An individual who serves as on-site supervisor and inspector to ensure that a food service establishment is acceptably kosher under the Jewish religion is a “minister” excluded from protection of state employment law, a federal District Court in California has ruled. Yaakov Markel was employed by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America as the head mashgiach to oversee the production of kosher wines and other food products. To qualify for the job, he had to be personally observant and follow kosher dietary laws, and had to be knowledgeable about Jewish law. He filed suit in state court in 2019 claiming a variety of violations of state labor law and unfair business practices...