Will he open an investigation? The Hiddush Association today (Sunday) appealed to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, requesting that he open an investigation against Chief Rabbinate Chief Rabbi Amar, the candidate for the Jerusalem rabbinate, on suspicion of raising funds illegally.
The complaint is based on an article by journalist Yaki Adamkar on the Walla website, according to which the Neve Shalom association, run by Rabbi Amar's associates - Matityahu Sharim and Nissim Al-Kesalsi - raised donations in Rabbi Amar's name while he was serving as Chief Rabbi of Israel.
This is prohibited under the Civil Service Law (Section 5), which states that a civil servant may not collect or disburse funds by virtue of his position.
The Hiddush Association contacted the Attorney General about the matter and asked him to open an investigation in light of the allegations raised in the article. In a letter sent by the association's CEO, Uri Regev, he details the various allegations.
After detailing the allegations, Regev concludes: "Therefore, I would ask you to act quickly and thoroughly to investigate the suspicions raised in the article and in my letters above, to clarify the facts as they are, and to take the necessary steps if it turns out that the facts in the article are correct, as well as regarding the issue of the dual or separate identity of Rabbi Matityahu Sharim. It is clear that the upcoming elections this week give this investigation a new urgency.".
Rabbi Amar's associates told Walla in response: "The Maran Rishon LeZion sees a blessing in the activities of many associations, which do great things and are united for the benefit of all of Israel in many areas. In this framework, the 'Neve Shalom' association, which works against the severe assimilation of Jewish women with members of non-Jewish minorities in Israel, also receives his blessing and encouragement. Like Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who came forward to help with the issue, Rabbi Amar also emphasized the importance of the activity and encouraged the association of people who will work to save the daughters of Israel.".
""The rabbi is not aware of any close family members or other people personally connected to him who are involved in the activities of the association, in the sense that the legislator referred to it. The rabbi has never engaged in raising funds that were designated by donors for activities in the 'Neve Shalom' association. The rabbi's office was not involved in drafting letters to potential donors to the association and, of course, the rabbi cannot be responsible for routing such and such letters to his office.
""Even today, Rabbi Amar sees great importance in the activity to prevent assimilation in Israel, and even today, the Rabbi believes that it is appropriate to help finance this activity. In this context, the Rabbi donates his own money to this activity. It is assumed that raising the questions at the current time, a few days after Yom Kippur 5775, is done in good faith.".
In the letter, they also appealed to Religious Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett and Mayor Nir Barkat, asking them not to support the candidacy of Rabbi Amar, in light of his various statements about the laws of the country and the Reformers, which, according to the organization's members (let's remember, Regev defines himself as a Reform rabbi - N.G.), is problematic.
Also, they claim, Grand Master Eliyahu should not be supported, due to various statements he has made that appear racist.
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