While the Jerusalem Religious Council is under police and state comptroller investigation for alleged fraud and nonfeasance, officials have appointed a son of Jerusalem Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlita to the council’s Monetary Beis Din. The report refers to Rabbi Eliyahu Amar.

While Rabbi Shlomo Amar did not make the appointment, he did recommend the appointment.

Religious council officials are quoted by MyNet explaining the post if voluntary, but the media feels payment is not the issue, as the post clearly serves as a springboard for future advancement.

In recent years Rabbi Eliyahu Amar served as rav and rosh kollel in Moshav Alush. MyNet adds there has been criticism against the younger Rav Amar in the past as he was not required to take all the tests to become a certified dayan by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, mentioning this certification took place at a time his father served in senior rabbinical posts. This led to a special session of the Chief Rabbinate Council, which decided to rule in favor of Rabbi Eliyahu Amar and accept his dayanus credentials.

Rabbi Eliyahu appears in the beis din once weekly, but MyNet adds his name does not appear in the public roster of available dayanim nor does it appear on the list one uses to select dayanim for a beis din. Rabbi Eliyahu does however appear once weekly to serve as one of three dayanim hearing monetary disputes. Religious Council head Yehoshua Yishai told MyNet the names of dayanim who volunteer never appear on these lists.

MyNet also quotes religious council officials explaining the public’s perception of the reality is erred as in fact, Rabbi Eliyahu Amar’s willingness to serve without receiving compensation is a “chessed and his serving is not at all a springboard for future advancement”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)