Table of Contents
1. Chavruta (Chavrusa) Wine
2. ‘Mul HaSadeh’ Kashrus Faud!
3. Mor Levana – Beit Mordechai Kashrut Agencies
4. Multiflex Protector
5. Yarok HaKfar Celery
6. Frisco Chatzba
7. Sharp Cold Cuts (Maadanei Sharp) – Elon Moreh
8. Wissotzky Round Petit Beurre Cookies
9. Grape Juice/Wine Warning
Chief Rabbinate of Israel
Kashrut Fraud Division
Kashrut Alert – 28
6 Elul 5770
August 16, 2010
1. Chavuta (Chavrusa) Wine
A sweet red wine bottled under the name Chavruta (barcode 7290002850564) by the IG Company is labeled “Kosher mehadrin under the Haifa Rabbinate – Kosher for Passover, new bottle”.
The Haifa Rabbinate reports it does not grant kashrus certification for the wine, and the kashrut statement is fraudulent.
The wine may not be used, it should immediately be removed from shelves, and mashgichim are urged to report seeing the wine being use or sold. (Photo 1 left in the original Hebrew document)
2. ‘Mul HaSadeh’ Kashrus Faud!
This hall, located on HaNisi’im Street in Hod HaSharon (09-745-5800) advertises itself as kosher, displaying a photocopy of a Chof HaSharon Regional Council Rabbinate certificate number 0522.
During a kashrut inspection, officials told inspectors the event taking place was catered by Tznubar Catering from Moshav Rishpon, under the management of Mr. Gabi Vardi.
After checking with the Hod HaSharon Rabbinate, it was learned that Mul HaShulchan is treif (non-kosher). A probe with officials in the Chof HaSharon Regional Council Rabbinate revealed that the certificate displayed was also a forgery and the caterer never applied for or received kosher supervision.
There are legitimate fears that actual treif meat was served. A complaint was filed with police against the hall for violating state kosher laws and all legal avenues towards enforcing the law are being pursued.
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3. Mor Levana – Beit Mordechai Kashrut Agencies
A raid of a number of businesses in northern Israel revealed that they are claiming kosher supervision using the unauthorized Mor Levana – Beit Mordechai agencies, and they do not have kashrut supervision from the appropriate local Rabbinate.
As such, items originating in the Jerusalem Bakery and Arbika Coffee (barcode 6231000556615) (44 Huadi Street, Haifa) are not to be used by kosher businesses. Legal action is being taken against the owners.
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4. Multiflex Protector
The above-mentioned product, imported by Supermedic Light (8 Fleeman Street, Haifa) is advertised as kosher under the supervision of Rabbi Avraham Hochwald of the Rhine and with the import approval of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
A probe reveals the item contains a quantity of mussel and as a result, does not have any import approval from the Chief Rabbinate. It is also learned that the same imported, Supermedic Light has other items which it advertises as kosher with import permission from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, a fraudulent statement. The item mentioned should be returned to the importer immediately. (Item 4 left in the original Hebrew document)
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5. Yarok HaKfar Celery
Insect-Free Greens: Yarok HaKfar celery of Meshek Kahanov, as well as parsley from the Oren Eliyahu Company of Moshav Avital are found to carry unacceptably high levels of pesticides and therefore, the area rabbinate has decided to pull the products from the marketplace over health concerns until further notice.
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6. Frisco Chatzba
According to HaRav Moshe Blau Shlita of the Arava Tichona Rabbinate, he is not responsible for the mehadrin kashrus of the above-mentioned factory and therefore, assumes no responsibility for the product’s kashrut integrity.
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7. Sharp Cold Cuts (Maadanei Sharp) – Elon Moreh
The company advertises itself under the kosher supervision of the Shomron Regional Rabbinate but the latter states this simply is not true and use of its name in this case is not authorized.
As such, the company’s products are not to be used until it makes arrangements for proper kosher certification.
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8. Wissotzky Round Petit Beurre Cookies
In response to many inquiries regarding the cookies manufactured by Vieira de Castro Company from Portugal, bearing kosher certification from the Triangle-K for those who use chalav akum milk powder, and with import permission from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the product is dairy.
Since the public is accustomed to petit beurre crackers being parve, the company has been instructed to change its wrapper, placing the ‘dairy’ notification in a more prominent position and font, and mashgichim are urged to place a dairy sign near the item on store shelves to alert the public to the status of the product. (Item 8 left in the original Hebrew document)
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9. Grape Juice/Wine Warning
There are a number of wine presses in Israel that attract tourists and the Rabbinate wishes to warn the public that even if grapes are used after tithes have been taken, and one is certain they are not orla, there is the problem of ‘ yayin nessech’ or ‘stam yanam’ since non-Jews are among those pressing the grapes.
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Following are businesses that advertise as kosher without legal kashrut certification or lost their kashrut certification.
ZEVULUN
Yuval Tzipori Hall in Nachal Tzipori. The regional rabbinate revoked its kosher certification due to shabbos desecration and kashrus violations
LOD
Pizza Patzatz in the Lod Center Mall – Lod Rabbinate revoked kashrut certification.
TZFAT
1. Ariek Bakery (83 Yerushalayim Street) Tzfat Rabbinate revoked kashrut certification
2. Shivat Deganim Bakery (21 Palmach Street) Tzfat Rabbinate revoked kashrut certification
3. Mendy’s Restaurant (29 Yerushalayim Street) Tzfat Rabbinate revoked kashrut certification
4. Tzfat Pizza (4 Bar Yochai Street) Tzfat Rabbinate revoked kashrut certification
5. Deganim Café (24 Yerushalayim Street) Tzfat Rabbinate revoked kashrut certification
ROSH HAAYIN
Isa Zahad Abed Company (42 Sultani, Kfar Kassem) is displaying an outdated forged kosher certificate for figs being sold.
TEL AVIV
Melech Hashawma (58 Levinsky Street) advertises as kosher but lacks a legal kosher certification.
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Rabbi Yaakov Sabag
Chief of Kashrut Division
Rabbi Rafi Yochai
Chief of National Kashrut Fraud Prevention
LINK to original Hebrew document.
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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.
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For questions, or comments please send me an email at Jerusalemkn@gmail.com . I will do my best to respond.
Yechiel Spira
Please pass this around and encourage others to join this free informative service to help get the word out on kashrut in Eretz Yisrael. To join the JKN mailing list, visit the website.
See the original Hebrew bulletin with photos on the JKN Website –
http://jerusalemkoshernews.com
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Baruch Hashem, a growing number of kosher alert organizations around the world are using this material.
Anyone is free to distribute it, even for commercial use, but on the condition the information carry the footer “Jerusalem Kosher News – www.jerusalemkoshernews.com – jerusalemkn@gmail.com”.