Chief Rabbi Says Legal Restrictions Prevented Him From Signing Rabbinic Certificates

A formal ceremony was held last night to award ordination certificates to 60 newly certified judges and rabbis, led by Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef and Rabbi Gideon Ben-Moshe, alongside other senior rabbis and dayanim. The event was presented as a major celebration of Torah scholarship and the completion of the exams required for the new appointments.

Behind the scenes, however, the gathering was clouded by legal restrictions and severe traffic disruptions. Organizers had originally planned for Yosef to personally sign the certificates by hand, but his name did not appear on them as the official signer.

Addressing those present, Yosef referred to the issue directly and said, “At the outset I was supposed to sign the certificates myself, but this crazy state forbids me from doing so.” His remark highlighted the unusual constraint that prevented him from serving as the formal signatory.

The ceremony was also affected by road closures and massive traffic jams caused by a vehicle protest. Senior rabbis who had confirmed in advance, including Shas spiritual council member Rabbi Shlomo Mahfud, were forced to turn back and could not reach the event. Despite the disruptions, the evening ended on an uplifting note, with the new communal rabbis formally accepting the burden of religious leadership.