Jerusalem Kosher News

Chief Rabbinate of Israel
Kashrut Fraud Division
Kashrut Alert – 24

 
16 Tammuz 5770
June 28, 2010
1. Unauthorized Chicken Slaughter House
WARNING, FORGERY: An inspection of Gavrieli slaughterhouse (6 Pardes Street, Azure) distributed by Adir and Baruch LTD is marked “kosher under the Azure Rabbinate” but in essence, the slaughter house DOES NOT have kosher supervision at all. Its factory store also lacks any kosher supervision and all kosher claims are bogus.

Shochtim (ritual slaughterers) are prohibited from working in this slaughterhouse and failure to adhere to the prohibition may lead to one losing one’s certification to work for the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. (Item 1 in original Hebrew document. Right and left sides)

    ****

2. Privarvitz Soup Powders and Spices
The Kashrut Department of Russia’s Rabbinate reports that spices and soup base powders under the name Privarvitz, imported by Roseman Imports 2004 LTD (in Kiryat Yam) continue marketing goods as kosher with import approval from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The company however does not have kashrut certification. There are concerns regarding the possibility of non-kosher ingredients in the products.

The importer has informed the Chief Rabbinate’s Kashrut Enforcement Division that it no longer imports the items.

Mashgichim and the general public should exhibit vigilance for the following items.
1. Pea soup and meat – barcode 4610000820407 (not kosher)
2. Bulgarian pepper mix – 4610000820018
3. Spices for ground beef – 46100082240
4. Borscht mix – 461000821398 (Item 2 in original Hebrew document, right side)

    ****
3. Broken (Smashed/Crushed Green Olives)
This item, labeled “broken green olives” is making an appearance in delis in 10kg (22 lbs) containers. It is imported by Chideir V’Chatar Importers and Marketing LTD with a label claiming kashrut supervision from the Rabbanut of Tzfat and Upper Galil.

The Tzfat Rabbinate reports the item is a fraud and it never granted kashrut to such a product. (Item 3 in original Hebrew document, left side).

    ****

ALERT: Courgette & Edible Flowers
It is becoming increasingly trendy among chefs in higher end hotels to use courgette flowers [which are cut from unripe zucchini] serving it stuffed with an array of cheeses, fish and rice. At times the dish is deep fried or alternatively, baked.

In addition, edible flowers are used, grown specially, in many colors, used frequently as a garnish or to enhance the look of a platter or scattered on a table or served along with pastries.

These flowers are infested with a number of insects and are prohibited for use without a meticulous inspection by competent persons. (between items 3 and 4 in original Hebrew document, both right and left sides)

    ****

4. Agvaniya Company Oil
The Tel Aviv Rabbinate reports that oil produced under the Agvaniya label from the Agvania Yisrael Achzakat LTD Company which makes pizza condiments, is under the local rabbinate’s supervision, contrary to the report appearing in the previous alert (number 23) (Item 4 in original Hebrew document, left side)

    ****
5. Aroma Café – Rishon L’Tzion Central Bus Station
An inspection of the premises revealed the menus state “kosher” despite the fact the branch has no kashrut supervision. Appropriate legal measures are being taken against the store.

    ****

6. Shuni Catering Hall – Jabotinsky Park Near Binyamina
The catering hall is not certified as kosher, operates a non-kosher restaurant and operates on Shabbat. As such, rabbis may not officiate over wedding ceremonies in the hall. (Item 6 in the original Hebrew document, left side)

    ****
7. Slices Champagne Mushrooms (2500gram containers)
The item, barcode 7290004460105, manufactured in Spain, imported by Miki Ohz LTD, claims to be kosher under the supervision of Badatz Beit Yosef and approved for import by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

The Chief Rabbinate’s Import Division stated the item was never submitted for approval and the claim is fraudulent.  (Item 7 in the original Hebrew document, left side)

    ****

8. Warning of Infestation in Whole Pickled & Smoked Fish
Once again, a reminder regarding infestation of whole fish, smoked and pickled, in the eggs and other areas of the fish, including various types of herring, and these insects are forbidden to be eaten.

Therefore, a hechsher should not be granted to whole fish and whole fish should not be permitted for use.

    ****

ADVERTISING AS KOSHER ILLEGALLY OR KASHRUT REVOKED:
GILBOA
The catering hall in HaTavlinim Farm, in the north. Rabbis may not officiate over weddings until the place receives a proper kosher certification.

MODI’IN REGION
Mitzpei Modi’in (HWY 443). Rabbis may not officiate over weddings until the place receives a proper kosher certification.

YOKNEAM
Oriental Restaurant – in the Sultam complex – kashrut revoked by Rabbiante.

PARDES CHANA
Tatte Restaurant on Derect Pika – The owner requested to cease kashrut certification.

KIRYAT IKRON
Tizpichit Bakery – kashrut restored as of June 14, 2010

RECHOVOT
1. Mifgash Ha’Ir Restaurant – 39 HaYitzira St. – advertises as kosher without certificate from the local rabbinate.

2. Rome Pizza – Azorim – advertises as kosher without a certificate from the local Rabbinate.

SDEROT
Café 26 – in the N’vei Eshkol neighborhood – the owner was apprehended amending the date of the certificate and therefore, the kashrut certification was revoked.

TEL AVIV
1. Yogi Humus – 18 Carlebach Street. Advertises as kosher without local rabbinate supervision.
2. Gildiya – 6 Weizman St (1st floor) Advertises as kosher without local rabbinate supervision.
3. Aliyah Butcher – Lechem Mordechai – 25 Aliyah St – Advertises as kosher without local rabbinate supervision.
4. Piece of Cake – 17 Yehuda HaYamit St – Advertises as kosher without local rabbinate supervision.

Rabbi Yaakov Sabag
Chief of Kashrut Division
Rabbi Rafi Yochai
Chief of National Kashrut Fraud Prevention

SEE original Hebrew document.

    ****
JKN NOTE:
 As one finds in this update as well as previous updates, many times the enforcement division bulletins write “advertises as kosher but does not have local rabbinate supervision as required by law”.

I receive many emails regarding this so please, permit me to explain again.

The kosher law of the State of Israel, 1983, compels a business wishing to advertise as kosher to have a valid supervision from a local rabbinate, which in essence is an arm of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, which is the only agency empowered under the law to grant supervision.

At times, one may display a kosher supervision without having a local rabbinate, resulting in the eatery or factory being listed in Kashrut Enforcement Division Updates, since the agency is responsible for upholding the law.

For most consumers, it is wise to adhere to the warnings and distance oneself from such places unless one is well versed and knows which private agencies are legitimate or which are bogus. Some of the ‘unauthorized’ agencies simply sell a sign that has no mashgiach or kosher certifying agency standing behind it. When the term “unauthorized” agency is used, it may be making reference to one of the bogus firms operating for profit, duping the public, but at times, it may also refer to a legitimate non-governmental agency.

If one cannot be certain, one would be wise to exhibit caution and seek out an eatery displaying a certificate from a familiar agency. There are too many bogus agencies operating, presenting impressive signs to the public, but in reality, do not provide kashrut!

Usually, or perhaps in most cases, the legitimate agencies will not grant kosher supervision unless a business has first received local rabbinate supervision, since such agencies do not wish to operate outside the law.

Therefore, if one sees a kosher certificate and it is not aside a local rabbinate certificate, in many cases the agency in question is not legitimate and the kashrut of the establishment is in question.

The reverse however is not true, and seeing an unfamiliar ‘mehadrin’ sign aside a local rabbinate certificate does not guarantee the legitimacy of the store’s kashrut regarding its mehadrin claim.