The Tav Chevrati
About the Tav Chevrati
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What is the Tav Chevrati?
Checking food to see if it is certified to meet specific standards is a familiar concept in traditional Jewish life, as many Jews will not eat food or go to restaurants that are not certified kosher.
But, while many people are concerned that the food they eat is prepared in accordance with Jewish law, they are often not equally concerned with whether or not the workers who prepare and serve their food are treated in a “kosher” manner.
In Israel today, many restaurants and cafes offer their customers fine food and impeccable service, but do not pay their kitchen employees and servers for vacation days, sick days, and/or training days – basic rights that are mandated by Israeli law.
The situation for waiters and waitresses in catering halls is often worse. Many young people, frequently from underprivileged backgrounds with few other employment opportunities, can be found working long evening shifts despite regulations forbidding such hours during the school year. These workers are often paid substantially less than minimum wage or receive salaries that are contingent upon the generosity of the hosts of the affair, who are asked to give the catering hall a tip in order to compensate the wait staff.
Therefore, one of the important projects of Bema’aglei Tzedek is the Tav Chevrati (or “Social Seal”). The Tav Chevrati is a seal of excellence that certifies business for upholding fair labor laws and implementing handicap accessibility measures. It rewards businesses that act ethically towards their workers, thereby promoting righteousness and justice. This project was initiated in December 2004 to create a moral society in accordance with the values of justice and ethics in the Jewish tradition. The Tav Chevrati is a project that can bring about a substantial change in Israeli society by creating a social awareness through its emphasis on workers' rights and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
The Tav attempts to expand the traditional definition of kashrut to include fair treatment of workers and a concern for the dignity of people with disabilities. This initiative is non-sectarian and enables people from the entire spectrum of Israeli society to participate and benefit from it. For example, there are many restaurants that are not kosher in the traditional sense that nevertheless have a Tav Chevrati because of their adherence to standards of social justice
The certificate is granted free of charge to food establishments (whether or not they are kosher in the traditional sense) that commit to deal with people – staff and customers, Jews and non-Jews alike – in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel and with the ethical values of Judaism. The criteria for obtaining a certificate are based on Israeli law, stressing the need to preserve the basic rights of workers and the dignity of individuals with disabilities.
The project enables members of the general public to take an active role in shaping Israeli society by demanding that businesses operate ethically. The success of the Tav Chevrati depends on the public’s commitment to it. It is important to let business owners know you care about the Tav Chevrati by asking if they have one, because your commitment will encourage them to continue to comply with the Tav Chevrati’s criteria. If they do not have a Tav Chevrati, explain why you as a consumer care that the restaurant abides by the socially fair criteria and refer them to us.
The success of the Tav is contingent upon the involvement of the community at large. The potential for social change is huge, if people would choose restaurants based on ethical considerations, in addition to such things as preference, price, and parking.
In essence, the Tav forces society to confront issues that it otherwise ignores. Through this program, the otherwise abstract reality that there are workers in our midst whose rights are being violated becomes our personal problem, since we all are part of the larger circle (ma'agal) of Israeli society.
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What are the goals of the Tav Chevrati?
· To strengthen the connection between the Jewish value of Tzedek and the current Israeli socioeconomic reality.
· To persuade businesses to adopt "socially kosher" policies.
· To encourage consumers to take issues of social justice into account when they make purchasing decisions
· To give every citizen in Israel the strength and ability to create social change – convincing the public that this is part of each of our responsibilities
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What are the basic criteria to receive of the Tav Chevrati?
In order to receive the social seal, businesses (restaurants, coffee houses, catering companies, and wedding event halls) must adhere to the criteria described below. Failure to comply with these standards results in the removal of the seal.
Handicap Accessibility
-Is the business accessible for individuals with disabilities?
· Wheelchair access: a ramp, elevator, wide entrance doors, tables of appropriate height, room to move between the tables, etc.
· For the blind: at least two menus written in Braille .
Proper Management
-Does the workplace pay for Social Security for all its workers?
-Is a log kept to record the number of hours worked for each employee?
· This is the only way to ensure that workers receive proper payment for the actual time that they worked.
-In the event that a business is open on Shabbat, do the employees working at that time receive an alternative day off during the week?
-Are all the salaries paid-in-full no later than the tenth day of the following month?
· For example, a salary for January needs to be paid in full no later than February 10.
Wage and Compensation
-Do employees receive a salary above the minimum wage?
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Age
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Minimum wage
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Comments
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Under 16
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15.58 NIS /hour
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It is forbidden to work at night: 8pm – 8am
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16-17
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16.69 NIS /hour
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It is forbidden to work at night: 10pm – 6am
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17-18
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18.47 NIS /hour
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Adults
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20.70 NIS /hour
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· If the salary is based on "tips," the employer must assure that the tips are above minimum wage.
