Article Archive
The Israeli Chief Rabbinate, represented by Rabbi Avi Kuzman, has presented an unusual demand to a company seeking to import kosher-for-Passover pizzas from abroad: Create a “mountain of cheese” in the center of the pizza. According to the Rabbinate, the goal is to physically differentiate the Passover pizza from a regular pizza consumed throughout the year.
The email exchange between the company and the rabbinate began with a request for kosher certification for a kosher-for-Passover pizza. There was no dispute about the pizza’s kosher status, but according to the Rabbinate, physical differentiation was required so that the Passover pizza would not resemble a regular pizza. The initial demand was to change the pizza’s shape from round to square or rectangular. Since this posed a challenge for the overseas manufacturer, which does not produce pizzas in any shape other than round, the Rabbinate proposed an alternative requirement.
In a letter sent from the Rabbinate to the importing company, the Rabbinate demanded that “the center of the pizza must contain double the amount of yellow cheese, forming a shape reminiscent of a mountain.“
The importer attempted to explain that this was impossible, as the pizza is packed in a box. Moreover, adding extra cheese would increase the cost by an additional 15% for the importer—on top of the already high expenses of kosher certification, sending rabbis to supervise production overseas, and their accommodations abroad, which alone are estimated to add 8%-10% to the product’s final price in Israel
According to the importer, the most absurd part is that the pizza in question is gluten-free—meaning it already contains no chametz (leavened ingredients). “Why does the Rabbinate require a shape change if the product packaging clearly states ‘Kosher for Passover under the supervision of the Chief Rabbinate,’ both on the front and back of the package?” the importer wondered.
A Frankel’s Pesach Pizza without the square or cheese mountain requirements
Industry insiders suggest that one reason is that the Rabbinate holds a monopoly over kosher certification and can therefore continue tightening its regulations without restriction. The stricter regulations for baked goods began about two years ago when the Chief Rabbinate introduced a more rigid policy for Passover bakery products. This policy mandated the printing of “Kosher for Passover” on both the front and back of packaging—strictly as printed text on the packaging itself, not as an attached label.
Over the weekend, the Haaretz newspaper reported another demand from the Rabbinate. According to the report, an importer attempting to bring spices for the holiday was told that coriander, cumin, and cornmeal could not be imported, nor could products containing them. Another importer who wanted to bring in kosher-for-Passover soup almonds (mandlach) was informed that they could only be imported if they were ring-shaped rather than square.
Years ago, the same importer was required to ship gallons of orange food coloring abroad so that the manufacturer could dye kosher-for-Passover cornflakes orange. The reason? Simply marking the packaging as “Kosher for Passover” was deemed insufficient—the product itself had to be visually altered, a demand that significantly raised costs.
Traditional and observant consumers understandably want assurance that a product is kosher for Passover, but is it really necessary to change the product’s shape when it is already sealed in a package? The Chief Rabbinate responded that “everything is in accordance with Jewish law.” However, importers argue that these demands are bizarre, costly, and leave them with no recourse. “When we are forced to deal with these absurd requirements—like the ‘cheese mountain’ in the center of the pizza—consumers end up paying much more,” complain importers.
Importers also report that even when a product is certified kosher for Passover year-round by the Rabbinate, they are still required to make changes to its packaging and shape specifically for the holiday—without any clear justification. For example, gluten-free soup almonds that are kosher for Passover year-round must be changed from cube shapes to rings at the Rabbinate’s demand, even though the product’s composition remains unchanged. Additionally, packaging that already states “Kosher for Passover” year-round must undergo cosmetic changes.
According to importers, this flood of demands leads to extra costs—such as increased raw material expenses, modifications to production lines, and more—which inevitably get passed on to consumers. In other cases, importers give up entirely, reducing the availability of kosher-for-Passover products. This, in turn, results in a lack of variety at best—or a lack of competition, which drives prices even higher, at worst.
