Gutnick wins injunction against Mizrachi
A sydney court yesterday granted an injunction against the Mizrachi Synagogue blocking a vote on the future of its rabbi and ordered the matter be dealt with by Din Torah.Rabbi Moshe Gutnick was granted the injunction in Sydney’s Supreme Court as a result of which the Extraordinary Meeting of the synagogue was compelled to drop an item calling for a vote on maintaining the employment of the rabbi.
The synagogue has openly declared solvency issues and claims that it can no longer afford a rabbi.
Justice White ordered Mizrachi and Rabbi Gutnick to settle the matter through Din Torah employing the method Zabla where each party chooses a rabbi to represent them and the rabbis choose a mutually acceptable third rabbi to join them in mediation and judgement.
Mizrachi president, Mark Schneider, told J-Wire that the meeting dealt with the congregation’s solvency.
In his judgement yesterday, Justice White ordered Rabbi Gutnick, who has served the congregation for 21 years, to forego his salary until the matter is resolved.
Schneider told J-Wire: “There is little chance this can be dealt with before Pesach, but the sooner it is, the better for all.”
Gutnick told J-Wire he had got what he wanted. He said: “I am gratified that the Supreme Court recognises the right of Jews to submit to Halachic law in the affaires of a synagogue.”
How can a court of the land refer a case to a religious court? This case isn’t about if there is a G-d. Does this judgement means the court would respect any judgement made by a Beth Din… and if so.. we really need to look at who is on that Beth Din.