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Israel's High Court Finds Alternative To Contempt In Kosher Certification Challenge

By Howard M. Friedman

In June, Israel's High Court of Justice ordered the country's Chief Rabbinate to issue a kashrut certificate (certifying the business is kosher) to a bakery operated by a Messianic Jew after the Chief Rabbi of Ashdod Yosef Sheinin, withdrew it claiming that the owner could not be trusted to maintain the proper standards of kashrut without enhanced supervision. (See prior posting.) Rabbi Sheinin has still not complied, and Israel's Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has asked the Knesset to enact legislation to remove High Court jurisdiction over matters of kashrut. (YNet News 12/13.) This morning the High Court, instead of holding Rabbi Sheinin in contempt, issued an order requiring the Chief Rabbinate to designate another rabbi who will grant the kashrut certificate. (YNet News, 12/21.) The court ordered the certification to be issued within a month. (Arutz Sheva.) [Thanks to Joel Katz, Relig. & State In Israel, for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 21, 2009 (boomark / email).