Avigdor Liberman threatens to fire Chief Rabbi Lau
Israel’s Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman has sent a letter to Chief Rabbi of Israel (Ashkenazic) David Lau with an ultimatum on the matter of Rabbi Lau’s opposition to the government’s plans to reform the system of conversion to Judaism in Israel.
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Rabbi Lau had stated that he opposed the planned reforms and would not agree to certify conversions should they be implemented.
In the letter, Liberman reminded Rabbi Lau that he is bound by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law of 1980 and, as such, serves under the authority of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The Finance Minister also went so far as to state that the government is authorized to terminate his term of office early should it choose to do so.
Liberman said that should Rabbi Lau make good on his threat not to certify conversions then that would constitute an offence warranting Lau’s termination. He wrote that such an action on the Chief Rabbi’s part would, “be a real harm to the Israeli public and especially IDF soldiers to members of the Ethiopian community and those seeking to convert. It is not justified and it constitutes behaviour that does not fit the status of the chief rabbi and it may lead to proceedings being taken to end his term.”
TPS
