Chief Rabbinate of Israel rabbonim appointed as chief rabbis of cities will be meeting at the behest of Rishon L’Tzion Chief Rabbi Rav Yosef Shalush Shlita, with the latter concerned with the current trend – attacks against the Chief Rabbinate along with the Ministry of Religious Services reform in marriage registration.
Chief Rabbis of cities, municipalities and other civil service rabbonim are expected to convene next week to discuss what is viewed as the threats to the Rabbanut and the growing challenge to religious services in the Chief Rabbinate framework. The kenos will be held in Heichal Shlomo, 110 Jabotinsky Street in Petach Tikvah on Sunday, 8 Tammuz 5773. On the agenda is the recently-passed Ministry of Religious Services marriage registration reform, which many of the rabbonim oppose vehemently. The reform permits regional registration station for persons wishing to get married and one is no longer compelled to register with the local religious council in one’s city of residence.
They rabbis will also discuss the closure of tens of religious councils around the country, a major cost-saving measure that was decided upon by the ministry.
Rav Shalush explains he is less concerned with the damage these new policies will cause to him and his colleagues, or even the Rabbanut, but he fears the colossal damage that will result to Am Yisrael, damage that will be irreversible.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Can someone explain ‘Halachikly’ what is the problem with couples getting married by the Rabbis of the community they choose, rather than where they live? Don’t we do that all the time in America?
What is the problem? Anyone can serve as a mesader kidushin; even a non-rabbi and at least in theory even a woman! The rabbinate has repeatedly alienated non-religious Jews and even religious Jews by prventing them from getting married in Israel. They need to be reined in.