Jewish Scene
Kashrut in danger over New Year's Eve
Kobi Nahshoni
Published: 24.12.12, 07:34
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1. Respectfully ask Rabbi what this year is commonly called
Grace ,   USA   (12.24.12)
Perhaps I am just not educated in this and I mean this sincerely with all due respect. Do all Israelis and Jews utilize the Jewish year in all documents and never use the western time such as today being December 24, 2012? Even this article uses this date. Will Israel not change the year to 2013 on January 1st? I would really like to know this. Thank you.
2. Welcome to the only democracy in the Middle East!
miki ,   tampa   (12.24.12)
3. Haifa Kashrut
Tay Green ,   Modi'in Israel   (12.24.12)
I cannot believe that this threat can be allowed in a "democratic" country. Having made Aliyah only 6 months ago, I know if something like this had happened only against the Jews in England, the cries of anti-semitism would have been heard throughout the western world. There is not one rule for one and one rule for another, and this so-called authority has to be stopped. I am Jewish born and bred and now Israeli too, but this makes me ashamed of both facts.
4. Slippery slope
Mike Carmel ,   Rishon le Zion   (12.24.12)
This kind of xenophobic "religious" intolerance should be opposed at all costs. Christianity is a religion too. Haifa has a large Christian population. Don't they have any rights? Are they not free to conduct parties in restaurants and hotels to celebrate their holidays? Kashrut certificates should be just what they are supposed to be ie concerned with the administration of food products, and not more than that. This cynical abuse of power by the local rabbinate is completely unjustified and has no place in a so-called "modern democracy" which Israel purports to be, and keeps trying to convince us all that she is.
5. FOR THIS TIME I MUST AGREE ON THE MATTER WITH THE RABBINATE
JOE ,   KFAR SABA ISRAEL   (12.24.12)
BECAUSE WE ARE A JEWISH COUNTRY !!! WHOMEVER WANTS TO CELEBRATE BETTER GO BELEN OR PALESTINIAN WEST BANK OR HAMAS TERRITORY OR ABROAD BUT NOT KOSHER PLACES BECAUSE THEY ARE BREAKING THE JEWISH LAW END
6. In this I agree and disagree
Barbara ,   Haifa Israel   (12.24.12)
This is a Jewish state. That Israel is intermingled with other religions and people, does not mean that Jewish establishments (out of profit) should celebrate Christian holidays. But they do not need to close their doors to Christians that want to eat that night.
7. two points
Gershon Reed ,   Be'er Sheva, Israel   (12.24.12)
1. New Years isn't a Xtian holiday, at least in the US it isn't. 2. "in the event where the kashrut supervisors were not able to be present," Why aren't they able to be present? New years eve is on a Monday night this year, a regular work day in Israel. Maybe the kashrut supervisors are taking the night off to celebrate?
8. Every year is the same story
Gregg ,   Haifa IL   (12.24.12)
New Year's Eve is NOT a Christian holiday !
9. New Years is not religious
Mickey ,   Sydney, Australia   (12.24.12)
New Year's Eve is not a Christian Holiday. There s nothing Religious about it , unlike the Jewish new year
10. Kashrut in danger over New Year's Eve
Eric Fried ,   Mount Isa   (12.24.12)
The Imam of the largest mosque in Australia on Friday issued a fatwa banning the faithful from celebrating Christmas and New Year. The public outcry that followed resulted on most of the Muslim groups distancing themselves from this display of intolerance. It is so gratifying to note that Israel has its own crosses to bear: a rabbinate that is myopic, intolerant, anti-intellectual, and out of touch with the real world. Shame on you.
11. secular vs jewish calendar
bg ,   Jerusalem Israel   (12.24.12)
Some sectors exclusively use the Jewish calendar. The majority of government, business, hospitals etc all use the secular calendar. Newspapers often use both. The Rabbis potential ban is a disgrace. They are in danger of destroying kashrut in the public domain. In Jerusalem the movement against their licensing has already started. We need kashrut based on halacha and not on coercive business practice. Yet another example of our Rabbonim damaging a beautiful religion.
12. Outrageous
Mark ,   Australia   (12.24.12)
Rabbis belong in the Synagogue or in the Yeshiva studying and teaching the Torah not meddling in business affairs or politics. This is why so many Israelis are emigrating .
13. Twisted arguement & threat by rabbi
Ted   (12.24.12)
14. New Year's eve is a DRINKING night, kosher champagne
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (12.24.12)
please for me and anything anyone else wants for their drinking.
15. New Year's Eve and Kashrut
Toledano Jean-Pierre ,   Israel   (12.24.12)
I read also now that the 31.12 on 01.01 is a Christian holiday. One of the popes - a harsh anti-Semite - wanted to be rid of the Julian (Roman) calendar, so he called it the Gregorian calendar. I was leaving many years in Europe. People celebrate New Year's Eve without even thinking about a religious or a pagan festivity. They're eating and drinking good, a lot of times too much. Only the very religious people and the clerics know about the real background. If the Rabbinate threatens the restaurant and banquet hall owners to revoke their kashrut permits, people will organize themselves a party and… then we know the kashrut rules will not be followed. The Rabbinate has to think very carefully about that.
