YERUSHALAYIM – The new Religious Services Minister, Shas MK Michael Malchieli, signed an order suspending reforms in kosher certification passed by the Lapid government.

It was his first official act as minister, performed directly following the ceremony swearing in of the new government on Thursday.

Malchieli issued the order from the office of the Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, who gave his blessing to the decision.

The reform, passed by the Knesset last year, permits private organizations to provide supervision services without oversight by the Rabbinate, starting in 2023. Canceling the law would return control over kashrus supervision to the Rabbinate, with the aim of maintaining high standards of kashrus that were threatened by the change.

A copy of the order signed by Malchieli and tweeted by Army Radio declares that starting on January 1, only rabbinate-approved supervision will be accepted.

Malchieli activated a clause in the 2021 law which permits the religious services minister to delay implementation by six months, which can be extended repeatedly for up to five years. The coalition agreements provide for complete cancellation of the proposed reforms.

Source: Hamodia