A group of eleven Knesset members -- mainly from
the Shinui and Meretz parties -- have placed a
somewhat innocent-looking proposal on the Knesset
agenda that would really undermine kashrus
in the country and limit the authority of those
responsible for issuing kashrus
certificates.
The proposal, also signed by MKs Milo, Pines,
Tsinker and Bronfman, states that those granting
kashrus certificates certify only the
kashrus of the food and not take additional
factors such as Shabbos desecration and
tsnius into consideration.
In their explanation of the proposal they said that
today rabbonim "extend" the requirements involved
in the granting of kashrus certification.
They claimed, "These considerations include factors
which are not related to the kashrus of the
food which is served or sold at various
establishments and restaurants -- such as the
opening of the establishment on Shabbos and the
presentation of immodest shows at the restaurant.
The proposed amendment seeks to declare that a
kashrus certificate be granted to a food
concern based only on the kashrus of the
food itself."
Also on the recent Knesset agenda were no-
confidence motions filed by Haichud Haleumi and
Yisrael Beiteinu, in light of Minister of Education
Yossi Sarid's offhand pronouncement that he works
on Shabbos.
The Arab parties in the Knesset also presented
proposals of no-confidence in the Prime Minster
because of the Prison Services' decision of to free
Yoram Skolnik before completion of his prison term.
Skolnik was sentenced to life imprisonment seven
years ago for the murder of a handcuffed Arab.
