The Jerusalem District Court ruled that Rabbi Yisrael Shiran is entitled to monetary compensation after he was dismissed from his Ministry of Education position. The rabbi came under fire for daring to criticize the ministry’s curriculum for its Rabin Legacy course in memory of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin.

Justice Aryeh Rominov on Thursday, 29 Tishrei 5774 ruled the rabbi is to receive a 400,000 NIS payment from the government ministry for having him fired from the Moriah Barkat School.

Rabbi Shiran sent a letter of protest in October 2000 after receiving instructions to teach the Rabin Legacy course. He sent the letter to then Minister of Education Prof. Yuli Tamir. Despite pleas from the school’s PTA on the rabbi’s behalf, Tamir had him dismissed for his unfavorable position towards the Rabin legacy as she and her left-wing colleagues view it. The rav turned to the courts claiming his dismissal was illegal. He was reinstated. However, he stepped down in 2002 due to what he describes was the hostile treatment he received from the ministry’s district officials. In 2007, the PTA signed a contact with the rabbi despite the ministry’s adamant objections. The top official in the ministry’s district office objected sternly to the appointment, stating the appointment of Rabbi Shiran as a rav in the school is not approved.

The rabbi once again took his case to court. This time the ministry used budgetary issues to back its case, despite the fact the parents, with whom his contract was signed, undertook to pay his salary.

Following the verdict the rav posted to his Facebook page, “Thanks to the Creator, the source of all our strength and abilities for enabling me to endure the most difficult period, dealing with such close minded individuals.” He thanked his family and all those who supported him during his struggle during the past years.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)