Rabbi ordered to stay out of kashrut matters

Kfar Saba business owners have been in a state of confusion in recent months because of the disorder in the kashrut department.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
The long-running kashrut chaos in Kfar Saba may soon come to an end after a court placed an injunction against former kashrut department head Rabbi Yehuda Najati, reports Yediot Hasharon. The Tel Aviv district labor court ordered the rabbi to stay out of kashrut matters, prohibiting him from signing kashrut certificates, issuing instructions to kashrut supervisors and answering kashrut questions by local businesses. According to the report, Kfar Saba business owners have been in a state of confusion in recent months because of the disorder in the kashrut department of the local religious council. Three months ago, council head Bechor Vaknin announced that there were irregularities in the running of the kashrut department, headed by Najati. Najati was fired and 15 kashrut supervisors quit their jobs in a show of support for him. But, according to the report, the firing has not stopped Najati and his supporters from continuing to issue kashrut certificates and to levy fees directly for the service. Many business owners were reportedly confused about how to react to kashrut supervision not authorized by the council. Council head Vaknin said Najati's actions were illegal and the council had turned to the court to obtain an injunction to stop him. A judge agreed, ordering Najati to stay out of kashrut matters entirely. Vaknin said he hoped the injunction would "put an end to the kashrut problems and restore order." Najati reportedly refused to comment.