Senior Kol Chai Radio host Avi Mimran, who came under fire this week for telling Rabbi David Stav on the air live “you are not a rabbi” has apologized publicly.
Mimran apologized to Rabbi Stav during an interview on Galei Tzahal (Army Radio). He used the air time to explain that he should not have attacked Rabbi Stav personally, adding if the rav would not have hung up the phone, he would have explained that since he and the other rabbonim involved in launching the independent giyur beis din feel the Chief Rabbinate of Israel is no longer relevant, then he is not a rav since his rabbinical ordination is from the Chief Rabbinate.
“I apologize to Rabbi Stav. He is a rabbi because of his ordination from the Chief Rabbinate and if there is no Chief Rabbinate there will not be rabbis” he stated on the air.
Rabbi Stav agreed to an interview on the prime time Kol Chai evening news magazine program to discuss Giyur K’halacha, the new independent beis din for giyur that permits bypassing the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Mimran got agitated during their phone interview, and at one point told Rabbi Stav “your words are demagoguery” to which Rabbi Stav said “You do not tell a rabbi his words are demagoguery”. Mimran then retorted “You are not a rabbi”. Rabbi Stav responded and then hung up the phone, ending the interview.
Mimran came under fire and a small number of media personalities and public officials announced they are boycotting him and the station until a public apology is issues.
In his response to Galei Tzahal regarding the apology, Rabbi Stav said “I would like to differentiate between the chareidi tzibur and a radio broadcaster that has no derech eretz. The chareidi tzibur has midos tovos. The response that I receive from the chareidi tzibur is most impressive”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Yes, R’ Stav is a Rabbi. But he’s breaking with mesorah and halacha as defined by the Gedolei HaPoskim of various generations and denominations. That is not OK.
There’s a reason HaRav Ovadya Yosef Ztz”l called the idea of making him Cheif Rabbi “like planting an asheirah in the Bais HaMikdash.”
it is a great person who never makes mistakes, but it is even a greater person who admits his mistakes.
Why does nobody stand up for what they believe in? A radio personality takes a stance and immediately gives in to pressure.
That’s why people are following Trump. They are tired of wishy washy people who fold under the smallest provocation. I know I am.
mw13 – Rabbi Stav simply wants rabbonim to be allowed to convert. That is pretty traditional, don’t you think?
The issue here is something else; if every Rav can legally convert, what standards are left – there are some Rabbonim who will convert anyone, even if the conversion is a farce.
mw13, what mesorah is there that only the Chief Rabbinate of Israel can do conversions?