Knesset repeals 2021 kashrut reform, restores Rabbinate control over certification

In a significant move, the Knesset has voted to repeal the 2021 kashrut reform, effectively restoring the Chief Rabbinate's exclusive authority over issuing official kashrut certificates. The amendment, passed by a vote of 46 to 41, reverses a previous attempt to decentralize and privatize the certification process.

The 2021 reform, championed by then-religious services minister Matan Kahana, sought to transform the Chief Rabbinate from a primary service provider into a regulator of a broader certification market. The intention was to allow licensed private kashrut corporations to issue official certificates, thereby fostering competition, offering businesses more choices, and separating regulatory oversight from service provision. However, this competitive market never fully materialized, with local rabbinates largely retaining practical control over certification.

“

Kashrut must not be subject to commercial considerations.

The new legislation designates the Chief Rabbinate Council, authorized local rabbis, and the Military Rabbinate as the sole bodies permitted to issue official kashrut certificates. It also establishes national standards for supervision and oversight. The repeal effectively prevents the competitive system envisioned in 2021 from taking hold, as private national certification bodies were not broadly licensed under the previous framework.

Supporters of the repeal, including Shas chairman Arye Deri, celebrated the decision, framing it as a victory for tradition. They argue that kashrut is fundamentally a public and religious duty that should remain insulated from commercial considerations. The Competition Authority had previously noted that the existing system, where each local rabbinate holds a geographic monopoly, can lead to inefficiencies and burdens for businesses, particularly those operating across multiple municipalities.

“

Shas chairman Arye Deri called the vote “a day of good news for all those who observe tradition in the State of Israel,” saying his party had fulfilled its commitment to reverse what he called the