The Yeshiva World From Sharing the Burden to Attacking Badatz ...

With Yesh Atid and Bayit HaYehudi keeping the share the burden momentum going as much as possible, one can only expect disdain for the frum tzibur to spread to other areas, as the chareidim are viewed as failing to participate in the responsibility for the state, being a tax burden and unemployed, compelling state agencies to support them and their families.

On a Channel 2 TV morning news magazine show on Tuesday morning, 9 Adar 5773, the kind of show seen widely throughout N. America, seated in a casual atmosphere discussing issues of national interest, the issue of high pricing in Israel was raised.

The matter of the recent hike in dairy products came up along with the imminent increase in the price of electricity. The discussion quickly shifted to the Facebook page of an unnamed farmer from the Western Negev area, who laments the fact that he is compelled to pay three mashgichim to have his fields certified for the kosher market.

This quickly deteriorated in a system wide condemnation, citing how mashgichim ?Sit in their air conditioned vehicles while we work, just to give their approval for one Badatz or another.?

The host and participants explained ?once upon a time, it was sufficient when the Rabbinate certified fields but today it has gone crazy. Each group has their own demands and we must now pay multiple mashgichim to certify the same field.?

No mention was made that no one is compelled to have any kosher certification other than the Rabbinate, and they opt to do so towards benefiting from the vast buying power of those communities.

Back to the Facebook page, the anonymous farmer reports that his lemon orchard if without doubt past the three year period and therefore, clear of orla concerns. Nevertheless, ?they disqualified tons of my produce while the Rabbinate said its fine. I am sick of them and they are the reason we all must pay such high prices for produce and other food items.?

The general consensus on the show was one of agreement, without the slightest effort to explain the complex world of kashrus today and the need for reliable kosher certification in a world of mass production.

The discussion continued, moving later in the morning to Israel Radio?s Reshet Bet, blaming the Eida Chareidis of continuing to add charges and increase pricing towards earning a living for that tzibur. ?The state must become involved. We cannot permit this tzibur to do as it wishes without regulation? stated Meir Tzur.

Meir Tzur, who heads the organization representing Moshav farmers feels the Eida is simply ripping him and his colleagues off. ?We are not saying we do not want to comply with kashrus and that we are unwilling to do so, but it is absurd. There are often cases in which tons of fruits are thrown out. Regarding kashrus there is no leniency. Once they feel someone did not adhere with their regulations they disqualify him. The large stores will not buy from him for fear of issues with the Badatz. There is no doubt their strength comes from the major chain stores, those large supermarkets. If they did not cooperate, the Badatz would not have the authority it wields today.?

Responding to Israel Radio was Eida Chareidis spokesman Shmuel Peppenheim.

ISRAEL RADIO:

Why are so many mashgichim required?

EIDA:

I don?t know where this farmer has gathered so many complaints. We employ one mashgiach at the level of the farms, for an entire district.

ISRAEL RADIO:

Yes but there are also mashgichim from the Chief Rabbinate. Why not rely on them?

EIDA:

Those wishing to rely upon the Chief Rabbinate may do so and that is absolutely fine. Badatz Eida Chareidis is a private hashgacha and those wishing our services must comply with our stringent standards. Yes, the law demands the Rabbinate?s certification, and then they can use us if they wish or not. It is not compulsory. We are private.

Regarding the packing area our mashgiach works quite hard, despite that farmer?s statements. It is not just growing fruit on a tree and after three years one can eat. Trees require work, pruning and other care for the farmer?s good, and some of these issues do result in kashrus concerns. The mashgiach understands this things but the farmer may not. That is fine. The mashgiach does what he is responsible to do.

ISRAEL RADIO:

Farmer Netzer Shamir from a moshav in the Negev claims you guys disqualified 10 tons of lemons from his orchard that were over 3 years old.

EIDA:

We have no connection to that farmer. We deal with a middle man who markets produce from many areas. The Eida only uses a small amount of produce that which meets our stringent standard and we pay dearly for this.

ISRAEL RADIO:

Don?t you think your standards are harming the livelihood of farmers?

EIDA:

Quite the contrary sir. We open many markets and doors for a farmer wishing to export and they earn more per ton of produce with us than they will without our hashgacha.

I don?t believe that he had to destroy the lemons for if we do not use it the Chief Rabbinate would take it. Even if the Chief Rabbinate said it does not want it, then he can sell it abroad to the marketplace uninterested in kashrus. It is most unfortunate people like this farmer make such baseless allegations for the Eida would never compel him to destroy tons of lemons.

After hanging up with all parties involved, Israel Radio kept the conversation alive, devoting a considerable amount of air time. Speaking was a representative of the ????? ???? ?????? organization, Shmuel Shetach, who insists most issues raised are ?not at all relevant to Halacha, but administrative and procedural?.

He calls for a law compelling all the Badatz and other private hashgachas to become non-profit, which will demand transparency. In addition, the salaries must be paid by the hashgacha, not the stores receiving the supervision, as is often the case in Israel. The organization calls for setting up a national ombudsman to receive kosher related complaints for today, no one has an official avenue to vent or receive assistance in problems with these kosher supervising agencies. There must be state guidelines and with total transparency, a state regulator. The state must become involved and take control of the industry.

Shmuel feels there must be 4 or 5 hashgachas, since not everyone wants the Rabbinate, but most of the Badatz agencies operating today must be shut for there are too many. There is too much of a link between kashrus and politics, including the Minister of Religious Services having too much to say towards assisting one kashrus or another. He feels that just like there are a number of Kupat Cholim agencies for one to select, the same system must exist for kashrus.

(YWN ? Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

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