TEL AVIV - Israel's clergy wants vigilant citizens to squeal every time they see a misplaced cheeseburger.
The Chief Rabbinate, operating under the auspices of the government's Religious Affairs Ministry, has asked the public to report to a 24-hour hotline violations of Jewish dietary laws by restaurants or other places where kosher food is sold.
Jewish law forbids mixing milk products with meat, bans pork and certain other foods and dictates special slaughtering and preparation techniques for animals.
"The response has been tremendous. I've been busy with complaints since we launched the hotline yesterday," rabbinate official Rafi Yochai said. He said fines ran between $290 and $580.
Yochai said his office was only targeting restaurants that had received kosher licences but were violating them. Many restaurants in Israel choose to forgo rabbinate supervision and sell non-kosher food.
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