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28 Sivan 5767 - June 14, 2007 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Harsh Criticism Lodged Against Jerusalem Religious Council

By Eliezer Rauchberger

Scathing criticism was directed at the Religious Council of Jerusalem and Council Chairman Moshe Ausditcher in Monday's Knesset State Control Committee meeting to evaluate operations at the Council.

Committee Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev (HaIchud HaLeumi), a representative for the city's neighborhood rabbonim, the Jerusalem Comptroller and the legal advisor to the Authority for Religious Services at the Prime Minister's Office issued highly critical remarks regarding Ausditcher's performance of his duties. They said they preferred not to elaborate on the details since the matter is currently being addressed by the High Court, but noted that the claims against the chairman of the Religious Council Chairman are of a personal nature and they decided to fire him for these and not political reasons.

MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni said, "Jerusalem used to have a top religious council. There was a good system in place, and the kashrus setup in particular was marvelous and was relied upon in Israel and abroad. Of all the religious councils now it's all gone down the drain, and the kashrus setup in particular is in severe decline. This is what troubles me."

MK Orlev echoed his remarks, saying nothing remains of the Religious Council's sterling past.

HaRav Dovid Shapira, representing Jerusalem's neighborhood rabbonim and Religious Council workers, presented a charged account of the situation at the Religious Council. "There are constant problems with salaries, yet they hire employees for unneeded posts such as strategic advisor, advertising advisor, etc., while minimum-wage workers are neglected. The Religious Council, which was a marvelous during the period of the former chief rabbis of Jerusalem, HaRav B. Zolti and HaRav Y. Kulitz, has lost the great faith the public once had in it."

Meir Shpeigler, director of the National Authority for Religious Services, says the Prime Minister signed a letter calling for Ausditcher's removal based on personal reasons.

Atty. Moshe Ausditcher insists that the Religious Council board functions properly. He claims that accountants have issued reports and these reports would be implemented. He also claims the demand by Religious Services Commissioner Yitzchak Cohen to dismiss him is political.

The legal advisor for the Prime Minister's Office rejected this claim, saying dismissal proceedings were underway before Cohen assumed his post.

 

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