big Hit
    by Margie Pensak
    The eighteen mashgichos who attended STAR-K’s Mashgicha Enrichment Program, November 2-3 in Baltimore, Maryland, had only one complaint—it wasn’t long enough. Although it lacked nothing in the way of organization or detailing of comprehensible and practical information, the women would have appreciated even more face time with the STAR-K experts. The experience of meeting fellow mashgichos from so many communities, being able to ask questions throughout the presentations, and the camaraderie felt by the program’s end, made it worth the trip!. . .
    As noted by Rabbi Zvi Goldberg, director of the Mashgicha Enrichment Program, “We were impressed with the caliber of the women who came. They were extremely motivated to learn more about kashrus. We stressed to them that based on Rav Moshe’s teshuva (Igros Moshe Y.D. 2:44), they are permitted to be mashgichos since they are working under the authority of a Rav Hamachshir. They are the most important link between their Rav Hamachshir and what is happening in their facility.” . .

    JOTHEPROFESSOR
    JOTHEPROFESSOR
    10 years ago

    I have heard of cases where fraud was committed while the Mashgiach was Davening Minchah. With a woman this would be less of a problem.

    pipeman
    pipeman
    10 years ago

    No.s 1 and 9 what’s really scaring you? Could it be that your ‘old boys club’ of under the table handouts might collapse and restaurants will serve real kosher food where the mashciach will actually eat there? I trust a woman in these matters over a man any day.

    NeveAliza
    NeveAliza
    10 years ago

    My sister-in-law is one of the women who just finished this excellent course in EY. One of their rabbeim – who is involved in the Kashrus establishment here – told them that he, personally, did not think women would “survive” in the Kashrus scene, where everything is cut-throat, under the table and mafia/haredi controlled. While this did not discourage the women, it gave them a good sense of “reality” and an understanding why change is needed in this area.