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May 29, 2013
Kofrim should not be involved in selection of Chief Rabbis
It turns out that the Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ono, Rav Ratzon Arusi agrees with me, sort of!
I think the politicians should not be involved in the selection of the Chief Rabbi. That Chief Rabbinate, in my opinion, is sullied by the involvement of the politicians, the way they make deals and pass personal laws to get "their candidates" advanced...
Rav Arusi also thinks the politicians should not be involved, but for a slightly different reason. Rav Arusi says the Rabbanut should be outside of the realm of the Knesset because there are kofrimi inside the Knesset.
Rav Arusi said, "When there was a Sanhedrin, it would give instructions and make decrees regarding the selection of judges and members of Sanhedrim and for any religious issue, because the Sanhedrin operated according to the Torah and anything it did was from that perspective.
In the State of Israel we have merited on the one hand from sovereign rule in the land, which according to Rav Kook has the status almost of a kingdom and form that perspective can establish laws that are meant to obligate its citizens. But on the other hand, one cannot ignore the problem that the parliament of today consists of representatives of the entire spectrum - Jews and non-Jews, religious and secular and some with different worldviews and even those who oppose and are deniers of the Torah, all within the framework of pluralism.
[While they should be encouraged to continue establishing appropriate laws], we would expect the Knesset to understand the sensitivity of the issue of over-legalization regarding a religious institution that has its own uniqueness to it... The lawman must know not to get involved in these issues, just as he does not get involved in issues of the courts. If he did that, there would be an outcry.
It is a shame that the State of Israel limited rabbonim based on age. As the rav gets older, he gets smarter and has more influence. The only limitation should be on actions.
(source: INN)
When you want people to do things your way, you probably should not call them insulting names (like kofrim), but his point is correct.
I think the politicians should not be involved in the selection of the Chief Rabbi. That Chief Rabbinate, in my opinion, is sullied by the involvement of the politicians, the way they make deals and pass personal laws to get "their candidates" advanced...
Rav Arusi also thinks the politicians should not be involved, but for a slightly different reason. Rav Arusi says the Rabbanut should be outside of the realm of the Knesset because there are kofrimi inside the Knesset.
Rav Arusi said, "When there was a Sanhedrin, it would give instructions and make decrees regarding the selection of judges and members of Sanhedrim and for any religious issue, because the Sanhedrin operated according to the Torah and anything it did was from that perspective.
In the State of Israel we have merited on the one hand from sovereign rule in the land, which according to Rav Kook has the status almost of a kingdom and form that perspective can establish laws that are meant to obligate its citizens. But on the other hand, one cannot ignore the problem that the parliament of today consists of representatives of the entire spectrum - Jews and non-Jews, religious and secular and some with different worldviews and even those who oppose and are deniers of the Torah, all within the framework of pluralism.
[While they should be encouraged to continue establishing appropriate laws], we would expect the Knesset to understand the sensitivity of the issue of over-legalization regarding a religious institution that has its own uniqueness to it... The lawman must know not to get involved in these issues, just as he does not get involved in issues of the courts. If he did that, there would be an outcry.
It is a shame that the State of Israel limited rabbonim based on age. As the rav gets older, he gets smarter and has more influence. The only limitation should be on actions.
(source: INN)
When you want people to do things your way, you probably should not call them insulting names (like kofrim), but his point is correct.
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Chief Rabbinate,
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I think his point is absurd.
ReplyDeleteAs long as there is no separation of Church and State, and the Rabbanut is an arm of the State, OF COURSE the State has a say in its composition.
An independent Rabbanut, however, is a different matter.
But politicians (even haredi ones) do have a say regarding appointing judges.
ReplyDeletecorrect, the panel that selects judges includes politicians. gafni and shelly reportedly made some deal a couple days ago on this matter.
Deletethe knesset passes laws which overturn court decisions. it doesn't happen often but it does.
the demand that the religious institutions be independent of state oversight is simply unrealistic.
No it isn't. We have the Sanhedrin system already within the Halacha. We need to go back to the standards of th etorah and Halacha and the ways of the Torah of Moshe and not the ways of Korach and his followers.
DeleteTzVi
if and when that happens (no time soon IMO) we can discuss it. in today's reality giving the religious a pass on state regulation is a non-starter.
DeleteHis point is not correct btw.
ReplyDeleteMembers of the Sanhedrin were partially appointed by the King of Israel. That is how at one point in history, the Tzadukim made up most of the sanhedrin, and why a certain queen in the Talmud is flattered by the Rabbis so much.