In a story uncovered by the daily Yediot Achronot, Rabbi Shilo Tzaddok stands accused of taking NIS 3,000-5,000 from former Ethiopian immigrant couples to perform a fake chupah.
Apparently, there are cases in which a couple is almost ready to wed, having booked a wedding hall, sent invitations and preparing for their new life when it is learned that there are problems with the Rabbanut regarding the “Jewishness” of one of the couple.
Not wishing to face the embarrassment and cause pain to their families, some of the couples hire Rav Tzaddok, who has performed mock weddings, in which only he and the couple realize it is not the real thing. This to satisfy the young couple’s family and their guests but after the wedding, the person in question must begin conversion classes or other criteria of the Rabbanut.
His father, Rav Shalom Tzaddok told Yediot “I plan to stop. In essence, I am just doing a favor for the Ethiopian community.”
The senior Rav Tzaddok explains that Rav Yosef Hadane, who is the chief rabbi of Israel’s Ethiopian community, approaches him from time-to-time asking him to find a solution to such problems.
Yediot quotes Rav Hadane as saying, “Anyone performing such an act does so with a broken heart. At times, one must go against one’s heart towards meeting the needs of the family who expect to see a chupah. I am not involved in the sums of money requested but understand, even for NIS 10,000; most rabbis would not do this because it is not legal and most unpleasant. Last month, there were a number of couples like this, most unusual.”
Rav Hadane explains that many of the couples are less than honest when questioned while going through the process with the Rabbanut. Knowing this, he conducts many checks and sometimes, information is uncovered a short time before a wedding is planned.
Asked for a response, the Chief Rabbinate stated they plan to summon Rav Shilo Tzaddok to explain his side of the events.
NOTE: In 1973 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, then the Chief Sephardic Rabbi, based on the Radbaz and other accounts, ruled that the Beta Israel were Jews and should be brought to Israel. He was later joined by a number of other authorities who made similar rulings, including the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi. In contrast to some Ashkenazi rabbis, Rabbi Yosef further held that the Beta Yisrael were not Mamzerim and thus could marry just like other Jews.
Other legal authorities, primarily Ashkenazim, have maintained that the Jewishness of the Beta Israel is seriously suspect. Such dissenting authorities include Hagon Rav Moshe Feinstein, Hagoen Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, and Hagoen Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.
In either case, some modern rabbinical authorities require the Beta Israel to undergo shortened conversions as a religious precaution. Those who believe this consider the conversion a necessity for an Ethiopian Jew to be accepted within other Jewish communities. (Wikipedia)
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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3 Responses
How can a responsible news service quote wikipedia? The majority of gedolei poskim rule they are not Jewish. Even Rav Ovadya didn’t rule that the falash mura are jewish!
wikipedia? which gadol wrote that?
I actually did look up this Radvaz more than 20 years ago, and he does say that the Jews in Ethiopia are from Shevet Dan, but he doesn’t give any source or reasoning; if I recall correctly he just mentions it as if it were common knowledge. I’m not sure how safe it is to pasken from that. As I understand the historical evidence, it seems more likely that they are not mizera yisroel at all, but are descendants of Ethiopian Christians who about 800 years ago decided that the “New Testament” made no sense, and started keeping only the “Old Testament”, but were never megayer.
Of course those who came to Israel and have been megayer properly are 100% Jewish; but those who have not been megayer are very likely not to be Jewish, despite the Radbaz.