16. Ludicrous
Dan S.   (12.24.12)
The New Year celebrates the solar new year, which is accepted by the entire world as the basis for keeping time, and which predates Christianity in its use. The rabbinate would better spend its time dealing with issues like non- kosher meats, foods full of toxic chemicals and over treated with carcinogenic pesticides, and stopping missionary activities.
17. New Year's is not a XTN holy day. New years from
Rivkah   (12.24.12)
Yahweh-Yeshua's perspective is Nisan 1 or Tishri 1, certainly not January 1. Most likely Nisan 1 since that is the Moses calendar New Year's day.
18. #5 Joe from Kfar Saba
deavman ,   Acco, Israel   (12.24.12)
You are a true idiot, I thought you should know...Also learn how to use your keyboard and the CapsLk key, it will enhance readability even if you had nothing intelligent to say.
19. A light unto all nations, LOL
Democrat ,   Only M.E democracy   (12.24.12)
20. Kashrut is now a business that gives money to wrong hands
Avi   (12.24.12)
As well as power for those who would misuse it. Since the beast is already here it might be preferable if kashrut falls under government authority, under the health ministry. In its current form it gives power and money to corrupt elements who misuse it, and way too much power to the haredim.
21. #6 who are you to tell someone when he can and cant party?
Avi   (12.24.12)
You can't tell strangers in the streets "Hey, I don't want you to party on this date" or a business "Hey, I don't want you to host a party on this date". The amount of arrogance alone for such an act is so mind boggling you'd have to think you're god or a tyrant to carry it out. If you think people "shouldn't" - go write a book and cross fingers it sells something. But no one. NO ONE. can force anything.
22. #5 &6: This is nothing but religious coercion!
David ,   Israel   (12.24.12)
The UK is a Christian Country and there is no Separation of Church and State so if Jews were not allowed to celebrate Jewish holidays I am sure you would have plenty to say! What has a party got to do with Kashrut? If the food is kosher and the party is not on a Shabbat the Rabbis have no legal right to disqualify the Kashrut Certificates. We have thousands of Christian Russians in the IDF which is not the case with the Ultra-Orthodox JEWS, so they are good enough to die for Israel but no celebrate the New Year which actually, has no Christian meaning ad Julius Caesar declared 1 Janus as the begining of the year and there was no sign of a little Jewish boy being born in Bet Lehem or Bethlehem! Time to go to the Supreme Court on this! LIVE AND LET LIVE!
23. Uri Regev a rabbi? Since when are non-religious Jews rabbis?
Chaim ,   Israel   (12.24.12)
Is the pope also a rabbi?
24. I work in a place that has a kosher certificate
Northerner   (12.24.12)
Yet we're opened on Friday evenings and Saturdays... It's all about money and kombinot with the mashgiah kashrut
25. New Year's holiday
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (12.24.12)
This is totally uncalled for. New Year's eve is a holiday all over the world and celebrated by all people. It is not comparable to Rosh Hashanah which is a religious holiday. The Rabbinate is behaving in a purely bigoted manner and with no reason or excuse.
26. What?!
Finnish FI   (12.24.12)
What?! What are they talking about? As many are writing here - the New Year's Eve is not a Christian or a common religious party - at least not nowadays! Or are these rabbies talking about Russians and their New Years Eve? But that Russian celebration was allowed even in Soviet Union times - when Christianity was totally banned, Bibbles were forbidden etc. Though I do not know how and when the Russian Christian ortodoxs celebrates in Israel - or is there that much of them in Israel! But I think that even in Russia these two celebrations; the New Year's Eve and the Ortodox Christmas - are different things. (The Russian Ortodox Christian calender is a different one.) In any way, calenders may be different, but more because of cultural reasons - but I think that Christians could use the Jewish calender, at least time counting etc. as well. There is nothing crucial religious reasons for those calenders what we Christians are now using!
27. Height of Foolishness
David Ashtamkar ,   Dimona, Israel   (12.24.12)
Only useless people need these things to keep them in News.
28. You fools don't understand
Cyberbrain ,   World   (12.24.12)
The Rabbinate defines what is Christian and what is not. So the converse must also be true: Christians define who is a Jew. Cant decide whether to LOL or cry out loud
29. #24 Liar unless it's Uri Regev or guys like him who gave the
Chaim ,   Israel   (12.24.12)
kosher certificate. No orthodox Rabbi would ever give a kosher certificate to one who desecrates Shabbat.
30. #24 Liar unless it's Uri Regev or guys like him who gave the
(12.24.12)
kosher certificate. No orthodox Rabbi would ever give a kosher certificate to one who desecrates Shabbat.
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