The world of hashgachos today is an all man's world. Yet when it comes to the home it is the women of the house who is the Rav haMachshir. Is a woman halachicly qualified to be a mashgiach in a commercial operation? This was the question asked to Rav Moshe Shternbuch (1:426)
He says that whether the issur is Min HaTorah or MiDiRabbanan is not the issue. The issue is, first how difficult the task is and second whether there is certainly an issur that must be dealt with or only a safek whether there is any issur in the first place.
Rav Shternbuch distinguishes between being a Mashgiach in an establishment where the owner is a Michalel Shabbos and is capable of trying to outsmart the mashgiach. In this case a woman should not be directly responsible for the Kashrus but can work under a man. However in a Shomer Shabbos establishment where only minimal Hashgacha is needed, it would be okay to have a woman mashgiach and she is trusted just like she is in her own home.
Despite all this, says Rav Shternbuch, if there is a choice between a male mashgiach who is not so midakdek in mitzvos or taking a woman is more ehrliche and is shrewd, then the woman is preferable. Nevertheless he says it is better to try to find a man, because the woman's place is in the home.
Important Note: We try to convey the Tshuva to the best of our ability. We admit that our understanding may not be accurate. One should learn the tshuva to verify the accuracy of our interpretation. Please also understand that this Tshuva may not be the final word on this topic. One should consult a Rav before drawing any conclusions.
A Russian Jew once struck up a conversation with his seatmate on a bus in Eretz Yisrael, and in the course of the conversation, described...read full story
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