The Beth Din informs the Jewish Public that there is a malicious rumour circulating in the community that the famous Gaon, Harav Eliashiv shlita, has issued a pronouncement declaring that the fish we know as “Kingklip” is not kosher. In the light of this, the Beth Din finds it necessary to inform the community that there is no truth whatsoever to this rumour whose only aim is to discredit the Beth Din.

Rabbi Moshe Kurtstag, the Rosh Beth Din, had a personal interview with Rav Eliashiv during his recent visit to Israel, on Tuesday 25th January 2005 (Tu B’Shevat) and informed him that there is a tradition in our community, based on the ruling of Rabbi Yitzchak Kossowsky, of blessed memory, the brother-in-law of the famous Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, of blessed memory, that Kingklip is a kosher fish. The response of Rav Eliashiv was that if there is such a tradition in the community, then the fish is kosher.

In addition, Rabbi Yossi Salzer brought some Kingklip to the famous Posek Rav Shmuel Wosner Shlita of Bnei Brak, who, after careful examination of all the features and halachik considerations, ruled likewise that it is definitely kosher.

However, it is important to draw attention to the fact that there are different varieties of Kingklip, and the Beth Din takes responsibility for the kashrut only of the Kingklip sold in establishments under its supervision.