Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Political correspondent Tal Schneider and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Schneider interviewed Religious Affairs minister Matan Kahana with founding ToI editor David Horovitz last week, just as the minister's legislation for major reforms in the kosher certification industry passed through a Knesset committee.

Schneider and Rettig Gur discuss Kahana, a modern Orthodox politician with a significant army career as an air force colonel, who is close friends with prime minister Naftali Bennett.

Rettig Gur looks at the historical ramifications of Israel's church-and-state government, while Schneider highlights aspects of Kahana's religious leanings and his avowed statements to her about the place of religion in Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Plan for major kashrut reform advances through Knesset committee

Religious affairs minister said planning shakeup of religious councils

‘Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

IMAGE: sraeli prime minister Naftali Bennett (C), Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern and Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana (left) seen during a plenum session at the Knesset on November 8, 2021 (Courtesy Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.