A Shortage of Milk, a Surplus of Piety: Rabbinate Blocks Dairy Production, Defying Government Appeal
Israel faces potential milk shortages after chief rabbis oppose allowing non-Jewish workers in dairies during Jewish holidays. This decision will impact milk production during High Holidays.
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Israel is bracing for potential milk shortages as the country’s chief rabbis have opposed a government proposal to allow non-Jewish workers to operate dairies during the upcoming Jewish holidays. The decision, detailed in a letter to Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, underscores the tension between religious observance and economic logistics.
Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber emphasized that dairy plants hold kosher certification from the Chief Rabbinate, and operating on Shabbat or holidays, even by non-Jews, could compromise these standards.
“The Sabbath is one of the most distinctive symbols of the Israeli nation and a sign of the covenant between the Creator and His people,” the letter reads. “The very fact that factories in Israel observe Shabbat reflects both religious devotion and the Jewish identity of the State.”
The upcoming High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, followed immediately by Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah, will coincide with weekdays, effectively shutting dairies for nine workdays. Daily production also ceases on Shabbat in line with kashrut regulations.
Despite the potential supply crunch, the rabbis remain confident that dairies can manage.
“There is still sufficient time to make arrangements to ensure no shortage will occur,” they wrote.
Meanwhile, grocery stores across Israel have already been rationing milk in response to ongoing production shortfalls, highlighting the challenge of balancing religious adherence with consumer needs.