Israeli Religious Services Ministry Urges Swift Appointment of Givat Shmuel City Rabbi

The Director General of Israel's Ministry of Religious Services, Yehuda Avidan, has demanded that the Givat Shmuel municipality promptly complete the process of selecting the city's rabbi. In a letter sent on Monday to Mayor Yossi Bordani, Avidan emphasized the urgency of finalizing the approval and consultation of public representatives in the election assembly without delay, despite the ongoing election period.

The letter follows a previous communication from the ministry's Deputy Director General, Yehuda Obeidi, and highlights legal obstacles identified by the ministry's legal bureau. Specifically, Inbal Parkash cannot serve as a member of the election assembly due to her status as a government employee. Additionally, Lital Wasserman's submitted forms were found incomplete and require correction.

Avidan requested the immediate submission of a replacement candidate's name, complete curriculum vitae, and questionnaire, alongside the corrected forms from Wasserman to enable the continuation of the selection process. He stressed the need for swift action given the limited timeframe and legal restrictions during the election period.

To expedite the process, Avidan urged convening a city council meeting as soon as possible, including the option of a telephonic session, to approve the public representatives and conduct the legally required consultation. He also requested that the meeting minutes be forwarded to the ministry immediately after the council session.