According to a Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report filed by correspondent Yair Orbito, Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Dovid Lau is trying to amend the criteria for certifying a rav as a dayan, to determine if one is entitled to be certified as the rav of a city and a dayan.
The report states that some members of the Chief Rabbinate Council feel the Chief Rabbi is doing this to permit granting himself the dayanus certification, which he currently does not have, preparing himself for employment upon completion of his term in office. If not granted the certification, the Chief Rabbi would not be permitted to continue in a senior dayanus post after his term expires.
Interestingly, just days ago, after serving five years of their ten-year term, the Chief Rabbis changed positions, and now, Rabbi Lau serves as the ‘Nasi’ (President) of the Chief Rabbinate Supreme Beis Din. Some question how one who is not certified as a dayan by the Chief Rabbinate is qualified to hold such a position.
The Chief Rabbi’s office said: The Chief Rabbi believes that this is the right thing to do and he has acted on the issue of appointing the committee to determine the criteria for granting dayanus to qualified rabbonim, those viewed as ‘Gadol B’Torah’, as per the regulations that exist [but are not used today due to the High Court ruling].
The decision was unanimously approved by all members of the Rabbinical Council, the body which decides the matter.
It is pointed out, in the past, rabbonim have been certified as dayanim and rav of a city without exams, but this was prohibited in a ruling by the High Court of Justice, which stated criteria defining qualifications for the positions must be set into place. This is the situation currently, that in order to receive the certification, one must pass the qualifying exams determining one’s knowledge of halacha. However, Rav Lau wishes to circumvent the need to take the exams.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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