Most of us don’t give it a second thought. When we choose a restaurant to eat-out at, or a caterer to hire, we may ask about taste, ambiance, presentation, and price –we may even request verification of its kosher status –but we almost never ask to meet the mashgiach.
Lately, I have received several phone calls and emails from individuals all over the country (USA) asking for information about the vaad that I help facilitate. “Are you ‘accepted’?” is the typical, and vague, query. If the caller is more knowledgeable they may seek information as to our policies on specific issues, such as hafrashat challa. Yet I have only once been asked about the mashgiach.
And for good reason.
When one investigates if a hechsher or a vaad is reliable one normally thinks of how halachic issues are dealt with.
In truth, however, a vaad is only as good as its mashgichim. All the policies, rules, and chumrot are meaningless if they are not enforced well. This is because malice rarely plays a role in kashrut errors, rather errors in judgment do, and a capable and discerning eye is needed to spot them when they arise.
Who to choose as a mashgiach is therefore a profound and often controversial question within the ranks of kashrut.
On the one hand, there is need for a strong personality, yet at the same time he must be willing to yield to the rav hamachshir and the decisions he is told to follow. It is a fine balance.
Bava Kama 15a. When it comes to monetary matters, as well punitive ones, men and women are held to the same standard. While there are some mitzvot that men simply cannot perform or that women are exempt from, no one gender is given special grace.
Nevertheless, like in all legal matters, there are exceptions, and exceptions to those exceptions.
At the heart of the above issue is a pasuk in Devarim 17:15
The halachic midrash Sifri comments on this verse, “’…a king…’ but not a queen”.
As we can see the pasukim above would seem not to relate to the issue of a woman mashgiach.
However the Rambam (hil. Melachim 1:5) seems to take this ruling one step further. After quoting the above midrash he rules, “So too all leadership appointments…we do not choose for them accept from the men”. Many rishsonim disagree with Rambam on this Tosphot & Ran for various reasons state –that this Sifri applies specifically to the case of a King/Queen, and no further.
We understand however that this statement made by Rambam was not a literal one and not one applying to "...all leadership appointments..."
Rav Moshe ruled on this matter Rav Moshe also explains that even according to the Rambam a mashgiach is not truly a position of high leadership. Rather a mashgiach is sent, and paid, by the rabbi (or vaad). Being that such hiring is at the rav’s discretion –as are the halachic policies –a mashgiach is viewed as messenger of the rabbi, and not as the person charged with the kashrus of that city/store.
Conclusion: We can better understand Rambam that his words where spoken specifically for certain roles and we can also see that Rav Moshe Feinstein allowed for women mashgichot to a similar vein.