May 16, 2017
4:59 pm

The rabbi in charge of keeping the Sheraton Crown Plaza kosher uses a gas torch to burn away any traces of leavening in the hotel's kitchen, prior to the Passover holiday, Jerusalem, April 2, 2006. ( The Sheraton was not featured in Channel 10‘s probe). Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90

Israeli hotels ‘preventing non-Orthodox guests from prayer’ – TV probe

Channel 10 News says most Israeli hotels forbid egalitarian prayers for fear rabbinate will withdraw their kashrut licenses

By Sue Surkes

May 10, 2017
8:40 pm

Illustrative photo of Israelis sitting at a Tel Aviv cafe. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Court orders end to direct employment of kosher inspectors by eateries

Chief Rabbinate told to prepare a new certification system by next year and have it up and running by September 2018

By Times of Israel staff

April 24, 2017
7:30 am

Rabbi Avraham Yosef (r) and Rabbi David Yosef attend a ceremony in memory of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in Jerusalem on November 3, 2016. (Yaakov Cohen/Flash90)

Ovadia Yosef’s son found guilty of breach of trust

Late Shas spiritual leader’s son Avraham, chief rabbi of Holon, demanded businesses use his brother’s kosher supervision

By Times of Israel staff

March 16, 2017
2:40 pm

Is your pastrami really kosher? (iStock)

Is any meat today kosher?

Virtually all animal products are the result of practices that categorically contravene Jewish law and ethics

By David Rosen

February 20, 2017
3:31 am

Illustrative photo of kosher seals. (Photo credit:Shutterstock.)

Tennessee prison inmate sues for better kosher food

Jewish man serving 56-year sentence says prison administrators discriminating against him by providing subpar meals

By JTA

January 16, 2017
6:35 pm

Customers sit at the Carousela restaurant, which was one of the first cafes supervised by Private Supervision to check it abides by kosher practices, on June 8, 2016 (AFP PHOTO / MENAHEM KAHANA)

Rabbinate concedes kosher supervision industry needs ‘fixing’

But religious body’s director rejects Treasury report linking it to high food prices, dismisses ‘monopoly’ characterization

By Marissa Newman

December 20, 2016
2:40 pm

Illustrative image of a Christmas tree (CC BY Johnny Lai, Flickr)

Jerusalem rabbis instruct hotels to drop Christmas trees

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate says the city’s directive, which also takes aim at New Year’s parties, is a ‘private initiative’

By Times of Israel staff

December 16, 2016
10:28 pm

Frank Reese, owner of the Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch, raises only heritage birds. In cooperation with the Jewish Initiative for Animals, his chicken is now available for kosher consumers. (Victor Wishna)

Now you can buy kosher artisanal chicken

Jewish Initiative for Animals partners with farmers to bring over 1,000 heritage chickens to kashrut-approved processing plants

By JTA

December 1, 2016
1:12 pm

President Reuven Rivlin at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, September 14, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Rivlin apologizes for proposing changes to religious status-quo

After raising ultra-Orthodox ire with suggestions that religious matters be decided locally, president says he was trying to ease tensions

By Times of Israel staff

November 23, 2016
11:51 am

Illustrative photo of Orthodox Jews walking on a street in Jerusalem during Shabbat. (Corinna Kern/Flash 90)

Jerusalem cafés to ‘open for Shabbat,’ but not for business

New initiative looks to bring together secular and religious Jerusalemites on Friday nights at local coffee houses, without the coffee

By Jessica Steinberg

September 6, 2016
2:06 am

Commack Jewish Center in 1998 (left) at the bar mitzvah of Michael Weber (Courtesy: Mandi Kirschman) and (right) the same sanctuary space in July of 2016, as the new Church Unleashed (Matt Lebovic/The Times of Israel)

How my childhood shul became a televangelist church

As Jewish facilities shut down across Long Island, a reporter returns to the synagogue of his youth — recently purchased by televangelists affiliated with Joel Osteen

By Matt Lebovic

July 11, 2016
10:01 pm

19-year-old kosher food truck entrepreneur Carly Meisel (Courtesy)

Freshman is driving force behind DC’s new kosher food truck

George Washington University student Carly Meisel starts business to satisfy demand for tasty, affordable food — on campus and off

By Renee Ghert-Zand

June 6, 2016
11:32 pm

The building of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in Jerusalem (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

High Court: Only Rabbinate can certify kosher eateries

Judges rule out alternative certification, but give kashrut establishment two years to change its ways

By Sue Surkes

January 9, 2016
1:56 am

Canadian agency: Pot doesn’t need kosher certification

Kashruth Council of Canada says weed is ‘inherently kosher,’ being a plant; but OU says processed edibles may contain other ingredients

By JTA

December 27, 2015
9:56 pm

As Modern Orthodox Israelis begin grassroots efforts pushing for the demonopolization of the rabbinate, change is in the air. (via Shutterstock)

Will Orthodox Israelis’ revolt against the chief rabbinate spur a domino effect?

An in-depth look at a year of shifting sands in the notorious historical status quo of religion and state in the Holy Land

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Topic: kashrut

Israeli hotels ‘preventing non-Orthodox guests from prayer’ – TV probe

Channel 10 News says most Israeli hotels forbid egalitarian prayers for fear rabbinate will withdraw their kashrut licenses

Court orders end to direct employment of kosher inspectors by eateries

Chief Rabbinate told to prepare a new certification system by next year and have it up and running by September 2018

Ovadia Yosef’s son found guilty of breach of trust

Late Shas spiritual leader’s son Avraham, chief rabbi of Holon, demanded businesses use his brother’s kosher supervision

Is any meat today kosher?

Virtually all animal products are the result of practices that categorically contravene Jewish law and ethics

Tennessee prison inmate sues for better kosher food

Jewish man serving 56-year sentence says prison administrators discriminating against him by providing subpar meals

Rabbinate concedes kosher supervision industry needs ‘fixing’

But religious body’s director rejects Treasury report linking it to high food prices, dismisses ‘monopoly’ characterization

Jerusalem rabbis instruct hotels to drop Christmas trees

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate says the city’s directive, which also takes aim at New Year’s parties, is a ‘private initiative’

Now you can buy kosher artisanal chicken

Jewish Initiative for Animals partners with farmers to bring over 1,000 heritage chickens to kashrut-approved processing plants

Rivlin apologizes for proposing changes to religious status-quo

After raising ultra-Orthodox ire with suggestions that religious matters be decided locally, president says he was trying to ease tensions

Jerusalem cafés to ‘open for Shabbat,’ but not for business

New initiative looks to bring together secular and religious Jerusalemites on Friday nights at local coffee houses, without the coffee

How my childhood shul became a televangelist church

As Jewish facilities shut down across Long Island, a reporter returns to the synagogue of his youth — recently purchased by televangelists affiliated with Joel Osteen

Freshman is driving force behind DC’s new kosher food truck

George Washington University student Carly Meisel starts business to satisfy demand for tasty, affordable food — on campus and off

High Court: Only Rabbinate can certify kosher eateries

Judges rule out alternative certification, but give kashrut establishment two years to change its ways

Canadian agency: Pot doesn’t need kosher certification

Kashruth Council of Canada says weed is ‘inherently kosher,’ being a plant; but OU says processed edibles may contain other ingredients

Will Orthodox Israelis’ revolt against the chief rabbinate spur a domino effect?

An in-depth look at a year of shifting sands in the notorious historical status quo of religion and state in the Holy Land

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