Officials in the Chief Rabbinate of Israel reject the harsh criticism from dati leumi rabbonim accusing them of ‘targeting’ Efrat Chief Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, whose contract may not be renewed because he has reached mandatory retirement age, 75. Officials in the Chief Rabbinate reject “efforts to pressure the decision-making process regarding the tenure of the Chief Rabbi of Efrat”.
“The use of strong language towards the Chief Rabbis and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel is a most serious matter and this is not the way our Torah instructs us to act” the official statement read.
It is explained that when a rav reaches this age, he is invited to come before the Chief Rabbinate Council to explain why he wishes to continue in his post and he will submit relevant documentation relating to the request. It is also pointed out that in the case of Rabbi Riskin, the matter was pushed off to the next meeting of the council to permit Rabbi Riskin to take part. It is stressed that this is the normal procedure and it will continue in the future.
The official statement adds “The Chief Rabbinate Council pursuant to the legal authority for extending the tenure of an appointment city rabbi is not a ‘rubber stamp’ and not automatically permit extending the tenure of rabbonim but only after examining a properly submitted request.”
It is explained that in rare occasions there are exceptions to the process, as was seen in the case of Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern, who was elected a few short weeks before reaching retirement age. Hence his tenure was extended.
YWN notes that Chief Rabbi of Efrat Rabbi Shlomo Riskin has previously referred to “J” as a “model Rabbi”, and called him “Rabbi J”. Click n link to watch a shocking video.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
The “rabbinut” is a government agency. They are bureaucrats. As with all civil servants, their job is to make their masters happy, and their master is whomever is running the Israeli government.
We Jews do have a system of looking towards gedolim for guidance, which has absolutely nothing to do with the Israeli government rabbinate.
I don’t know why Yeshiva World News has to bring up the issue about J. It has nothing to do with the article.
The ahavas yisroel shown by most of these opinons tells me that I will have to fast this Tisha B’av.
If you think that it is easy to deal with the Rabbanut just go to the itim.org.il website.
I take it that the “YWN note” after the story is meant to tell us, the reader, how we should think. I guess it’s better to put your editorial after the article, rather than in the article… v’hamayvin yavin.
The Rabanut is 100% wrong for not saying straight out that this guy has crossed the line and cannot be qualified as “Rabbi”.
I totally understand YWN for reminding us about the “J” thing. It’s to give the reader a wider view of the issue, and you can judge for yourself if this fellow deserves “Ahavas Yisroel” or not…