About the Caribbean Kashruth Authority
The Caribbean Kashruth Authority (CKA) was founded in 2013 to meet a growing and unmet need: reliable, halakhically rigorous kasher supervision across the Caribbean. In a region where Jewish life has quietly persisted and slowly expanded, CKA emerged to bridge the gap—serving both local communities and the steady stream of observant travelers seeking authentic kasher standards in hotels, restaurants, and private accommodations.
Inspired by the teachings and example of Rabbis Jacob de Oliveira, Yosef Benarroch זצ״ל, and Mordekhay Lewi de Lopes, CKA was born out of a vision: to build a professional kashruth authority rooted in the classical Sepharadi tradition, grounded in halakhic integrity, and attentive to the realities of Caribbean life. That vision became reality through the leadership of Dr. Hakham Yehonatan Elazar-DeMota ס״ט.
Our CEO
Born in Miami to a family of Sephardic lineage tracing back to Spain, Portugal, and North Africa, Hakham Elazar-DeMota is no stranger to the Caribbean. His ancestors settled in the region long before migrating to the United States. In many ways, the founding of CKA represents a return—both personal and communal—to the Sepharadi roots embedded in the islands.
His rabbinic formation began under Hakham Yosef Benarroch זצ״ל at the Sephardic Education Center of North Miami Beach, where he received his yore yore ordination. From there, he continued with training in sheḥitah under Hakham Abraham Bitton and was certified by Hakham Israel Levi Tytell. His advanced yadin yadin ordination was granted by Hakham Mordekhay Lewi de Lopes, and in Israel, he became a certified mohel under Hakham Yoel Nissim Dayan.
Alongside his rabbinic credentials, Hakham Elazar-DeMota earned a master’s degree in anthropology and religious studies from Florida International University and completed his doctorate in international law at the University of Amsterdam.
He is also a writer and scholar of Western Sephardic Jewry, and in 2009 he established his beth midrash in Santo Domingo—later expanding to La Romana—to strengthen Sephardic identity and halakhic literacy among the region’s Jews.
Today, CKA operates under the halakhic authority of the Beth Din Zedek de la Republica Dominicana. Its work is guided by four core principles: halakhic integrity rooted in the Talmudic and Maimonidean tradition; commercial honesty in all transactions and agreements; purity and clarity in ingredients and processes; and a relentless commitment to quality and professionalism. Special attention is given to the ḥumeroth of the Beth Yoseph, preserving the high standards of classical Sepharadi kashruth.
CKA provides full-service certification and supervision for restaurants, hotels, food manufacturers, and private residences. It offers kasher meats of Beth Yoseph standard, coordinates custom meal packages for tourists, and trains local staff in kasher operations. From the initial kitchen inspection to the daily work of the mashgiaḥ, every step is handled with transparency, precision, and care.
While its main field of operation is the Dominican Republic, CKA responds to inquiries and requests from across the Caribbean. Clients include Jewish communities, vacationing families, luxury resorts, and emerging kasher businesses. Trilingual in Spanish, English, and Hebrew, the team at CKA combines the warmth of island hospitality with the rigor of halakhic discipline.
As the Caribbean continues to grow as a destination for Jewish tourism and as its local Jewish presence deepens, CKA remains committed to making kasher living not only possible—but dignified, joyful, and rooted in the Sepharadi spirit.
