K A S H R U T . C O M_©

February 10, 2026 from the ch10.co.il

"Rabbi Hananel and Hodiya Cohen, a couple from Tiberias, have found themselves in recent months facing a huge lawsuit for 2.5 million shekels filed against them by the fruit and vegetable marketing giant - 'Yivoli Hakfar'.

"The reason for the lawsuit? A positive recommendation that was published about brands of leafy vegetable companies to consumers in the Mehadrin region, without including the company 'Yibul HaKfar' in the recommendations.

"According to a report today (Tuesday) by Shiloh Fried on the Ynet website, Rabbi Cohen has been recognized for many years as one of the experts on the subject of kashrut, and in particular on the subject of insect infestation in leafy vegetables. He is a kashrut consultant and is considered to have extensive and recognized professional knowledge. Because of this, religious councils, rabbis, and various kashrut bodies use his opinion to establish procedures, guidelines, and lists of product uses.

"In recent years, Rabbi Cohen, along with other supervisors specializing in the field, has expanded the scope of the tests they conducted on various leafy vegetable companies. The test results were summarized in a table that includes companies whose products were found to comply with the procedures of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The table was defined as a recommended list for Mehadrin kosher consumers.

"Lists of this type are not unusual in the world of kashrut. Similar lists have been published in the past by professional and official bodies, including the Chief Rabbinate, the 'Hikr' Institute, and the 'Koshrut' organization. The company was also not included in other published rankings.

"The table was used by rabbis and kashrut bodies for decision-making in businesses operating at the Mehadrin level, as well as by private consumers who wanted to ensure a high level of kashrut. ccording to Fried's report on Ynet, Cohen was surprised to discover that the company 'Yivoli Hakfar', which was not included in the list, filed a civil lawsuit against him "for damages caused to the plaintiff up to the date of filing the lawsuit only, as well as serious harm to the plaintiff's reputation and violation of the Commercial Torts Law.".

"The company also demands that the Jerusalem District Court "prohibit the defendants from publishing any ratings of companies regarding leafy vegetables in the context of kashrut under any trade name," as well as an injunction prohibiting them from presenting themselves to the general public as authorities in the field of kashrut and/or publishing information on the subject.

"Rabbi Hananel Cohen told Ynet: "When I received the lawsuit, I was shocked, it was a terrible feeling. Thank God I was able to act for the public in the most careful way possible, nothing for my own benefit.".

"Attorney Meir Ehrenfeld told Ynet on behalf of Rabbi Hananel Cohen: "The attempt by 'Village Crops' to use the court as a tool for commercial revenge is transparent and desperate. The lawsuit for 2.5 million NIS is a classic gag order, intended to punish Rabbi Hananel Cohen for his professional integrity. It would have been better for 'Village Crops' to invest in public health and cleaning its products of insects, rather than conducting legal and propaganda campaigns that are empty of content and lacking any support.".

"Attorney Shahar Botton, the representative of the Yavuli Hakfar company, said in response to Ynet: "There is no substance in the claims made to our firm, the reality is completely the opposite. Mr. Hananel Cohen is not the weak side in this matter and this is not a claim for silence, on the contrary, Mr. Hananel Cohen is the strong side."