Forgery, impersonation: 4 rabbis arrested on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining 'kosher' qualifications to be city rabbis

September 6, 2017   

A national investigation unit in the Israel Police arrested four rabbis from different cities this morning (Wednesday), following a complex investigation, on suspicion that they fraudulently obtained a "certificate of fitness," which qualifies them to run for the senior public position of city rabbi. According to the suspicion, the four fraudulently obtained the "certificate of fitness," without attending the certification exams and also through additional methods, including falsifying the registration of test scores, sending another person in their place to take the exam who impersonated them - and even directly contacting the test examiner, with the aim of "reducing" the test and giving the score. Meanwhile, Yaha detectives at Lahav 433 arrested the four suspects this morning and searched their homes, with the aim of seizing documents that, according to suspicion, link them to the alleged offenses, which include: fraud and breach of trust, receiving something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, false registration in organizational documents, impersonating another person, and forgery under aggravated circumstances. In two authorities where two rabbis were running, the planned elections were canceled, following petitions filed with the High Court of Justice. The Israel Police emphasize that the suspicion is against the suspects themselves and not against the Chief Rabbinate, and that throughout the investigation from its beginning, they received professional cooperation from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.