Things were not looking good for Avraham. It was already the first of the month of Av, and the secretary would not let him pose his urgent question to the Chief Rabbinate. The rabbis were in an important meeting, the secretary explained. They could not be disturbed.

The Poel Mizrachi Kitchen

Avraham Mavrach was a founding member of the Poel Mizrachi, established in 1922 for religious pioneers and workers. One of the most important decisions made during the first assembly of the Poel Mizrachi was to open a kosher kitchen for new immigrants and workers. This was necessary since the religious workers could not eat in the Histadrut kitchens, where non-kosher food was served and Shabbat was desecrated.

As Avraham later described in the Hatzofeh newspaper:

"The religious pioneers suffered greatly. They could not afford to eat in a private restaurant and enjoy a hot meal, nor did they have access to a Jewish atmosphere on Shabbat. Therefore we established the kitchens of the Poel Mizrachi, to provide the religious workers not only inexpensive, tasty meals, but also to serve as a social center, where they could read, hold meetings, discuss, attend classes and lectures, and dance on joyous occasions. The kitchens were filled with singing; on Shabbat and the holidays, the songs were charged with sacred fervor. Unsurprisingly, many non-religious workers were also attracted to these kitchens."

Although the menu was limited, some of the diners chose not to eat all the items that were sold at cost. However, the meat dishes and soups formed the staple of the hungry manual laborers.

The Problem of the Nine Days

With the approach of the Nine Days of Av, when eating meat is prohibited due to national mourning over the destruction of the Temple, the administrators of the Poel Mizrachi met to find an alternative for the meat meals — especially for the manual laborers. Unfortunately, they were unable to think of an appropriate substitute. Some of them despaired. 'Why should we assume responsibility?' They were on the verge of closing the kitchens for the duration of the Nine Days.

Avraham, however, did not give up. He suggested turning to the Chief Rabbinate; perhaps it would issue a lenient ruling permitting the newcomers to eat meat so that they would not fall to eating in the non-kosher kitchens. The other members laughed. "Do you really think that the Rabbinate will consent to the slaughter of sheep and oxen during the Nine Days in the holy city of Jerusalem?" 

In fact, no one was even willing to accompany him to the Chief Rabbinate. So, on the first of Av, Avraham went alone to the Rabbinate. The Rabbinate secretary, however, refused to let him interrupt the meeting in order to speak with the rabbis.

'But it is an urgent question,' Avraham explained. 'I come as a representative of the Poel Mizrachi.' At Avraham's insistence, Rabbi Shemuel Weber, chief secretary of the Rabbinate, came out of the meeting and listened to Avraham's question. Rabbi Weber suggested arranging for the completion of a Talmudic tractate every day, and then serving meat at the se'udat mitzvah (a meal celebrating the fulfillment of a mitzvah). Avraham responded that this would be nearly impossible to arrange.

Rabbi Weber then disappeared into the Rabbinate chambers, and, after a few minutes, invited Avraham to follow.

Rav Kook's Decision

As he entered, Avraham saw Rav Kook sitting at the head of the table, with Rabbi Yaakov Meir to his right and other important rabbis seated around the table. Rav Kook asked Avraham to come closer, and Avraham described the objectives of the kitchen. He explained the enormous benefits reaped by the members of the Poel Mizrachi and the workers who remained faithful to their heritage and traditions.

'I am aware of the importance of the kitchen,' Rav Kook responded. He then sank into deep thought. The other rabbis waited silently for Rav Kook's decision.

"Do you think that some of the workers will end up going to the non-kosher kitchen?" 'Yes,' Avraham answered. 'They ate there beforehand.' 'If so, then your kitchen is serving a se'udat mitzvah. 'The meek shall eat and be satisfied' (Psalms 27:22).'

Avraham was astounded. He remained frozen to his spot. Rav Kook smiled. 'Do you have another question?' Avraham explained that he was uncertain about the decision. Did this mean that everyone could eat meat there? Rav Kook repeated his words, and said that everyone, including the religious workers, could eat meat in the kitchen because it would be serving a se'udat mitzvah. Though dumbfounded, Avraham managed to steal a glance at the other rabbis in the room. It seemed that they were no less surprised than Avraham at the Rav's decision, but they made no objection.

Se'udat Mitzvah for All

Rabbi Zvi Kaplan wrote an article analyzing this lenient Halachic decision at length. For those who would have eaten in the non-kosher kitchen, it is clearly preferable that they disregard the custom of not eating meat during the Nine Days rather than violate the Biblical injunction against eating non-kosher food. But how could Rav Kook permit meat to those who would not have eaten non-kosher food?

Rabbi Kaplan explained that at a se'udat mitzvah during the Nine Days, permission to eat meat is not only for the one who performed the mitzvah (such as completing a tractate of Talmud), but for all who are present. Clearly, every Jew is duty-bound to prevent another Jew for eating non-kosher food. A meal that accomplishes this goal certainly qualifies as a se'udat mitzvah. Rav Kook therefore permitted all present to eat.

(adapted from Celebration of the Soul, pp. 252-254; Mo'adei HaRe'iyah pp. 539-543)