JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Knesset’s Law and Justice committee was set to vote Wednesday on a new law regulating the appointment of rabbis in towns, cities and villages in Israel, until a last-minute postponement due to lack of coalition support. It may not seem like the most optimal time to be initiating such a law, and opponents of the law have been quick to cast it as a job fair for Shas political lackeys, but the law exposes a significant lacuna in Israeli religious legislation.
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Despite Israel’s orientation as a Jewish state, since its inception it has not established in law the obligation to appoint rabbis to lead towns and cities. There are no lack of qualified people to fill these positions, but since the power to appoint them and the funding has always been in the hands of the local authorities, many of led by rabidly secular mayors, the appointments have lagged and in many cases not been implemented for decades.
Thus, in 33 major cities including Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Kfar Saba, Hod HaSharon and Ramat HaSharon, there is no rabbi as the mayors refuse to appoint one, leaving residents with no address for all of their religious needs. Additionally, since 2007 no neighborhood rabbis have been appointed, since the role was never defined in law. Another indignity inflicted by the Bennett-Lapid government was to curb the tenure of city rabbis to 10 years, after which the mayor can extend their tenure or call for a new rabbi to be elected, as if rabbis are expendable public servants like politicians.
The new law seeks to change the model for chosing rabbis, taking away the power from local residents and leaving it in the hands of the Chief Rabbinate and the Religious Affairs ministry. Guidelines will be set for the rabbi’s authority and obligations, and the state will be obligated to appoint and pay for city rabbis – in the case of the four large cities, two rabbis will be appointed. Additionally they will be able to serve until 75, thus providing them with the job security and stature to be able to invest in improving their town’s religious amenities.
Neighborhood rabbis will be appointed and their status defined by law, enabling them to be effective local leaders in their community. The law may need to take into account the local shuls, but it at least provides a framework which will promote the Jewish needs of residents- Kashrus, Mikveh, marriage and divorce and a leader to consult with on all issues of Jewish life.
Thus, far from being a job opportunity for aspiring rabbis, this is the first step to restoring the honor of the rabbinate and ensuring that rabbinical figures can maintain the position of influence they have held in the Jewish nation for thousands of years.
It’s ironic that when discussing the issue of Charedi Army enlistment, the Charedi political parties tell us that due to cultural differences, the Army can never meet the religious needs of Charedi soldiers. Yet when discussing the “jobs for rabbis” bill, they tell us that of course a rabbi appointed due to his connections with the Shas Party can serve the religious needs of non-Charedi Israelis. Apparently the Charedim need to live in a spiritual cocoon separated from other Jews, while also being the rabbis other Jews are forced to hire and keep paying (regardless of cultural fit or performance) until the age of 75.
Don’t forget Shas voted for Oslo!! Don’t Trust them for a second!
If Mr Deri really wanted to fix the problem he would pass legislation that mandates each Moatzah have a Chief Rabbi and if the Moatza doesn’t do it, say within 180 days, then the Rabbinut can step in. This is a typical Deri power grab and anyone who understands anything about this power-grabbing, twice convicted (for fraud) Torah non-fearing Jew knows it.
The opposition is complaining that the rabbis selected will be Shas approved ones , who are stricter than more modern ones . They are also complaining that it’s a male power grab , by cutting the number of women allowed on the selection committees . If the government wants to show good faith , let them first correct these barriers the legislation .