Jerusalem, Israel - The orthodox world is storming in face of the recent decision that recognizes rabbis of non-orthodox communities and allow them to receive the same funding as orthodox rabbis who are appointed by the Chief Rabbinate.
The announcement presented by the State Prosecutor's Office to the High Court with regards to the petition on funding equality for non-orthodox rabbis ended a seven-year long legal struggle and paved the road to state funding.
Kiryat Ono's Rabbi, Ratzon Arusi, who's also a Rabbinate member lashed at the decision, blaming the Israeli government for aiding "a fraud with no parallels in history. If I'll want to create a new judicial movement, will they recognize my people as judges?"
Arusi reiterated that a Rabbi is a traditional role, and it wasn't invented by orthodox. "You can't call a fraud 'rabbi', the same as judges and doctors. It forges the halacha." Arusi suggested to call the Reform jews "religious leaders instead. He further emphasized that the decision is directed only to allow funding through the Ministry of Culture, but expressed his concerns that this will bring about halachic recognition of non orthodox Rabbis as well.
Arusi further said that if this trend isn't stopped, "It will lead to a separation of religion and state, causing a great tear in the people, assimilation and the destruction of Judaism." Arusi cited the large numbers of assimilation in Europe and the US and called on the MK's to fight the decision.
Rabbi Haim Drukman too was shocked by the decision. "What Rabbis? This is fraud! There are ways to support them without recognizing them," he said. Drukman added he was relieved to know that the Reform Jews will not be funded by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, seeing it as a statement regarding their status. "I only hope this will not lead to recognition in their religious authority as well."
One-way bridge to Christianity
A senior ultra-orthodox city Rabbi called the decision "beyond ridiculous". "The Reform Jews are not Jewish, Christian or Muslim – this is a new religious that has nothing to do with the bible. They don't maintain the mitzvahs, so how can they be called Rabbis and receive state funding?
"These rabbis allow mix marriages world wide, and responsible for building a one-way bridge to Christianity. It is known that Reform Jews have no third or even second generations. Their children contribute to churches, not Synagogues," said the Rabbi.