Ba'al HaTanya's a grandson and Supreme Court justice

During Shabbos, Dr. Mishael Cheshin passed away at the age of 79, who served as a judge in the Supreme Court and Deputy President of the Supreme Court.

The deceased, was the fifth generation of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad Chassidus and a descendant of the Rivlin family and descendant of Jerusalem.

Despite his background he became known for his anti-religious attitude: he was in favor of the restriction of the authority of religious courts in Israel. In 2006 he ruled an individual opinion to determine that the Tal Law, which rejects the enlistment of yeshiva students, is cancelled, but not by contradiction of the Basic Law, but on the grounds that it contradicts the existence of Israel as a Jewish state and a democratic state.

In December 2001 he ruled that the Chief Rabbinate cannot deny a kosher certification of the "Hod Meuleh" slaughtehouse, which sold separately non-kosher meat as well. The Rabbinate returned the hechsher, but published that the kashrus was given in a court order, contrary to the opinion of the rabbis. As a result, orders from the slaughterhouse were cancelled and it returned to the court hearing. In September 2002, Cheshin ruled that the Chief Rabbinate did not obey the High Court and degraded the court. Cheshin called on Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein to prosecute the rabbis involved in the case, and called on the Knesset to rescind the law prohibiting fraud, because the rabbinate had done improper use of it. He opposed a sweeping prohibition on the sale of pork and was called by MK Meir Porush as a result: "chazir".

His son Shneur Cheshin (40), was killed in June 2010 in a hit and run accident while riding his bike at the Kassem interchange. Tal Mor who ran him over and fled, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences and said: "Judge Dr. Mishael Cheshin, who was of the leading jurists of Israel, and had a sharp intellect, originality and sensitivity. I saw him well both in his glamour as well as in his great chagrin for his son Shneur z"l. Cheshin had a vast knowledge and was a lover of Tanach and Hebrew and fluently knew them."

"The late Honorable Judge Cheshin was a mainstay of the court who is responsible for a line of decisions that have shaped the foundations of Israeli democracy," said Chamber of Lawyers. "Justice Mishael Cheshin has served as Deputy President of the Supreme Court and his great contribution to the court will accompany his memory for years to come".

The Ministry of Justice issued a message stating that "Justice Cheshin was one of the giants of Israeli law in our generation, and his contribution to the legal system was immense and unique. Cheshin worked for the Ministry of Justice for many years before being appointed for judgment, and his last position as Deputy Attorney General. The Department of Justice sends its condolences to family Cheshin."

Justice Minister MK Ayelet Shaked said: "The original rulings of the late Justice Cheshin in his original style will continue to be a model and an inspiration to generations of the source of future lawyers. May his memory be blessed."

MK Nissan Slomiansky (Jewish Home) commented: "The late Justice Cheshin was his father's successor. He had a vast and in-depth knowledge in any area where he dealt. His creative and unique style will remain as a seal on judgments which he left as a legacy for future generations. I send condolences to the family and they should not know any more sorrow."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!