Israeli Rabbi Wants Virtual Kosher Supervision

Video surveillance could be used to augment on-site inspections.

Israel rabbi proposes 'virtual' kosher supervision - via video cameras
By Yanir Yagna, Haaretz

The extended hours at Be'er Sheva bars and restaurants have brought the proprietors an additional expense: paying kashrut supervisors. So the city's chief rabbi, Yehuda Deri, proposed a solution: placing cameras in restaurant kitchens in order to send video feeds straight to the supervisors of Jewish dietary law. 

Deri, the brother of former Shas leader Aryeh Deri, believes the idea will save businesses money while improving kashrut supervision. 

Deri's plan was formulated after several business owners complained they were paying kashrut supervisors for very few hours of work. 

"The restaurant owners can reduce the burden and link the cameras to us," he said. "That way there will be comprehensive and consistent supervision, and we will also help reduce their considerable financial expenses." 

Deri said the cameras would save business owners hundreds of shekels a month. "We, of course, will not force any business proprietor to do so, but if he wishes to, the cameras will cost about NIS 139 a month - much less than keeping supervisors for extended hours," he said. 

"Naturally, the cameras will not replace the kashrut supervisors, who by virtue of their position also sort through rice, receive goods shipments, and salt meat - things the cameras cannot do," he said. "But cameras can save business owners from paying supervisors for two to three hours of work a day." 

Deri said proprietors have expressed enthusiasm about the proposal, and that the Be'er Sheva rabbinate will soon begin partly subsidizing installation and monthly fees for the cameras. 

Liron Yifrah, owner of the city's Casa do Brazil restaurant, said, "I think the rabbi's initiative is very positive. The camera initiative will save us business owners on the expense of supervisors, and no less important, restaurants will have greater kashrut enforcement." 
But another cafe proprietor was less enthusiastic about the program: "This is a serious invasion of privacy. Soon they'll want to videotape the register. 

"Nobody needs to enter my business, or to see how much I earn," he said.

There is nothing that new or revolutionary in this proposal.

American haredi Rabbi Yudel Shain long ago worked out (with Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, then the leading Israeli haredi halakhist) a remote bishul yisrael system to turn on boilers and ovens in food processing plants.

Dr. Temple Grandin asked Agriprocessors to install video camera for its shechita area and have the video live streamed to Internet 24/6 to ensure the company did not revert to its cruel slaughter practice of ripping out the throats of live animals with a meat hook.

Agriprocessors did not install the video cameras.

[Hat Tip: Joel Katz.]

Comments

[Dr. Dave]

And don't forget the hidden camera feed in the ladies room that goes straight to the rabbi's study.

For checking for niddah of course.

[Larry Lennhoff]

I'd call this remote kashrut supervision rather than virtual supervision. Still a good idea for those willing to adopt it - anything that reduces the cost of keeping a hecksher is good for the community.