-Are the employees paid for overtime according to the law?
· For a six day work week, overtime is any hour beyond 8 hours.
· For a five day work week, overtime is any hour beyond 9 hours.
· If at least two hours of the shift are between 10pm – 6am, the shift can last a maximum of 7 hours long.
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Number of hours
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Salary per hour, based on the base wage
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First two hours of overtime
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Addition of 25%
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Any extra hour (onwards)
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Addition of 50%
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-Are the employees compensated for traveling expenses?
· If the employee pays for travel, the employer must reimburse him/her a uniform sum of money, which is periodically updated. The current maximum amount is 21.14 NIS per day. In the event that an employee finishes working when there is no longer public transportation available, the manager must either order a taxi for the worker, or reimburse the worker for the minimum amount required according to the law (21.14 NIS).
Work Without Pay
-Do workers' salaries include time spent during the training period and staff meetings?
-Is there a “gift” procedure where a worker has to report without compensation?
-Are there staff meetings without compensation?
4. Who is eligible to receive the Tav Chevrati?
Every business that is willing to comply with our basic criteria is eligible to receive the Tav Chevrati. Up until now, the Tav Chevrati has only been distributed to businesses in the food industry, primarily in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, Gush Etzion, and Beer Sheva. Over time, we hope that the Tav Chevrati will spread to all parts of Israel and will be expanded to businesses in different industries.
For additional details or to join please call the Bema’aglei Tzedek office at 077-200-4071.
5. Who has already received the Tav Chevrati?
To see a list of Tav Chevrati certified restaurants, please click here.
6. What does the Tav Chevrati look like?
To see what the Tav Chevrati looks like, please click here.
7. How can I do my part to help the Tav Chevrati?
The success of this project depends first and foremost on the extent to which the public embraces it. As more people demand to see a Tav Chevrati before going out to eat at a restaurant, more places will comply with the standards and our power to impact change will be even greater. It is important that you tell your friends and family about the project so they can join our fight. Conversations with business owners have made it clear that the biggest incentive for a restaurant to comply with the Tav Chevrati’s criteria is consumer pressure. In places that already have the Tav Chevrati it is still important to ask them about it because it encourages the owners to continue to comply with the criteria in the future.
Visitors to Israel are especially important when it comes to showing support for the Tav because business owners often care about tourists than locals. So even if you are only in town for a week, the Tav Chevrati is a great way to engage hands-on in Israeli society and practically make a big impact on labor rights and handicap accessibility.
There are a number of different volunteering options. If you are over 18 you can supervise businesses that have already earned their Tav Chevrati. If you are younger than 18 you can raise awareness in your community by giving informational presentations about the Tav Chevrati. There are a number of informational materials that are important to pass around whenever you talk about the Tav Chevrati. To get them, email shai@mtzedek.org.il with your mailing address, the number of people in your group, and the age-range of your group. Additionally, we are happy to come make an informational presentation about the Tav Chevrati any time.
You can also support the Tav Chevrati in the following ways:
Jewish Education:
· Write a Dvar Torah (Ask rabbinical students or yeshiva students)
· Create a brief text study to help introduce the Jewish community to themes of Judaism and social justice (Ask rabbinical students or yeshiva students)
· Write a letter to the editor or an editorial for a local newspaper (Ask rabbinical, yeshiva, or university students, or any sophisticated group)
Publicity:
· Join Tav Thursdays, where we raise awareness by distributing the Tav. These events might happen once a month, in which larger teams of volunteers would go “to the streets” educating Jerusalemites about the Tav. (Ask anyone, especially people on year programs)
· Create "sidewalk art" using colored chalk, either directing people to Tav restaurants or to an upcoming event (Ask younger crowds, esp. young women)
· Help organize a street theater parade in order to get media attention and raise public awareness. Invite people to come to a planning meeting for this, when one is coming up. (Ask younger crowds, or creative/hippy communities, university students)
· Help with an art project, taking pictures of restaurant patrons holding a sign that says "I support the Tav." You can help by taking pictures, or helping to coordinate the project and its presentation to the public and the media. (Ask younger crowds, or creative/hippy communities, university students)
Grassroots Pressure
· Call restaurants who have recently adopted the Tav, and thank them. B'Maaglei Tzedek will provide phone numbers and a sample script in English and Hebrew. (Ask anyone)
· Help make your synagogue (or workplace) more handicapped-accessible (to synagogues with buildings, or Israeli citizens, not temporary residents)
· Check if your synagogue (or workplace) is handicapped-accessible, using the B'Maaglei Tzedek Questionaire.
