Chief Rabbinate to Discuss Stripping Rabbis of Title Following Investigation against Nahariya Rabbi for Rape
By Chaim Levinson
YNet [Israel]
June 26, 2007
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3417572,00.html
The Chief Rabbinate will discuss a proposal to strip rabbis found guilty of sexual offenses of their title, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The matter arose following an ongoing investigation against a Nahariya rabbi for raping minors.
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| Rabbi Eliyahu; 'rabbi must be impeccable' Photo by Avihu Shapira |
Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu came up with the proposal, according to which a committee will be set up to examine accusations against rabbis accused of sexual offenses and will hear all parties before revoking the rabbi's title.
In a letter sent to the members of the Chief Rabbinate, Eliyahu wrote, "Someone in the position of a rabbi should be a man of values, moral and conscience, an impeccable man, and certainly innocent of forbidden sexual relations.
"It is our duty as rabbis and members of Israel's Chief Rabbinate to set rules according to which a man who is suspected of forbidden relations is temporarily suspended from his role. A man who confesses must not be able to serve as rabbi in a public role."
The subject will be discussed at the Rabbinate's next meeting on Thursday.
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