The Israeli Chief Rabbinate, represented by Rabbi Avi Kuzman, has presented an unusual demand to a company seeking to import kosher-for-Passover pizzas from abroad: Create a “mountain of cheese” in the center of the pizza. According to the Rabbinate, the goal is to physically differentiate the Passover pizza from a regular pizza consumed throughout the year.
The email exchange between the company and the rabbinate began with a request for kosher certification for a kosher-for-Passover pizza. There was no dispute about the pizza’s kosher status, but according to the Rabbinate, physical differentiation was required so that the Passover pizza would not resemble a regular pizza. The initial demand was to change the pizza’s shape from round to square or rectangular. Since this posed a challenge for the overseas manufacturer, which does not produce pizzas in any shape other than round, the Rabbinate proposed an alternative requirement.
In a letter sent from the Rabbinate to the importing company, the Rabbinate demanded that “the center of the pizza must contain double the amount of yellow cheese, forming a shape reminiscent of a mountain.“
The importer attempted to explain that this was impossible, as the pizza is packed in a box. Moreover, adding extra cheese would increase the cost by an additional 15% for the importer—on top of the already high expenses of kosher certification, sending rabbis to supervise production overseas, and their accommodations abroad, which alone are estimated to add 8%-10% to the product’s final price in Israel
According to the importer, the most absurd part is that the pizza in question is gluten-free—meaning it already contains no chametz (leavened ingredients). “Why does the Rabbinate require a shape change if the product packaging clearly states ‘Kosher for Passover under the supervision of the Chief Rabbinate,’ both on the front and back of the package?” the importer wondered.
A Frankel’s Pesach Pizza without the square or cheese mountain requirements
Industry insiders suggest that one reason is that the Rabbinate holds a monopoly over kosher certification and can therefore continue tightening its regulations without restriction. The stricter regulations for baked goods began about two years ago when the Chief Rabbinate introduced a more rigid policy for Passover bakery products. This policy mandated the printing of “Kosher for Passover” on both the front and back of packaging—strictly as printed text on the packaging itself, not as an attached label.
Over the weekend, the Haaretz newspaper reported another demand from the Rabbinate. According to the report, an importer attempting to bring spices for the holiday was told that coriander, cumin, and cornmeal could not be imported, nor could products containing them. Another importer who wanted to bring in kosher-for-Passover soup almonds (mandlach) was informed that they could only be imported if they were ring-shaped rather than square.
Years ago, the same importer was required to ship gallons of orange food coloring abroad so that the manufacturer could dye kosher-for-Passover cornflakes orange. The reason? Simply marking the packaging as “Kosher for Passover” was deemed insufficient—the product itself had to be visually altered, a demand that significantly raised costs.
Traditional and observant consumers understandably want assurance that a product is kosher for Passover, but is it really necessary to change the product’s shape when it is already sealed in a package? The Chief Rabbinate responded that “everything is in accordance with Jewish law.” However, importers argue that these demands are bizarre, costly, and leave them with no recourse. “When we are forced to deal with these absurd requirements—like the ‘cheese mountain’ in the center of the pizza—consumers end up paying much more,” complain importers.
Importers also report that even when a product is certified kosher for Passover year-round by the Rabbinate, they are still required to make changes to its packaging and shape specifically for the holiday—without any clear justification. For example, gluten-free soup almonds that are kosher for Passover year-round must be changed from cube shapes to rings at the Rabbinate’s demand, even though the product’s composition remains unchanged. Additionally, packaging that already states “Kosher for Passover” year-round must undergo cosmetic changes.
According to importers, this flood of demands leads to extra costs—such as increased raw material expenses, modifications to production lines, and more—which inevitably get passed on to consumers. In other cases, importers give up entirely, reducing the availability of kosher-for-Passover products. This, in turn, results in a lack of variety at best—or a lack of competition, which drives prices even higher, at worst.
