The plan by Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, which was intended to deal with the expected severe shortage of milk during the Tishrei holidays, collapsed before it even began.
This is because, according to a report in Calcalist, there was a milk shortage in Germany following a disease that affected the cattle herds, which led the country to increase its purchases from Poland, and therefore Israeli importers will not be able to import fresh milk from Poland for the Tishrei holidays.
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Importers in Israel are now trying to explore alternative imports from Cyprus and Greece, but according to industry sources, this is a longer process, which includes locating suitable factories and making changes to containers and labels in accordance with Israeli requirements. These adjustments are not expected to be completed by the holidays, so the local market will not receive an immediate solution to the shortage.
According to a report by Nurit Kadosh in Calcalist, in light of the understanding that the solution through imports is not feasible, Dichter addressed the Chief Rabbis, Rabbi Yosef and Rabbi Bar, in a letter titled: "Urgent request for approval of partial activity by non-Jews in dairies on holidays and Shabbat in order to maintain food security and while preserving the sanctity of Shabbat.".
He said, "The order published to reduce tariffs on milk imports is a step intended to provide a solution to the expected shortage during the holiday period. According to the importers, they are unable to bring the milk from abroad before the holidays. In other words, even opening imports does not meet the existing shortage that will increase during the holiday period.".
Dichter wants to allow partial operation of dairies in Israel even on Shabbat and holidays.
He emphasized that this is a temporary response and on the condition that the work be done by non-Jewish workers: "In this situation, I am appealing for your help to approve necessary and exceptional activity on Shabbat and the holiday, which will be carried out in dairies exclusively by non-Jewish workers and for a limited period of time starting from these days until after the Tishrei holidays, for the purpose of pouring drinking milk only. This step could significantly reduce the expected damage to the food security of Israeli residents during the holiday period.".
Dichter explained to the rabbis that the timing of the holidays this year - when dairies are expected to lose 9 days of production - will increase the milk shortage, which has been felt in the market for months. The minister clarified that the situation means a very significant impact is expected on the supply of fresh, controlled milk to the public during the holidays, amounting to approximately five million liters of milk.
According to Calcalist, it is doubtful whether the Chief Rabbinate will approve milk production in local dairies on Shabbat and holidays, as a similar request by the dairies at the outbreak of the war in Gaza was refused.
In addition, operating the dairies requires the presence of dozens of workers in various positions, and the dairies themselves have questioned their ability to recruit teams of non-Jewish workers to operate on Shabbat and holidays, if approved.
