The Jewish governor of Illinois has stopped a bill which would have required state-owned services to provide halal and kosher meals.

The Faith By Plate Act would have ensured that any state-owned or state-operated facilities would offer zabiha-halal and kosher food options upon request when provided with notice.

This would apply to hospitals, schools and prisons that provide food services or cafeteria services, a first in a US state. It is backed by many Orthodox Jews and religious Muslims.

But JB Pritzker, the Democratic Illinois governor, pointed to a problem with providing meals in schools because of existing policy. 

He explained: “The bill would have amended the School Code to require the Illinois State Board of Education to enter into a statewide master contract to provide religious dietary options to all Illinois school districts.

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Public facilities including schools and prisons would have to provide kosher food. Pictured: Shawarma sandwich (Photo: Getty)

“Districts are already responsible for all their food service contracts and will continue to have the capability to enter into contracts with meal vendors based on the unique cultural needs of the students in their communities.”

The Illinois chapter of Agudath Israel of America (AIOI), an umbrella group for Orthodox communities in the US, said they were disappointed by the decision. 

The AIOI argued the bill stood to make Illinois the only US state to “mandate such accommodations” and demonstrate a commitment to embracing cultural diversity.

In a statement, they added: “Agudath Israel of Illinois (AIOI) is disappointed with Governor Pritzker’s veto of legislation that would have paved the way for students, hospital patients, and incarcerated individuals to access meals that comply with their religious dietary restrictions. 

“House Bill 3643 would have made Illinois the first state in the country to mandate such accommodations and had the potential to demonstrate the state’s commitment to embracing diversity and inclusion in all its forms. 

“AIOI has worked closely with stakeholders to ensure all faith-based communities have access to food that complies with their religious convictions and remains committed to achieving that goal.”

Chicago-based Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, director of government affairs at AIOI, helped to work on the Faith By Plate legislation.

Speaking earlier this year, he said: “Whenever it comes to having a sensitivity towards dietary restrictions that are faith-related, it’s important to the Jewish community that other faiths that may have dietary restrictions be accommodated and the Muslim community shares that sentiment.

“It’s only natural that we should be supporting each other.”

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Statement from the Illinois chapter of Agudath Israel of America (Photo: Facebook)

Pritzker is the third Jewish governor of Illinois after defeating Republican Bruce Rauner in the November 2018 election. 

The first was Henry Horner, who served from January 1933 until his death in October 1940. The second was Samuel H. Shapiro, who was elected lieutenant governor but became governor from 1968 to 1969 when the previous governor resigned when he was appointed to a federal appellate court.

Pritzker is also managing partner of venture capitalist firm Pritzker Group and has an estimated net worth of more than $3 billion, but his family wasn’t always rich. 

His ancestors were sponsored by a family to settle in Clinton, Iowa, but quickly moved to Chicago.

Speaking in 2019 about his upbringing, he explained: “They arrived and then found out there were no jobs available in Clinton, Iowa. And so they said, ‘Well, where’s the nearest big city so we can go find a job?’

“And they pointed toward Chicago and so they got back on the train and came to Chicago.”

Pritzker went on to say his great-grandfather, then around nine years old, slept in the train station at first, then found a job selling the Chicago Tribune on street corners. His son and grandson, Pritzker’s father, later became successful lawyers.

The Pritzker family's fortune arose in the 20th century, mostly through the founding and expansion of the Hyatt hotel chain.