Tel-Chai Nation

The Haredis running the rabbinate want to get rid of this veteran rabbi because he supports making conversations more welcoming for outsiders. But he's got support and is fighting back:

Efrat Chief Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is planning take his case to the Supreme Court of Israel if necessary, and Efrat Mayor Oded Ravivi says he is adamant Riskin must stay on, "regardless of what the Chief Rabbinate of Israel says."

Ravivi warned that he would not tolerate political interference from the country’s rabbinical council officials when there is a “clear consensus that Rabbi Riskin is performing his duties faithfully.” [...]

Meanwhile, Riskin himself has said that he will appeal the issue to the nation’s Supreme Court. In addition to serving as the Chief Rabbi of Efrat, Riskin also heads the Ohr Torah Stone institutions as well.

I applaud him for standing firm against the Haredi fruitcakes who despise his positions. It's been said this could precipitate people's feelings that the rabbinate should be closed down to prevent this kind of corruption from taking place. And at this point, I guess that's the best thing to do.

More on the topic here. Natan Sharansky's also voiced his support for Riskin.

Labels: haredi corruption, Israel, Judaism, Moonbattery