The Kosher Monopoly

Our group had the opportunity to talk to Anat Hoffman who is the executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) and a founder of The Women of the Wall. She told us about the projects that she is currently focusing on, especially in regard to the Ultra Orthodox and the overpowering monopoly on religious values which they manipulate through the law in Israel. Even in the democracy that Israel claims to be, many civilians freedoms are denied and ignored such as at the Kotel, the legitimacy of reform rabbis, and your right on flight (the right to stay in your own seat even if an ultra-orthodox man forces you to move). One particular topic that Anat raised was the function of kashrut laws in Israel. Under the kosher law, a kashrut certificate must be received by the owner of a restaurant in order for them to claim that they are kosher. This caused problems for two restaurants who were fined because they claimed that they served kosher food even though they were not granted a certificate from the Rabbinate validating this entitlement. Fortunately, with the help of the IRAC, this case was taken to the High Court of Israel who came to the decision that businesses who receive a kashrut certification from a group beyond the Rabbinate are not allowed to be fined as long as they exclude the use of the word kosher. This was a huge win for the Reform Jews in particular, who have been fighting to freely express their identity as Jews in the eyes of the Ultra-Orthodox. However, despite the Attorney General's demand, parties in Netanyahu’s new right-wing government say they will fight for their monopoly on the word kosher. In a state that claims to be democratic, it seems a bit contradictory for a group which makes up only 20% of the population to have such an immense amount of power and say in the daily lives of other individuals. It is unequal for one party to prescribe and hold laws over individuals who don't adhere to the same beliefs. It is vital for Israel to find a balance between being Jewish and being overly Jewish and Jews should have the ability to define their Jewishness to whatever extent they desire and not have a specific group determine how to be Jewish. This is an ongoing problem in the state of Israel, and it is important to realize the significance of people like Anat and individuals working for organizations like the IRAC who are extremely strong and persistent in fighting for a change in the way that Reform Jews are viewed, and to keep growing, questioning and expanding the way we view ourselves.