Now counted among the candidates Chief Rabbinate race, Dayan Tzion Boaron Shlita now comes under media scrutiny along with other candidates. The rav is more or less an unknown to most, for he remains out of the political spotlight.
In his candidacy to become the next Rishon L’Tzion, the rav enjoys the support of a number of women’s organizations. The daily Maariv however cites that while this is true, many are unaware of an interview that appeared in the Shas-affiliated Yom L’Yom newspaper about a half year ago. In that interview the rabbi explained that workplaces in which men and women work side by side have led to many cases of infidelity and he opposes such an atmosphere.
Regarding the sharing the burden issue, the government effort to draft chareidim into the IDF, the rav remains firm and uncompromising in his opposition. The rav points out that there are “tens of thousands of others that do not serve and this does not seem to bother anyone.”
Maariv adds that despite being backed by a number of women’s organizations, in the interview the rav denies the batei din of the Chief Rabbinate discriminate against women in divorce cases. He feels “the women’s organizations funded by the Reform Movement spread these lies. They always work against the batei din. Most women’s organizations slander the Rabbinical Courts towards bringing about their collapse.”
The rav is particularly critical of the secular Family Court system, explaining often chareidi women turn to this court instead of a beis din in the hope of getting a higher alimony payment against the husband. He cites that this court usually compels the husband to pay “astronomical amounts well above their monthly earnings”.
In response to the Maariv report, officials backing the rav explain they did not have sufficient time to probe all of the points quoted from the past interview but add the rav’s support from women’s organizations is basely solely on his position and his handling of many agunah cases in the past. They add that many of the quotes as they appear in Maariv have been taken out of context.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Proper handling of agunah cases is a big deal and many batei dinim in America completely fail here.
Given that one of the most important roles for both chief rabbis is to serve as a dayan on the beit din elyon, I’m surprised that Rabbi Boaron, along with Rabbi Eliezer Igra, who have decades of experience as dayanim, do not have more support.