Gedolei Yisroel expressed shock and resentment over
the decision by Jerusalem Religious Council Chairman Moshe
Ausditcher to dismiss HaRav Binyomin Adler from his post as
rov posek of the Jerusalem Rabbinate's Kashrus
Department. It is unprecedented for a politician-lay person
to assert control over the rabbinical functions of a kashrus
department.
Degel HaTorah MKs Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz and Rabbi Moshe Gafni
contacted ranking officials at the Prime Minister's Office on
Monday to denounce the dismissal of HaRav Binyomin Adler from
his post.
They also spoke with Government Secretary Yisroel Maimon to
make him aware of the gravity of a state official making an
independent decision to fire a rov. Maimon promised to
inquire into the matter as soon as possible.
According to halochoh, the unprecedented move was not within
the authority of Ausditcher who was appointed by the Likud to
his position a few months ago. On Sunday a letter of
dismissal was delivered to HaRav Adler, who has authored
several books on kashrus and was appointed by the rabbonim of
Jerusalem many years ago. Ever since then he has won the
confidence of gedolei Yisroel zt"l vylct"a, yet the
party officials running the religious council had the
chutzpah to fire him.
Chareidi rabbonim and public figures said that such a harsh
step has never been taken by the worst government officials.
"It is unconscionable that government officials appointed by
figures in the secular ruling party would dare to fire from
his post a rov posek through a letter that exhibits
brute force and effrontery," they said. "Many Jews in
Jerusalem and other parts of the country rely on the
Jerusalem Rabbinate's kashrus, knowing the rabbonim
poskim are the ones who direct the activity of the
kashrus departments. Now the Jerusalem Rabbinate's reputation
is liable to fall into decline since party officials are
trying to impose their opinion by dismissing an upstanding
rov.
"If the government officials have claims regarding any
individual the proper place to clarify these claims is only
in beis din, and not by sending a unilateral letter of
dismissal filled with extremely impudent remarks against the
heads of the kashrus apparatus of the Jerusalem Rabbinate,
who have operated with the backing and support of gedolei
Yisroel."
