Religious Services Ministry to reconsider Hadane's tenure extension application after uproar
Such extensions are routinely given to municipal chief rabbis, including those of an advanced age, but Hadane’s request was denied.
By JEREMY SHARONMembers of the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel mark the holiday of Sigd in Jerusalem November 20, 2014(photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
The Religious Services Ministry announced on Tuesday that they are now considering an extension of the tenure of the Chief Rabbi of the Ethiopian community Yosef Hadane.The Religious Services Ministry's initial decision to deny the extension allegedly because of his opposition to discriminatory marriage applications practices stirred an uproar in the community.According to a report by Army Radio, Hadane was denied an extension to his service as chief rabbi of the community after he reached the retirement age of 67.Such extensions are routinely given to municipal chief rabbis, including those of an advanced age, but Hadane’s request was denied.In a formal response to the report, the Religious Services Ministry said that Hadane’s post was a position within the civil service, and was different from municipal chief rabbis.Hadane did not submit a formal request to have his tenure extended, but spoke directly to Oded Flus, director of the Religious Services Ministry.The Jerusalem Post has learned that Flus denied the request and therefore Hadane did not make a formal request.
