12 Elul 5772
The following is taken from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Update 026/2012.
This refers to eggplant stuffed with rice (barcode: 869154041716) is advertised as kosher under the Star-K from the USA and imported with permission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
The item did not receive permission from the Chief Rabbinate Import Division.
JKN ADDS:
From the wording, it appears to legitimately be under the Star-K, but in violation of the kosher import law, which is not a kashrus issue. Therefore, if you wish to buy the item perhaps confirm that the Star-K first to cover yourself.
2 Comments
“Not a kashrus issue” – well, true as far as it goes but not entirely.
First of all it is evidently fraudulently advertised, and if you do that your kashrus must be suspect. In Judaism, with certain very specific exceptions inapplicable to this case there is no such thing as “my truth”, “your truth” or “their truth”, truth is indivisible.
Secondly your readers may not know that there are issues which are important to the local consumer which may not faze an American hechsher, and in fact the Rabbinate here may have turned down a request for certification.
Thirdly, there has to be a “lowest common denominator” and the legislature has seen fit to ensure that the Rabbinate is responsible to assist the confused consumer (read: ‘most all of us). Imported foods need this added level of certainty.
Issues of kashrut aside, why does Israel – a country that exports eggplants – feel it necessary to import this “eggplant stuffed with rice (barcode: 869154041716)” in the first place? Ken ain hara, there is no shortage of rice in Israel either.
Has the State Treasury got so much foreign currency and/or gold bullion rolling around in its coffers that it permits such pointless squandering of resources? Next time I am being urged to support Israel by buying Israel Bonds I shall think twice – long and hard.