Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Kosel and Holy Sites has announced he is resigning from the Committee of 5 responsible for overseeing the construction work at Kever Rashbi in Meron after the decision was made to remove the authority from the halachic officials, who no longer may instruct and direct regarding the work at the holy site.

In his letter, the rav details some of the accomplishments of the committee in a short time, including their succeeding in distancing unwanted elements from the kever. The committee has also made headway regarding the sanitary, security and safety of the kever. “The moment the responsible halachic authority informs us that it is bowing out, the work was stopped and I am compelled to resign.”

The state quickly announced that in light of the rav’s resignation, the committee will now be headed by attorney Sarit Dana, a deputy state attorney general. The news has lead to an upheaval in the north, with many opposing a non-frum person heading the committee responsible for the Holy Kever. There are even reports that police have been called in to distance sides in physical confrontations.

The committee was established as a temporary solution and a compromise between rabbanim and the judicial system. Both sides realized the need for immediate intervention to address pressing security, safety and sanitation issues on the ground of the Rashbi’s kever.

After the state appointed Amnon Dehartouk to head the revitalization project, Gedolei Yisrael quickly became concerned that such a project was in the hands of non-Observant people, forming the Committee of 5, which enjoys widespread support. Rav Rabinowitz was seen as the likely person to head the committee since he does hold an official capacity. Nevertheless, the work on the site has not gone without opposition, with some maintaining the state’s involvement with the committee renders the committee unfit to oversee the operation. After the Beis Din of the Eida Chareidis and HaRav HaGaon Moshe Sternbuch Shlita became involved, the committee’s validity was accepted by all.

The Eida beis din from time-to-time released instructions as to how to proceed, which were adhered to by the Committee of 5.

What seems to have set off the latest wave of unrests and Meah Shearim protests was work that involved breaking apart the floor of part of the Kever. This led to Rav Sternbuch issuing a stop-work order, followed by his instructions to dissolve the committee.

As such, Rav Rabinowitz resigned, placing the ball back in the Eida Chareidis’ court so to speak, but the state did not waste any time and filled his void by appointing attorney Dana.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)