Romanian Government issues landmark law to protect shechita

The Romanian government issued a landmark law to protect shechita (kosher slaughter) during a meeting with rabbinic leaders of the Conference of European Rabbis, the umbrella organization representing hundreds of mainstream Jewish communities across the continent. CER rabbis were invited to the Romanian Parliament, where they met with Marcel Ciolacu, president of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, and Catalin Predoiu, the Romanian justice minister.

Ciolacu, together with President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania Silviu Vexler, signed legislation to protect the practice of kosher slaughter in the country. Romania now has a specific and explicit law allowing shechita. Currently, shechita is allowed in most EU member states by a derogation from the law.

“This new law to protect shechita as a legal method of slaughtering animals for food stands as a shining symbol to other countries throughout the world, to protect Jewish communities and religious rights,” Vexler said after the event. He added that he pays “tribute to Rabbi Raphael Schaffer, the chief rabbi of Romania, for his important role in this.”