The head of the Tzohar Rabbonim organization, Rabbi David Stav speaks out warning that if negotiators forming the new coalition government give in to chareidi demands, it will lead to the demise of Tzohar Rabbonim. Rabbi Stav adds that his organization serves tens of thousands of Israeli citizens as well as Jews elsewhere.

Rabbi Stav responded to reports that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has given exclusive control of the Ministry of Religious Services to the Shas party. In addition, reports from the coalition talks state the prime minister has agreed to restore exclusive control of giyur to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Rabbi Stav is concerned the chareidim will undo the changes in state religious services that are the result of efforts during the past administration when the chareidi parties were in opposition. The rabbi is also concerned that the nationwide marriage registration will be eliminated. The latter is among the reforms implemented in the last administration by the Bayit Yehudi party, which controlled the Ministry of Religious Services.

Rabbi Stav warns that permitting the chareidim to undo the modifications in religious services in Israel will speed up the assimilation of the Jewish People in Israel and around the world.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)