Knesset passes law returning kosher certification authority to Chief Rabbinate

The Knesset plenum on Tuesday evening approved legislation that returns exclusive authority over kosher certification to the Chief Rabbinate, an institution that has historically been associated with the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community. The bill passed by a vote of 46-41 and was among several measures advanced in the final days of the current Knesset session after ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) made their support for coalition legislation contingent on progress regarding their own legislative priorities.

Critics of the legislation argued that the law strengthens the Chief Rabbinate’s control over the kosher (kashrut) certification system and reverses reforms passed by the previous Knesset that allowed other approved organizations to provide kosher certification under government-set standards.

Under the previous framework, smaller religious organizations were able to issue kosher certificates to restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses in their own name, provided they met state requirements. Opponents of the new law argued that returning authority to a single body could reduce competition in the certification market, potentially increasing costs for businesses and consumers. Some also warned that businesses may choose to operate without kosher certification rather than pay higher fees or navigate additional requirements.

Some businesses in Israel already operate without kosher certification. Several grocery stores serving primarily Russian-speaking communities, for example, have built customer bases without kosher certification.

Numerous grocery stores that primarily cater to Israel’s Russian-speaking population already operate without a kosher certificate and their business model has a proven track record.

Employees at Kashtens Deli in Jerusalem’s Talpiot neighborhood told ALL ISRAEL NEWS that their business operates all week long and attracts a diverse range of customers.

“We’re open seven days a week and we’re busy from the moment we open the doors in the morning until we close in the evening. There are hundreds of Chinese men in Jerusalem these days, working on all the construction projects. They all come here to buy the pork and spices and all the other things they need to make the kinds of food they’re used to eating back in China...”

One employee added, “We also have many tourists who come here to shop as well as Russian-speaking Israelis and also some Arab Christians and even a few Jewish people who come here to buy certain products that their Rabbis have said are kosher, but the big grocery stores don’t carry, or maybe they’re more expensive there.”

While such businesses demonstrate that some retailers can operate without kosher certification, many establishments continue to seek certification because a significant portion of Israeli consumers prefer to purchase from businesses with recognized kosher supervision.

The legislation is the latest in a series of measures supported by Haredi parties during the final days of the current Knesset term. Recent legislation has also included a Basic Law recognizing Torah study as a core state value and a temporary measure preventing the arrest of Haredi men who fail to respond to IDF draft notices.

Haredi lawmakers have said they view the recent legislative achievements as important steps toward protecting their community’s religious interests. One senior Haredi politician told media outlets, on condition of anonymity: “Netanyahu proved today that we are a single [political] bloc, but that is not enough,” one senior Haredi politician said to the media, on condition of anonymity. “After the elections, we will demand an IDF draft law permanently [exempting ultra-Orthodox from military service], before we establish a government. We’ve learned how to work with him.”

The passage of the law came shortly after the Chief Rabbinate announced that it would recognize the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization’s ability to issue kosher certificates, following a High Court of Justice ruling requiring recognition of the organization. However, the decision remains subject to dispute and has not yet been fully implemented.

Elections for the 26th Knesset are scheduled for Oct. 27.