Rabbinate against Rabbi Yossi Ben Harush: Don't be Messader Kidushin • Why?

A precedent sharp in its severity, was given this week on behalf of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, against Rabbi Yossi Ben Harush, who holds wedding ceremonies, despite the fact that the rabbinate forbade him to marry couples five years ago.

For total independence, flexibility in halacha and marrying couples for whom the rabbinate piled difficulties, as a result of the doubtful Judaism of one spouse - the Chief Rabbinate decided to revoke Ben Harush's license as Messader Kiddushin. But he is not excited, and beeps the ban imposed on him; he found a way around the rabbinate, and continues to marry unsuspecting couples, who are not aware of this fact.

An indictment which was submitted against him recently, in which he is accused of 15 cases of forgery, reveals that Rabbi Ben Harush gave couples whom he married certificates bearing the signatures of rabbis who had never been in contact with the couples.

As a result, the marriage of couples was invalidated, and they were required to remarry.

Such is for example the story of the Arphy couple, who were married a year ago, or rather thought they were married. Ben Harush starred at the Chupah and gave them a certificate confirming the marriage. But when they came with it to the rabbinate and the Interior Ministry, they were surprised to find that their marriage is not valid and the authorities refused to recognize them as married. "This Kiddushin has no meaning'" they made it clear unequivocally and ordered them to hold a Chuppah once again.

But Ben Harush, was not only accused of forging signatures and making Kiddushin for those whose Judaism is questionable, but the Kiddushin he performs is also rather dubious. Ben Harush, according to Arphy, also did not behave as expected of a Rav. "Too flexible", said Arphy. "He stayed with us over the wedding and was seen dancing with women. One can see it in the film of the wedding."

A letter issued by the Chief Rabbinate for official marriage and religious councils said: "To the question of many and because of the accumulation of complaints at the Chief Rabbinate, we repeat our announcement that Rabbi Yossi Ben Harush is not authorized to conduct marriage ceremonies by the Chief Rabbinate and therefore one should not confirm the registration of marriages carried out by him.

"Recently, it was indicted by the Central District Prosecutor's Office against Rabbi Yossi Ben Harush, on suspicion of forging documents related to applications submitted by couples to register marriages. In some instances couples were forced remarry, out of great anguish.

"Couples, who despite our warning, will knowingly ask Rabbi Yossi Ben Harush to marry them, will bear the consequences and implications of the fact that all the responsibility will be imposed on them alone."

In response to the serious charges, Rabbi Ben Harush claimed in a conversation with Channel 2 News to his defense, that the accusations against him – are from extraneous considerations. "I'm the most desired Rabbi in Israel, and the jealousy and envy has made them lose their minds," said the Rabbi of the complainants against him. In an interview, he defended himself and attacked his critics that the reason for the harassment stems from the fact that he exposed corruption in the rabbinate, so he said, and therefore he was invalidated.

When asked directly if the forged signatures of rabbis, he refused to comment directly and made do with a laconic response, but also incriminating: "It is not related at all. Rabbis forged for me a lot."

Rabbi Ben Harush was also asked about the claim of Arphy on dancing with women, but he has already 'managed to forget' this wedding for some reason: "I do not remember the wedding of the couple Arphy and regarding my photos dancing with women," he added, and boasted, " I tend to please the audience and it was never argued against me that I acted inappropriately."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!