TORONTO Badatz Toronto a new local kashruth supervisory council founded by rabbis Amram Assayag and Moshe Bensalmon opened for business in May 2008 and is currently responsible for the kashruth of five establishments and nine companies in the GTA.
Until now, this major metropolitan area has had to rely solely on the Kashruth Council of Canada, which has been in existence for more than 50 years and is recognized worldwide.
More than 900 facilities and 45,000 products carry the councils COR certification symbol.
In New York City and the surrounding boroughs many companies vie for supervision of products and facilities for kosher clientele. For quite some time there has been growing debate in the Toronto community as to whether it would benefit from a similar situation or whether it would be better to allow one organization to maintain control of the kashruth situation. Rabbis Assayag and Bensalmon have both been involved with kashruth supervision for more than 20 years. Rabbi Assayag is the chief Sephardic rabbi of Toronto and spiritual leader of Kehilat Abir Yaakov, the Sephardic Kehila Centre. According to the Badatz web site, under Rabbi Assayags leadership the company has formulated strict halachic policies that comply with industry standards and is positioned to offer kashruth at affordable and competitive rates. Hamizrach Glatt Kosher Restaurant and Banquet Hall at Bathurst and Steeles opened its doors in August. Serving delicious Middle Eastern cuisine, it has quickly become one of the most popular kosher eateries in the city. It is under the supervision of Rabbi Yakov Yecheskia Sofer, head of Vaad Hakashruth Adas Yisroel, in conjunction with Rabbi Dovid Schochet, rabbi of the Chabad Lubavitch community of Ontario, and the Badatzs Rabbi Assayag. Royal Kosher Affair Catering at La Primavera Banquet Hall in Vaughan is under Badatz supervision and lately has become a preferred choice for celebrations, Mati Bensalmon, an entrepreneur and spokesperson for Badatz, told the Jewish Tribune. Its always better for the consumer when theres competition and choice, he said. No one at the COR offices was prepared to comment.