With recent legislation focusing on eliminating the post of a second chief rabbi in cities around the country as well as the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Institute for Zionist Strategies decided to investigate the matter further. According to the institute’s report, in some cities, the salaries of the chief rabbis amount to 60% of a religious council’s budget.

The report states there are two chief rabbis serving in 21 cities in Israel today, and on the average the cost of the two rabbonim amounts to over 1 million NIS annually, all coming from the local religious council’s budget. It is pointed out that the post of chief rabbis of a city is not a factor in deciding the budget for a religious council, meaning to say the council would not receive less funding if the city has only one rabbi instead of two.

Simultaneously, the Yisrael Beitenu party has submitted a bill to eliminate the local religious councils. It insists the party has no intention to compromise religious services but feels there is too much redundancy with local government and a religious council and the duties should be turned over to local government while shutting down the councils.

Since 2001, the salaries of the rabbonim in over 60% of the cities amount to over 30% of a religious council’s budget. In some cities, the salaries amount to over 60% of the budget as stated earlier.

Even Yehuda

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 739,000 NIS (55.25% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 1,337,445 NIS

Azor

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,122,426 NIS (63.80% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 1,759,534 NIS

Eilat

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 855,022 NIS (19.50% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 4,392,337 NIS

Ashdod

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 825,126 NIS (8% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 10,440,891 NIS

Betar Illit

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,044,311 NIS (50% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 2,084,845 NIS

Givatayim

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1.068,874 NIS (30% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 3,565,863 NIS

Givat Shmuel

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 923,974 NIS (36.40% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 2,540,119 NIS

Dimona

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,088,930 NIS (25.60% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 4,259,166 NIS

Hadera

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 995,018 NIS (15.30% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 6,507,613 NIS

Holon

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,080,007 NIS (14.20% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 7,587,255 NIS

Carmiel

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,092.526 NIS (39.40% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 2,774,674 NIS

Lod

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,026,573 NIS (24.30% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 4,219,715 NIS

Migdal HaEmek

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 981,838 NIS (34.60% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 2,836,984 NIS

Maale Adumim

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,095,680 NIS (34.64% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 3,162,211 NIS

Nes Tziona

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,030,687 NIS (32% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 3,220,800 NIS

Kiryat Gat

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,087,747 NIS (25.20% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 4,313,516 NIS

Kiryat Motzkin

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,079,503 NIS (40.39% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 2,672,460 NIS

Kiryat Shmona

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 986,578 NIS (30.40% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 3,244,868 NIS

General Average

The two chief rabbis earn a combined annual salary of 1,006,881 NIS (25.55% of council’s budget)

The local religious council’s annual budget is 3,939,516 NIS

TOTALS

Total salaries – 18,123,859 NIS, representing 25.55% of the budget

Total Budget – 70,911,296

The report concludes all the religious parties view the post as an important one towards influencing the character of a city and to give lucrative positions to those loyal to the party.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)