Rabbi David Stav Shlita of Tzohar Rabbonim has sent letters to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, the state prosecutor and Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich, calling for a criminal investigation and charges against persons in the Haifa Religious Council, charging them with filing false official documents in their ongoing battle and opposition to Tzohar Rabbonim.

Rabbi Stav explains that many couples who approached the Haifa Rabbinate to get married and were in contact with Tzohar Rabbonim learned they are listed as “pasul” and unfit to get married, some listed a being converts, others married already and other categories that disqualify them from marrying.

Rabbi Stav explains these civil service employees filed false legal documents, using these young people, all eligible to marry according to halacha, in the Rabbanut’s battle against Tzohar Rabbonim.

According to officials of the Tzohar Rabbonim organization, a number of couples who registered with their organization have been rejected when they approached the Haifa Religious Council to register their upcoming wedding. One young man told reporters he was told “you are a convert and are married already and therefore disqualified from marrying”. He explains he is born to a Jewish mother and was never married, unable to explain the allegations from officials in the Haifa Religious Council.

Another candidate, Avinadav Birman was told “you are a widower, a kohen and married via civil marriage.” Avinadav tells the press all three allegations are untrue, that he was never married and is a levi, not a kohen.

Orli Nitiz explains they told her she is a widow and a convert, both untrue, and once again, she is registered with Tzohar Rabbonim. In a recorded phone call we hear her asking why she is listed as she is, and was told it is because she is registered with Tzohar. The official admits she did nothing wrong and the situation would be corrected. Orli explains “this is between you and Tzohar, not me”, to which the person admits she will be able to marry.

The head of the marriage unit in the Haifa Council, Rabbi Yeshayahu Samutani told Channel 2 News correspondent Yair Shariki that the actions of the clerk who did this to these couples is not acceptable, apology to all of the people involved, admitting there is a dispute between the Rabbinate and Tzohar. According to the report, the matter pertains to more than a few couples, but no less than 100 people, most still waiting to hear back from the council.

From Tzohar’s perspective, the couples will marry on time as they hoped would be the case and it pursues its legal case against the Rabbanut. Rabbi Stav is demanding a criminal investigation, the firing of the guilty parties as well as filing criminal charges against those involved.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)