The Catering Hall

Rav Yechezkel had a sense of timing for when and how to act to strengthen halachic observance. A stylish catering hall opened in London, and its management repeatedly refused to be certified for kashrus by the London Beis Din; since much of their clientele did not keep kosher, they saw no reason for the expense.

Rav Yechezkel regularly read the Jewish Chronicle so that he would know what to daven for. One day he noticed a large advertisement for the dinner of a major Jewish institution at this hall, with a member of the royal family as guest of honor. He and the other dayanim at once drafted an announcement that the dinner would carry no kashrus certification, and one of them informed the institution that it was about to be published.

Within ten minutes a lawyer for the hall called and threatened a damages suit against the beis din. Rav Yechezkel replied that the beis din had already hired a prominent attorney. In the scramble for a compromise, the institution's lawyer suggested certifying the hall for this one occasion. Rav Yechezkel refused. Not long afterwards the manager of the hall came to him personally and asked for permanent certification.