Community-wide probe into kashrut
SYDNEY’S largest communal organisations, backed by some of its most prominent Jewish lay leaders and rabbis, have launched a commission of inquiry to review all aspects of kashrut in NSW.
SYDNEY’S largest communal organisations, backed by some of its most prominent Jewish lay leaders and rabbis, have launched a commission of inquiry to review all aspects of kashrut in NSW.
The commission will investigate appropriate structures, corporate governance and transparency required from a kosher authority, commercial operations, the cost of providing hechshers and mashgiachs, the cost and importance of local shechita and the overall cost of kosher food in Sydney.
The issue came to a head this week following the failure of new kosher caterer Amaze In Taste (AIT), which arose after the collapse of Passion8, to secure a licence from the Kashrut Authority (KA). The two organisations have been locked in a dispute over payments, prompting AIT late last year to secure approval from a lone rabbi, Yossi Feldman – a move that was condemned by the wider rabbinic leadership.
Describing the stand-off as “the catalyst for substantial public discussion about kashrut in Sydney”, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) president Yair Miller insisted “there is no kashrut crisis in Sydney.”
However, he noted, “While the KA and beth din determine for themselves what is in the religious interests of the community, there is no formal accountability to the wider rabbinate, synagogue membership or lay leadership. This is considered by many as a flaw which must be addressed if kashrut is truly to be considered communal and communal confidence is to be restored.”
The inquiry, which is being led by JBOD and the Council of Orthodox Synagogues with the support of the JCA, United Israel Appeal and the JNF of NSW, has been launched with Robert Gavshon as the chairman.
“The commission of inquiry’s primary goal is to ensure that the interests of the kosher consumer are best served,” Miller said.
“It will look at the current models of provision and pricing of kashrut with a view to recommending any improvements in delivery and cost.”
Communal heavyweights Geoff Levy, Bruce Fink, Richard Sheinberg, Meir Moss and representatives from the top communal bodies will also sit on the board.
The rabbinic board consists of the Jewish Learning Centre’s Rabbi David Blackman, Adass Yisroel’s Rabbi Menachem Channen, Kehillat Masada’s Rabbi Gad Krebs, The Great Synagogue’s Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, North Shore Synagogues’s Rabbi Paul Lewin and South Head Synagogue’s Rabbi Benzion Milecki.
“This group represents most of the major Orthodox communities in Sydney,” Miller said.
Rabbi Krebs said he wants to create an environment that allows more affordable kosher consumption for all. “Our goal is to create a level of kashrut supervision that enables the most amount of people [to enjoy] affordable kashrut and to create transparency, because people should be able to know why things are more expensive,” Rabbi Krebs said.
“We represent a significant portion of the community and we want to go back to our congregants and assure them that, as a community, you can keep kosher.”
The KA welcomed the initiative and said it endorsed any effort, from any party, that would enhance the provision of kashrut. “The KA trusts that this important development will promote a greater adherence to living Jewishly in our community.”
JOSHUA LEVI
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