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JERUSALEM RABBINATE CANCELS
KOSHER
FOOD CERTIFICATE OF YOUTH HOSTEL
RUN BY THE MASORATI (CONSERVATIVE)
MOVEMENT
ON GROUNDS THAT
" NEITHER WOULD WE GRANT IT TO A BROTHEL"
In another shocking event which occurred several years ago, the Kosher Food Department of the government-financed Jerusalem Rabbinate canceled the Kosher Food Certificate of the youth hostel run by the Masorati (Conservative) movement on Agron Street in Jerusalem, despite the fact that they had held such a certificate for years and met all of the requirements of the Orthodox Rabbinate, including regular inspection by a certified Orthodox Kosher Food supervisor (mashgiach). The Rabbinate officials did not claim the youth hostel had violated any rules but stated that they had not been aware that this particular youth hostel was run the by Conservative Movement in Israel, which they view as illegitimate. In reply to demands that they renew the certificate they told the press: "We would not grant a Kosher Food Certificate to a brothel even if they met all the requirements." After considerable pressure on the Israel Government from the Conservative Movement, HEMDAT and American Jewish community leaders, the certificate was finally reissued by the Rabbinate.