In less than a week, Chief Rabbi of Ashdod Rabbi Sheinin is to stand trial for his refusal to transgress authentic Jewish Law.

The High Court had ordered him to grant a kashrus certificate to a bakery owned by a missionary. When the owner refused to let a mashgiach be present at all times, as the halachah requests, Rabbi Sheinin announced that the Ashdod Rabbinate would not grant the bakery a kashrus certificate.

"I am waiting for my own Chanukah miracle", said Rabbi Sheinin to 'Etrog'. Rabbi Sheinin said that he will visit several gedolim on Thursday to receive their blessings and guidance.

The story actually began several years ago; however it only recently reached the High Court, which decided to interfere in halachic rulings and forced Rabbi Sheinin to grant the bakery a kashrus certificate.

The owner in question is a missionary who owns two bakeries called 'Penina Pie' – one of them is located in Gan Yevneh and the other one in Ashdod.

The missionary woman opened her Ashdod bakery three years ago, and was granted a kashrus certificate from the Ashdod Rabbinate who was unaware of her being a missionary. After Rabbi Sheinin was informed about her identity, he invited the woman for a special meeting to verify the rumors. It became evident that the woman was indeed a missionary, and a 'mumar' must have extra rabbinical supervision over his store according to halachah. Rabbi Sheinin's requested to have a mashgiach in the shop at all times, however the woman refused. The kashrus certificate was then revoked.

Actually, the exact same thing had happened in the branch in Gan Yavneh eight years ago, without anyone in the Ashdod Rabbinate knowing it.

The woman then sprung into action and turned to the High Court, claiming that her belief in 'oso ha'ish' was the reason behind the Ashdod Rabbinate's decision to revoke the kashrus certificate. The Rabbinate claimed to its defense that it was a standard halachic ruling.

The High Court accepted the woman's claim and stated that it is 'unacceptable' that only a Jew can receive a kashrus certificate, effectively forcing Rabbi Sheinin to grant the woman a kashrus certificate despite the fact that it clearly contradicts Jewish Law.

Rabbi Sheinin defied the High Court's ruling and did not grant the bakery a kashrus certificate. Simultaneously he petitioned to the High Court for a second hearing of the case, however his request was denied.

Due to the fact that Rabbi Sheinin defied the High Court's orders, he will stand trial. The trial was to take place only three months from now, however the missionary requested that the trial be held on Monday next week. The High Court agreed.
During the past few months, Rabbi Sheinin has turned to all religious Knesset members and asked for their intervention in the case. He furthermore asked them to suggest a bill which will prohibit the High Court from interfering in halachic issues, which are the sole responsibility of the Chief Rabbinate.

Rabbi Sheinin said that it is unacceptable that the High Court has the ability to interfere in halachic rulings, while in other fields, such as medicine for example, it understandably does not intervene.

The Chief Rabbinate Council assembled last week and decided to ask MKs to support a bill that will limit the High Court's influence over the Rabbinate. Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar sent a personal letter to all MKs asking them to intervene on behalf of Rabbi Sheinin.

Rabbi Amar wrote in his letter: "This is not the first time that the High Court interferes in halachic issues", and warned the MKs that this is a matter of piku'ach nefesh.