It was recently reported that a number of rabbonim who were appointed as rav over a city are being probed to determine if they obtained their certification for the position legally. There are allegations that some of the rabbonim were ‘rubber stamped’ and given certification without going through the lengthy process, which takes about five years. These rabbonim are now being probed for possible fraud.
A letter was sent to the legal advisor of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel by attorney Naftali Peles in the name of a senior rabbinate official “who requests to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the matter” seeking to probe the matter.
Attorney Peles explains the rav who does not wish to reveal his name has passed these exams, difficult exams that are six hours each. These rabbonim are being probed amid claims they have passed up to four exams which were taken simultaneously, which anyone familiar with the content involved realizes is highly doubtful and actually close to impossible, Peles points out.
Peles requests to have the names of these rabbis to ‘give them the proper kovod’ for being capable of passing four such exams simultaneously.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky ztzvk”l used to say that he began paskenning when Rav Yaakov ztzvk”l told him to. No curriculum. No tests.
The story is told that talmidim of the Chofetz Chaim gave him semichah as he did not have an official one prior to that. No curriculum. No tests.
The Chazon Ish ztzvk”l did not learn in Yeshivah. HaRav Chaim Ozer sent a letter, prior to the Chazon Ish’s aliyah to Eretz Yisroel, stating Ari oleh m’Bavel. No curriculum. No tests.
Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg ztzvk”l was reportedly given semichah by Rav Baruch Ber ztzvk”l upon the former’s request. No curriculum. No tests. (There’s a whole story that goes along with this, but that is not the point here.
#1- well said
That’s because their Rabbeim already knew the extent of their talmidims’ knowledge, and didn’t ned to test them. You’re talking about gedolai hador. These people are not.