Bizarre as it may sound, it is alleged that the Chief Rabbi of Cholon, Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shlita, a son of Chacham Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, fired a mashgiach unjustifiably because he was actively assisting Agudat Yisrael.

At least according to the Tel Aviv Labor Court, the dismissal was unjustifiable; an act of revenge for the mashgiach assisting Agudah, a move that was compelled by the chief rabbi’s disapproval of the mashgiach’s assisting Agudah instead of Shas, an act seen as betrayal of Rav Ovadia.

The case dates back to 2008, when Haaretz published that Rav Avraham Yosef fired a mashgiach on the city payroll, Rav Chaim Chiyon, apparently directly to the fact that Chiyon was busy campaigning for Agudat Yisrael instead of Shas. Chiyon hired the services of attorney Yitzchak Utzditcher.

According to some of the recordings of a conversation, Rav Yosef told his mashgiach “How can you continue working with me when you act against my father?” He then reportedly told him “you are done as of yesterday and you should begin looking for work”. Chiyon denies the allegations, stating he never did anything against Rav Ovadia Shlita.

Labor Court Justice Glicksman decided that since Rabbi Avraham Yosef and the Cholon Religious Council were unable to show any complaints filed against Rabbi Chiyon, and he was not negligent regarding the performance of his job description, and therefore, he was unjustifiably dismissed. The court added that similar actions were not taken against other mashgichim involved in politics, adding an attempt to limit his political activism is a violation of the employee’s rights.

Despite the court ruling, a beis din ruled Rabbi Chiyon will not be returned to his former post since he is no longer capable of working with his co-workers and rabbonim above him. Chiyon is now accused of failing to make an effort to integrate in his new post, leading to the court to rule in his favor regarding compensatory payment from the religious council, permitting him to take leave from his current employment to the tune of NIS 15,000.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)