An acerbic verbal exchange took place this past Monday in the Knesset meeting of the Labor and Welfare committee. The Chief Rabbinate was attacked on the grounds of its attempt to stall the passing of the Cornflakes Reform because of kashrus.
Although it is commonly known as the Cornflakes Law, the law actually applies to the importation of a whole range of products, which has been limited. The law seeks to open the market to increased competition by allowing more possibilities of importation.
There are four licensed importers of this product. The Rabbinate refuses to allow other companies to enter this field because of the difficulty in supervising their kashrus, due to a lack of manpower to investigate the sources of the product's ingredients. The discussion became very heated when MKs from the Opposition exploited the opportunity to attack the kashrus network as a whole.
The committee chairman, MK Eli Alaluf, said, "If it is decided that there is no competition and that the Israeli market is in the sole hands of four importers, I suggest that we leave the State in their hands and that we exit the country. Nevertheless, we shouldn't climb on the backs of the Rabbinate and let them determine to whom to allow kashrus certification. Let the Chief Rabbinate present to the Committee within two weeks a resume of technical needs, budgets and their implementation in legislation so as to promote competition in the economy while still adhering to kashrus qualifications, and through a limited team of Knesset members and the Treasury Ministry, we will be able to arrive at solutions. If need be, we will formulate legislation dealing with the main importers."
MK Rabbi Uri Maklev said, "The Treasury knows well enough how to be flexible with other bodies, but when it comes to the Rabbinate, it refuses to listen. The Chief Rabbinate presents only minimal requirements from the importers, while the Treasury provokes the public, creating an impression as if it is holding up the whole reform. We have nothing against this reform. Our public needs it equally, but you sanctify the reform and abuse the kashrus."
