It’s Kosher has its say
The Rabbinical Council of Victoria issued a statement last week denying the validity of Kosher certification issued by It’s Kosher. It’s Kosher responds.
J-Wire republishes the statement by the RCV:
It has recently been brought to the attention of The Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) that claims made by the local business ‘It’s Kosher’ on its website that its hechsher is endorsed by the Chief Rabbanut of Israel are both false and misleading.
The Rabbanut has clarified that no such endorsement has been issued, and while it did approve one specific product some four years ago, this does not constitute an endorsement of the “It’s Kosher” hechsher.
The Rabbanut further clarified that it has a policy not to approve any products under the supervision of this Hechsher.
“Leaving aside the concerns expressed to the RCV relating to the Halachic standards adopted by the said business,” RCV President Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant said, “this misleading statement about the Israeli Rabbanut is deeply concerning to the RCV. If it is the case that the false statement was made to mislead and deceive the public by claiming that its Hechsher is supported by the Israeli Rabbinate, this would call into question the integrity of those running the ‘It’s Kosher’ business”.
…and the response from Rabbi Meir Gershon Rabi from It’s Kosher:
Rabbi Rabi
It is undisputed that a food product manufactured under our Kosher certificate was successfully imported and marketed in Israel. This requires that the Israeli Rabbanut Kashrut division evaluate and endorse the product as Kosher, which they did by relying solely upon our Kosher certification.
We accordingly posted the following information which has been on our website for some years, please check the link and see for yourself.
On the Home Page; Australia’s First Kosher Authority; Recognised by the Chief Rabbi’s Office, Israel …
Linking to this page
Rabbanut HaRashis LeYisrael, Israel’s Chief Rabbinate
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel relies upon Its Kosher
All foods imported into Israel must qualify as Kosher. The government authority that regulates this is a Division of the Rabbanut office that is dedicated to Kashrut and which regulates all Kosher standards in Israel.
It is “false and misleading” to suggest that we in any way purport that our “hechsher is endorsed by the Chief Rabbanut of Israel”. The Rabbanut of Israel does not offer such endorsements, nor do we seek their endorsement.
• The RCV has made their pronouncement without making even the slightest effort to examine what they are attempting to criticise.
• The RCV has made no effort to contact us prior to releasing its announcement.
• We have had no communication from the Rabbanut or any representative of theirs regarding this matter.
• We have not seen anything to verify the alleged Rabbanut communication.
• Past experience with such type of claims made by the RCV lead one to suspect that there is no such communication.
• The statement made by the RCV President Shelita, is misleadingly suggestive on a number of counts.
