Normal kashrut standard (not necessarily mehadrin) is good enough for myself and my family, but I had an issue just before last Shabbat which we had planned in a well known Jerusalem hotel. (A long awaited rest without the kids.)

When arrived at the hotel, I noticed that mehadrin kashrut certificate had expired last day of Sivan. Might have just ignored the few days overdue, but as a result of the awareness that you (and others) are imbuing decided that I could only rely on the kashrut after I spoke to the Mashgiach (even briefly as at the end of the day, in my opinion, it is the Mashgiach’s work to maintain kashrut). If not, the hotel would have to provide us with meals in one of the other neighboring hotels that does have a certificate. I made it clear that without up-to-date certificate and without a mashgiach as far as I was concerned, the establishment was not kosher.

Baruch H’ the mashgiach turned up with his family a few minutes before candle lighting.

Because of this issue, I am sure the hotel were quick to organize their formal kashrut renewal today. It was not easy for me whilst waiting for the mashgiach, because my wife might not have liked it if we ended up eating in a different hotel because of my “meshugas”. It would be difficult to explain to my wife that just because there are seemingly “frumer” people (as if a black hat can define frumness) who were guests, lacking up-to-date certificate + mashgiach is a serious flaw. Especially because as these matters are often, and unfortunately correctly, pinned down to politics. As I said, the mashgiach did turn up, and this hopefully made things OK.

If this reply forum can give room for discussion, or feedback from any of the Rabbannim who are reading, I would be very happy to hear.

My questions or points for discussion are:-

Was my criteria of demanding the necessity of a mashgiach, because the teuda was outdated by more than a week, correct?

Can we assume the mashgiach would maintain the same mehadrin kashrut standard if the certificate was outdated? [This question is actually not relevant for me, but might have been relevant for other guests.]

Can we assume the mashgiach would maintain at least a regular kashrut standard if the certificate was outdated?

Did I make the right decisions in my demand to meet the mashgiach or would it be enough if I was allowed to speak to him, or the chief mashgiach on the phone? [This I had actually requested, but this request was, possibly quite rightly, not honored by the staff.]

Should I have been more lenient because of the shalom bayit issue? For instance, if I did not make an issue, the mashgiach would still have been there in the end. (My wife was not around during my interaction with the staff, which made things easier.)

Has there ever been a similar situation in any hotel, when the mashgiach hasn’t turned up for Shabbat? If the hotel had a valid Rabannut certificate in such a case, would we be allowed to rely on it?