Group Sues Chief Rabbinate Over Denying Kosher Supervisor Positions to Women

By JTA July 7, 2013

Emunah sued Israel’s Chief Rabbinate to compel the body to recognize the kosher supervision certificate offered for the first time by the women’s group.

The lawsuit filed last week calls on the Chief Rabbinate to allow the 16 female graduates of the group’s course in kosher supervision to work in their chosen profession. It also asks the court to compel the rabbinate to explain its policy.

One of the course graduates, Avivit Rabi, is a co-petitioner in the suit. Rabi is a mother of seven from the haredi Orthodox city of Beitar Illit.

The Emunah course reportedly is in accordance with the curriculum recognized by the Chief Rabbinate.

Part of the policy that prevents women from applying for jobs as kosher supervisors is the requirement that they have a certificate that they studied in a yeshiva for a minimum of four years after age 18.

Several female kosher inspectors have been working for years; they were hired before the rabbinate required special training courses starting in 2010. The female inspectors reportedly are highly respected.

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