RES - Chalav Yisrael [Remote Electronic Surveillance]
Halachic Innovation Provides Superior Kashrut

Innovative procedures that strictly follow ancient Halachic guidelines have been documented and implemented by Rav Zev Weitman, the head Rov of Tnuva, Israel’s largest dairy corporation. One of the more prominent innovations is utilising remote surveillance to provide Chalav Yisrael.

Rav Weitman has written extensively in well respected Halachic journals, explaining, corroborating and documenting that Chalav Yisrael can be provided via remote surveillance. This is the ruling of HaRav Wosner and HaRav Elyashiv. This is true for both Jewish and non-Jewish dairies. However, whereas HaRav Elyashiv allows use of remote surveillance without any human visits, HaRav Wosner suggests that 20 visits per year ought to be made. 

It's Kosher relies upon remote surveillance and a couple of yearly audits. This surveillance provides the required monitoring as defined in Halacha, to establish that the milk is collected exclusively from Kosher beasts. 
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Chalav Yisrael
Rav Zev Weitman
HaRav Y Sh Elyashiv      -      HaRav Sh Wosner
 
   Rabbi Zev Weitman has for the past 16 years been the architect and engineer of Tnuva's widely respected Kashrus Standards and led it to meet the 'Vaad Mehadrin' rigorous guidelines, whose logo now features on Tnuva products. 
   The 'Vaad Mehadrin' status is accepted by ultra-Orthodox consumers who have the highest regard for the renowned rabbonim who sit on the Vaad. This Vaad represent the entire spectrum of the orthodox Jewish communities.
   When necessary, Rav Weitman and the "Vaad Mehadrin" consult with the recognized Halachic sages (Poskei Hador) of our generation, Maran HaRav Elyashiv and Maran HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner. Indeed, it is through their input that Tnuva is in the forefront of Halachic innovation. A prime example being the usage of remote surveillance. This is an added stringency (Tosefet Chumra) that benefits the community. Technology is used as a beneficial tool to strengthen the existing full-time supervision. 

Halacha Article by Rav Weitman

   Remote surveillance enhances the Mashgiach performs his job. 

​   Reb Elyashiv rules that remote surveillance satisfies Halachic requirements without any human reinforcement. Neither is there any issue with this being a prohibited innovation - just as computers and telephones are today indispensable tools in every Kashrus organisation,

   Mashgichim are ordinary people, and notwithstanding their being Gd fearing and charged with and responsive to their holy mission, they are subject to the same challenges faced by ordinary people.
   Ordinary people:
 * prefer to avoid working in dirty and and uncomfortable circumstances
 * cannot be in more than one place at once,
 * cannot remain focused for prolonged periods without 'nodding off'
 * need to take breaks.

   However, remote surveillance readily sidesteps all these weaknesses.
   All those the Halacha requires be monitored: 
 * are unable to know when they are being actively monitored
 * are always fearful of their activities being reviewed after the fact since all activities are recorded

   It is obvious that remote surveillance provides a standard of supervision that far exceeds using even many Mashgishim.

   Whatever systems are employed, ultimately, the value of the Kashrus hinges upon the degree and integrity of vigilance. Remote surveillance permits multiple Mashgichim to share this burden and select times when they are fresh and alert.

   Remote surveillance has a permanent tremendous advantage over f2f supervision because unlike f2f - remote surveillance is always active whereas f2f supervision always identifies when the monitoring is active and when it is not active. Furthermore, f2f supervision invariably falls into a pattern that permits the workers to anticipate when they will be 'visited' and when they are unlikely to be.

   Remote surveillance whether active or not, is a constant and continuous feature in the mindscape of those working in the milking, and consequently creates far more vigilance and provides far greater assurance.