16 Av 5770
July 27, 2010

Once again, I turn to the growing number of readers and subscribers interested in kashrus and the ongoing effort to learn and improve the situation in Eretz Yisrael to assist.

Earlier this week I met with the rav/posek of the Jerusalem Rabbinate, Rabbi Eliyahu Schlesinger Shlita, using our meeting to point out what I believe are many problems with the local rabbinate kashrus.

The rav appeared most attentive and more importantly, genuinely concerned, and promises to work with me directly towards improving the situation in Jerusalem.

I must use this opportunity to add that since assuming his post, Rabbi Schlesinger has moved mountains towards eliminating the bogus hechsherim that inundated the downtown area, but sadly, the Rabbinate’s resources are limited and the unscrupulous individuals looking to make fast money at the expense of kashrus continue returning under new names, evading the rulings of the courts. The rabbi has also brought kashrus to many stores that previously operated without a kosher certificate, which not only saves many from eating prohibited products, but results in the stores closing on Shabbos.

In short, we agreed to begin with Jerusalem Rabbinate mehadrin. As such, if you see anything that appears out of order regarding a place with the above-mentioned kashrus, please document the date and time, and send digital photos of a store sign, teudah or whatever may be applicable to me at jerusalemkn@gmail.com. Photos are important and I am a one-man show, so not likely that I can get to all places on my own to investigate every case. Reports must however be well-document since we cannot make allegations against anyone without substantial proof.

 Of late the site has been a bit quite, due in part to the summer vacation time and more so due to the fact that my efforts are being concentrated in the Ramat Beit Shemesh/Beit Shemesh area over recent weeks.

With Hashem’s assistance, Jerusalem Kosher News in conjunction with Congregation Beis Tefilla Yonah Avrohom of Ramat Beit Shemesh, will in Elul be publishing what I believe is a first of its kind kashrus guide, in Hebrew and English, covering some 70 plus eateries; including restaurants, pizza shops, falafel stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, fish stores, candy stores and more, providing community residents with a JKN type man-in-the-street guide to the kashrus situation.

For those of you who follow my work, you understand the “man-in-the-street” terminology, not a halachic work but a simple practical tell-it-like-it-is publication.

The guide will also contain information regarding the kashrus guidelines of a number of prominent kashrus organizations including Badatz Mehadrin, Badatz Eida Chareidit, Badatz Agudat Yisrael, Tnuva dairy, Badatz Yoreh Deah, Badatz Beit Yosef and others,  once again towards assisting residents to determine which kosher agencies work for them.

This will undoubtedly assist residents in determining where they wish to dine out and/or shop.

Please try to do what you can towards improving the Jerusalem scene since we are fortunate to have a helping hand from Rabbi Schlesinger as well as Rabbi Yitzchak Iluitzsky, the head of the Jerusalem Rabbinate Kashrus Department, who over recent years has been a valuable resource, always willing to assist me in my work.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 at 13:04 and is filed under General Interest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.