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NEWS
Shock Over Remarks by Ben-Dahan
by Betzalel Kahn
Leading poskim and gedolei Torah issued harsh
rebuttals against offensive remarks made recently by
Rabbinical Courts Director Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan against the
selection of dayanim who are talmidei chachomim
and yirei Shomayim.
Ben-Dahan's remarks were made to Ha'aretz, which
reported complaints associated with administerial matters at
the rabbinical courts. Laying blame on the Dayanim
Appointment Committee, Rabbi Ben-Dahan said, "The Committee
does not always perform a serious background check on
appointed dayanim and sometimes selects unsuitable
candidates. Recently the Committee appointed a dayan
despite stiff opposition by women's organizations familiar
with his background . . . The Committee must check not only
the candidates halachic ruling record and his stance on
compelling [certain husbands to give] a get, but also
the entirety of his conduct," a reference to a prominent
dayan at the Beit Din Hagodol who is backed by
maranan verabonon.
Rabbi Ben-Dahan's disrespectful remarks caused storm waves
among dayanim. Rabbonim and leading halachic figures
who heard the remarks quoted expressed shock that "a simple
official opens his mouth [to opine] against the selection of
dayanim who are talmidei chachomim and yirei
Shomayim, selected according to regulations and based on
recommendations by maranan verabonon gedolei Yisroel,
shlita.
The rabbonim and halachic figures noted that it appears that
Rabbi Ben-Dahan is seeking to find favor in the eyes of
various organizations, streams and political figures, and
that he allows nothing to stand in his way, adding, "An
official in the court system who dared to issue similar
criticism against the selection of judges and against
judicial decisions would be removed from his post that same
day. In this case an official in the beis din system
permits himself to open his mouth against prominent
dayanim talmidei chachomim, and nobody considers
dismissing him from his post for it. This person is unworthy
of his post."
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