Full Breakdown
Chief Rabbinate Grants, Then Freezes Tzohar’s Kosher Certification License
7/3/2026, 4:24:31 AM
License Granted and Immediately Frozen
On Thursday, the director-general of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, Yehuda Cohen, issued a license allowing the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization to issue kosher certificates under Israeli law for the first time. Within hours, the Chief Rabbinate Council announced it does not approve the license and placed the authorization on hold. The council said the director-general failed to inform the council or its Kashrut Committee, a breach of Section 2(17)(a)(6) of the Kashrut Fraud Prevention Law.
Background and Reform Context
The decision occurs amid ongoing reforms that allow independent certifying bodies to operate under the Chief Rabbinate’s supervision, aiming to decentralize state control of kashrut. Tzohar, founded in 2018, already supervises hundreds of restaurants, hotels and food-production facilities but could not label its services “kosher” until official recognition. Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar, who chairs the council, confirmed that neither he nor the council had been consulted.
Official Statements & Responses
The Chief Rabbinate Council asserted that the director-general’s unilateral action violated legal procedures. Tzohar’s leadership described the approval as a historic step toward a professional, state-recognized kashrut system. Yehuda Avidan, director-general of the Religious Services Ministry, called the license “invalid” because it lacked Council endorsement.
Criticism & Opposition
Council members labeled the director-general’s move a “fait accompli” and an end-run of proper administrative procedure. Avidan’s urgent letter to Deputy Attorney General Carmit Yulis and legal adviser Ofer Yaakov emphasized the statutory requirement for Council approval, reinforcing institutional opposition.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Some sources report the license as officially granted and historic, while others note the Council’s freeze renders it ineffective. No court ruling on the dispute is cited, leaving the final legal status unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “does not, at this stage, approve the granting of a license to the Tzohar organization.” — Chief Rabbinate Council
- “This is a very important step toward further strengthening Israel’s official kashrut system with professionalism and oversight that is first and foremost based on halacha, and a real sense of responsibility for the interests and needs of the general public,” — Rabbi Emmanuel Guedj, director, Tzohar Kashrut
- “Despite the fact that he was required to do so by law, by logic and by proper administrative rules, the director-general did not inform us at all regarding his intention to grant the license,” — Chief Rabbinate Council
- “Tzohar added that this is a precedent-setting and historic step that may contribute to strengthening the kosher certification system in Israel, increasing transparency, lowering costs and strengthening public trust in kashrut.” — Tzohar statement
What’s Next
The Council’s freeze is expected to prompt further legal review, possibly involving the Attorney General’s office. Both Tzohar and the Religious Services Ministry have signaled readiness to seek judicial clarification, leaving the license’s future uncertain.
