Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Dovid Lau recently changed positions after completing five years of their ten-year terms. As such, Rav Yosef is now in charge of kashrus and Rav Lau became the Nasi of the Chief Rabbinate Supreme Beis Din.

A special committee of the Chief Rabbinate will monitor the work of the Rishon L’Tzion at the Chief Rabbinate Council regarding kashrus, for fear of a conflict of interest with Badatz Beit Yosef, which is run by a brother, HaRav Moshe Yosef.

In a letter written by Deputy Attorney General Dina Silver, and published by journalist Aharon Rabinowitz in Haaretz, Silver writes to Rabbi Yosef: “Regarding the other issues in the area of kashrus, in light of the possible impact on the private badatzim, your honor can handle the matter with the involvement of the Rabbinical Council and a special subcommittee of the Council to be established for this purpose.”

According to Silver, “the subcommittee will consist of the Rishon L’Tzion and two additional members whose identity will be determined by the Chief Rabbinate Council in consultation with the Chief Rabbinate’s legal counsel.”

Silver has determined Rav Yosef “will not make decisions and will not give the Chief Rabbinate instructions except within the framework of the subcommittee.”

The Deputy Attorney General adds: “In cases where there is doubt as to how to classify the matter in question, the matter should be referred to the Rabbinate’s legal expert, who will consult with the Deputy Attorney General if necessary.”

The entire arrangement will be re-examined within a year.

It should be noted that among members of the Chief Rabbinate Council, there is a growing feeling that Rav Yosef should not be responsible for the state’s kashrus, and it would be placed in the hands of another rav.

Officials in Rav Yosef’s office released the following response: “The Chief Rabbi of Israel works closely with the Attorney General to formulate an working protocol regarding a conflict of interest as is customary, and intends to act by virtue of his position in all matters of the Chief Rabbinate and subject to the arrangement”

Another son of the late Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L, HaGaon HaRav Avraham Yosef, who is a former member of the Chief Rabbinate Council and former Chief Rabbi of Holon, was compelled to resign from both, and refrain from accepting another officials post, as part of a 2017 plea bargain agreement, which was accepted by the court.

The rav faced criminal charges, alleging he abused his position as the city’s chief rabbi to advance the Badatz Beit Yosef run by Rabbi Moshe Yosef. The rav was also compelled to pay a fine in the amount of NIS 75,000 as part of the settlement.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)