· If it is not, write a letter to the leaders of the community asking to make your building more accessible, using B'Maaglei Tzedek's sample letter.
· If nothing happens, work with B'Maaglei Tzedek to organize a community meeting to discuss the issue.
· Go with a B'Maaglei Tzedek staff-person/volunteer to urge non-Tav restaurants to accept the Tav and improve their labor practices and disability access. If possible, go as a representative of your community. (To established groups, including synagogues, students in year programs)
· With a group, deliver fun gifts to restaurants with the Tav, and invite the media. Invite people to a planning meeting when this is coming up. (Ask younger groups, people on year programs, students)
· At the presentation, ask people to write letters either thanking restaurants with the Tav, or urging restaurants with out it to adopt the Tav. Urge people to write the letter urging the new restaurants, but tell them it is fine to write the "thank you" version if they want. To make this happen, distribute sample letters, pens, and paper. If on Shabbat, just give sample letters and ask people to do this after Shabbat. Ask if anyone in the community would be willing to accompany someone from B'Maaglei Tzedek to present the letters to the restaurant.* (Ask anyone)
Recruitment
· Join the Tav Chevrati facebook group, and sign up to invite five (or more) friends to join the group. * (Ask younger groups)
· Invite B'Maaglei Tzedek to come to speak to your organization, or to a group of your friends. 15 people minimum, preferred. (Ask anyone, but particularly groups that seem very enthusiastic during the presentation)
· Take 5 Tav cards with lists of Tav certified restaurants to distribute to your friends, and explain to them why it is important to you. (Tell people to take only as many as they think they will actually give out, since the cards cost some money) ** (Ask anyone)
If you’re interested in volunteering, please click here (link to volunteer page).
8. How does a business profit from the Tav Chevrati?
A business with a Tav Chevrati profits from gaining a clientele that cares about only patronizing “socially kosher” venues. Many business owners with a Tav Chevrati have reported that often customers will tell them they come to their business just because of the Tav Chevrati.
Furthermore, businesses with a Tav Chevrati receive free advertisement in a widely published list of socially responsible restaurants that is published in local newspapers such as Jerusalem’s “Akhbar HaIr” (the city’s biggest newspaper) and Tel Aviv’s “Time Out.” We even have a special section in our advertisements for businesses that have recently earned their Tav Chevrati.
Online, there is a search engine on the home page of YNET that helps you find Tav Chevrati certified businesses. (Additionaly we have a sign in the web map and in ROL?) All this media advertising helps a business profits from socially responsible participation in society.
Many famous authors, rabbis, and academics have expressed their support of the Tav Chevrati and have called on the community at large to hang out, eat, buy food, and sponsor events only in venues that have earned a Tav Chevrati. Among these supporters are the authors Amoz Oz, David Grossman and Meir Shaliv; the rabbis Moti Alon, Yovel Zarlo, and Avi geyser; the men of communications Avri Gilad and Ori Orbach; the academics Professor Ariel Roobenshtein, Professor Nissim Kaldron, Doctor Eliza Lavee, Doctor Gdee Teyov, the Lady Tammy Mold Chayu; and many more.
9. Who supervises the Tav Chevrati?
Trained volunteers visit the businesses once a month to ensure continual compliance with the Tav Chevrati’s standards.
10. Why has the Tav Chevrati only been awarded to businesses in the food industry?
We started the Tav Chevrati in the food industry for two reasons. The first is that in the industry there is a widespread phenomena of exploitation of workers. Many of the workers in the industry are young adults without education that do not known about or that do not have power to demand the rights they deserve. Thus, it is a prime location to start working on labor rights.
The second reason is that the food industry is one of the industries that everyone interacts with on a daily basis. We all buy food or drink in cafes, restaurant, fast food stalls, etc. As a result of this, each of us can influence the industry and each of us has the ability to contribute to this fight for a more just Israeli society.
10. Contact us
To contact us:
Project Coordinator;
Shai Cohen
077-200-4071
shai@mtzedek.org.il
Jerusalem Coordinator:
Yael Ashor
052-607-0225
yael@mtzedek.org.il
Tel Aviv Coordinator:
Yoav Levi
052-300-3080
yoav@mtzedek.org.il
Beer Sheva
Shai Peleg
054-658-7602
shaipelleg@gmailcom
Kfar Saba
Itzik Oz
050-829-8068
otitzik@gmail.com
11. Complete list of kosher restaurants
Right now on the website there is a list for Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, but you should have it point to the new searchable platform in English once that is made.
Business with the Tav
This should just be the searchable page in English.
Registration for Business Owners
Do we need this in English? I figured we didn’t since all people in Israel speak Hebrew, but I can translate if you want.
For more information on accessibility
Link to the English site: http://www.aisrael.org/eng. |
