The executive board of the Religious Council of Jerusalem
filed a High Court petition against the appointments of HaRav
Binyomin Adler and HaRav Yosef Efrati as the rabbonim vested
with the exclusive authority to issue kashrus certificates to
businesses in Jerusalem.
In their petition the heads of the Religious Council are
asking the High Court to annul the decision of the Chief
Rabbinate Council to invest the two rabbonim with sole
authority over kashrus certification in Jerusalem.
The reports on the unprecedented step by religious figures to
turn to secular courts to oppose prominent rabbonim stirred
irate reactions. Rabbonim and public figures said the move
sets a dangerous precedent since in the future other
organizations might follow the example of petitioning the
High Court against rabbinical bodies. "If they go to the High
Court against rabbonim this institution can no longer be
called a `religious' council," said rabbonim and public
figures.
"The fact that the Religious Council turned to the High Court
to oppose granting authority to the rabbonim poskim
shlita," they continued, "proves that the current
executive board of the Religious Council does not operate in
accordance with norms accepted in religious and chareidi
communal affairs. Perhaps the directors of the Religious
Council would like to grant kashrus certificates in Jerusalem
with High Court backing. It is also clear proof all the
stores, businesses, hotels, etc. under the Jerusalem
Religious Council are not under any kashrus supervision
whatsoever and of course this constitutes a tremendous
stumbling block for the public."
At a meeting of the Degel HaTorah directorship convened at
the office of Deputy Minister Rabbi Ravitz to discuss the
issue, MKs Rabbi Ravitz and Rabbi Gafni presented the board
with the grave facts, saying religious issues in Jerusalem
and numerous other locations around the country where Likud
activists are "appointed" to handle religious services are
being further aggravated as rabbonim and religious functions
are suffering blows unknown since the State was founded.
Rabbi Ravitz and Rabbi Gafni called this conduct an
abomination. The Degel HaTorah board sees these moves,
particularly the most recent move, as a new situation to be
handled in the most severe manner due to the government's
estrangement from kodshei Yisroel. As such Degel
HaTorah plans to take steps to formulate unambiguous
proposals to be presented to gedolei Yisroel in light
of the new situation that has emerged.
