MK (Yesh Atid) Dr. Aliza Lavie accuses the Chief Rabbinate of Israel is targeting Efrat Chief Rabbi Shlomo Riskin because of his at times, controversial views that are not always in line with the mainstream hashkafa of the Chief Rabbinate. Dr. Lavie is referring to the fact the Chief Rabbinate does not plan to renew Rabbi Riskin’s contract as chief rabbi of the Gush Etzion city.
Lavie feels that Rabbi Riskin is a pioneer and a leader in many fields, including giyur and for his courage to stand behind promoting leadership positions and limud for women. She feels that the latter is the reason the Chief Rabbinate wishes to get rid of him.
Lavie’s voice is echoed by Rabbi Dr. Yuval Sherlow, who feels ousting Rabbi Riskin would represent “crossing a red line”. Rabbi Sherlow explained to Kippa News he will work to prevent this and insist that Rabbi Riskin receives an additional five-year contract. Rabbi Sherlow adds that if the decision is made to oust Rabbi Riskin he will join forces with those trying to eliminate the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
Kippa adds that Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern intervened to prevent Rabbi Riskin from being ousted suddenly and a hearing will be held in one month on the matter, which will be followed by the Chief Rabbinate’s decision.
YWN notes that Chief Rabbi of Efrat Rabbi Shlomo Riskin has previously referred to “J” as a “model Rabbi”, and called him “Rabbi J”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
Time to dump the model rabbi yushke.
I think if the Chief Rabbinate feels it cant renew a rabbis contract it should publicly state, if it is contested, why they made their decision so it would be out. If anyone would then defend the “defendant” they will need to explain why the chief rabbinate is not authorized. Otherwise what would stop Missionary “Rabbis” or other non-Orthodox representations.
Before anybody comes to this person’s defense, please note that this “Rabbi” writes in one of his books that he prides himself over having permitted one of his daughters to be mechalel Shabbos to draw/color on Shabbos when she was under Bat Mitzvah. There he states that she is now his most religious child. If that’s his most religious, I’d hate to know where the others are holding.
I’m sorry, I’d quote the source, but I know longer know the title. All I remember is that it was a thin soft cover book in English. I guess for those that may not believe me I suggest call him. He’s listed.
Such a man should not be in the Rabbinate.
With that said, I must say that although the reason giving is that he is over 75 years old and was required to submit a request to extend his position and he didn’t and thus they have perfect rights to dismiss him, non-the-less I do not know if it will be advantageous to oust him. I’m assuming that most of Efrat are very happy with him. If so, I think that the disadvantages will outweigh the advantages. I am correct in my evaluation of Efrat it doesn’t say too much for them.
🙁
“Rabbi” Riskin is a sop for the Jews for Yushke. As someone who was forced to participate in the Notzrim as a child, and having read the New T probably more often than most Xtians (most recently to encourage Jews to reject Yushke and to return to Torah) I can state that J is Avoda Zorah, no more and no less. He explicitely stated that he and Hashem were one and the same (r”l). Yushke was against Torah and its leadership in his day. No legitimate Rabbi, let alone any serious Jew, should even hint that there was anything redeeming about Yushke.
Softwords: if he meant that by not rebuking his minor daughter for chillulei Shabbos derabonon he prevented her from being turned off the Derech and it worked to the point where as an adult she is charedi I don’t see why that should be a reason to disqualify him.
He has close ties to the Pave the Way Foundation, one of whose stated goals has always been to give Mount Zion to the Vatican. He is listed on their website as being among a delegation of Israeli rabbis who attended an audience with the Pope in which they expressed thanks and appreciation to him.
#5 besalel – It’s good that you are trying to give Dan L’Kav Zechus. That’s a good middah. However, the story is not like that.
According to his accounting, his daughter liked to draw. One particular Shabbos she really really wanted to draw, but knew that it was Asur on Shabbos. She had express her frustration to her father. What was his response? He told her if it bothered her that much she should go to her room and start coloring even though it was Shabbos.
I”M NOT KIDDING!!! I CAN’T EXPRESS HOW SHOCKED I WAS WHEN I READ HIS WORDS!