As Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana draws closer to implementing his giyur reform plan, he announced the ouster of the head of the giyur system after it became apparent that he would not support the reform.
Rav Moshe Weller, who was appointed by Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau three years ago, informed Kahana during a meeting last week that he wouldn’t support Kahana’s giyur plan, in line with Rav Lau’s position that “the goal of the giyur reform is to violate halacha.”
“In a respectful and to-the-point conversation, it became apparent that in light of the Chief Rabbi’s opposition to the giyur plan I’m advancing, HaRav Weller is not the right man to lead the giyur program toward the implementation of the reform,” Kahana wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. “I request that you do not extend his tenure after January 2.”
“The Bennett-Kahana government is dividing Am Yisrael and sowing discord via the giyur plan,” a statement from Mercaz Liba, an organization founded to strengthen the Jewish identity of the state of Israel, said. “The dismissal of the head of the giyur system is a continuation of the dictatorial line of the current government, according to which those who don’t align themselves with the party line – are fired. For the sake of the unity of Am Yisrael – say no to the giyur reform that will divide the Am.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
Whenever you have an official state religion (or even, religion supported by government funds) the government decides on religious doctrines. For Yidden it means that “Daas Torah” is replaced by ‘Daas ha-Medinah”. If the United States had state sponsored religion, this week all clergy would be receiving their orders to write sermons supporting Covid vaccination, depriving those who reject the vaccine of their livelihoods, and the religious importance of approving Biden BBB budget plan. Clergy who disagreed would be replaced by those who are true to the official faith, as defined by the occupant of the White House.
A far better system is what we in fact have in America. The government is not allowed to establish religion, religious institutions are not supported by tax dollars and control of religious institutions is not in the hands of the politicians (the debates in the USA are about when religious institutions get involved in secular activities, such as running playgrounds or schools). You can have freedom of religion if the government is paying the bill, since, as the saying goes, he who pays the fiddler calls the tune.
What a terrible person.
יבא יומו for Matan, the priest of the Ahvoide Zoroh Baal, as mentioned in the Book of Kings
Matan Kahana is a am Haaretz
Matan Kahane will probably appoint Santa Claus as the next chief rabbi.
Rav Weller made the correct decision. When you are a government employee, you may offer your opinion on proposed policies. However, once the government establishes its policies, you are obligated to either support those policies or submit your resignation and oppose them as a private citizen. . Rav Weller made a principled decision.
Whenever you have an official state religion (or even, religion supported by government funds) the government decides on religious doctrines. For Yidden it means that “Daas Torah” is replaced by ‘Daas ha-Medinah”. If the United States had state sponsored religion, this week all clergy would be receiving their orders to write sermons supporting Covid vaccination, depriving those who reject the vaccine of their livelihoods, and the religious importance of approving Biden BBB budget plan. Clergy who disagreed would be replaced by those who are true to the official faith, as defined by the occupant of the White House.
A far better system is what we in fact have in America. The government is not allowed to establish religion, religious institutions are not supported by tax dollars and control of religious institutions is not in the hands of the politicians (the debates in the USA are about when religious institutions get involved in secular activities, such as running playgrounds or schools). You can NOT have freedom of religion if the government is paying the bill, since, as the saying goes, he who pays the fiddler calls the tune.
So sick! How can a secular government legislate a religious law?
The Zionist State is not a Jewish State. It is a State full of Jews who can’t agree on anything.