Haifa Chief Rabbi Shlomo Shalush Shlita has announced he is taking a leave of absence pending the outcome of an investigation against him. The rav was informed last week that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is weighing a multi count criminal indictment against him pending a hearing to permit him to explain his version of events. He is alleged to have acted criminally leading to fraud, abusing his authority and breach of trust.

The rav’s attorney explains the attorney general is referring to the following incidents.

The first incident:

This refers to 2006-2008, as the rav gave kashrus supervision to the Vitamad Company and during that period, the rav asked the company to make a donation to a tzedaka fund he headed. The company complied and did make a number of donations from 2006-2011 amounting to 165,000 NIS. The state feels that as a civil servant the rav acted inappropriate and there was a blatant conflict of interests as the Chief Sephardi Rabbi providing kosher supervision to that company. This the attorney general feels represents breach of trust.

The second incident:

This refers to 2006-2008 in connection to the Miluiohf Company certified by the Haifa Rabbinate. Once again the rabbi asked for a donation for his tzedaka fund, and once again he received money, 80,000 NIS. The attorney general cites this as another case of breach of trust and a conflict of interests.

The third incident:

This takes us to May 2011, when the rabbi allegedly became personally involved in assisting a relative who was ousted by the city’s religious council as the kashrus supervision of the Miluiohf Company. The rav become involved in the relative’s work conditions and perks, once again a conflict of interests.

The fourth incident:

In 2011 the rav revoked the kosher certification of the Kaka Hall, publicizing this to the community. It is alleged this was a power play towards compelling the hall to rehire his aide as the mashgiach for the hall and in fact, the revocation of the hashgacha was not at all kashrus related.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)