Holon Chief Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shlita has been appointed to head the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s Shmitah operation for areas that do not wish to rely upon the Chief Rabbinate’s heter mechira. That means Rabbi Yosef will sign kashrus certificates in cities and municipalities in which the local rabbinate does not work with heter mechira produce.

Channel 2 News ran with this report questioning the appointment as police have announced a criminal indictment will soon be filed against Rabbi Yosef, who allegedly used his position as the chief rabbi of a city to advance the business interests of the Shas-affiliated Badatz Beit Yosef kashrus organization. As a result of the investigation against him Rabbi Avraham Yosef was not able to add his name to the list of contenders to become the Rishon L’Tzion, compelling Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L to tap another son, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita.

In response to the report the Chief Rabbinate of Israel stresses there is no reason Rabbi Avraham Yosef cannot sign on a teudah kashrus in Holon or other cities.

In other Arab violence in the capital there were two reported attacks in which Arabs hurled stones at the passing Jerusalem light rail, both in Shuafat. B”H there were no injuries but windows of the train were smashed. A number of suspects were detained by light rail security personnel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)