7 Guilty In Rabbi Ordination Fraud

Seven people were convicted today in a scheme that awarded unearned smicha (rabbinic ordination) to police officers and others who lacked the necessary qualifications to hold the title.

 

7 Guilty In Rabbi Ordination Fraud
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Seven people were convicted today in a scheme that awarded unearned smicha (rabbinic ordination) to police officers and others who lacked the necessary qualifications to hold the title, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The scheme provided these unqualified ‘rabbis’ with smicha. Smicha is considered an advanced degree in Israel and holding it advances a person’s pay grade, even if their job has nothing to do with the rabbinate.

The fraud took place between 1998 and 2003, but the first indictments were not handed down until November 2007.

Among those convicted of guilty of aggravated fraud, use of forged documents, money laundering, bribery, fraud and related charges today were Rabbi Meir Rosenthal, who served as former Ashkenazi haredi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger’s chief of staff, and Rabbi Yitzhak Ohana, who headed the examinations and ordination department of the Chief Rabbinate and served as the chief of staff to former Ashkenazi haredi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yisrael Meir Lau.

To make the scheme possible, Rosenthal, Ohana and their co-conspirators opened colleges where police, IDF and security services officers attended religious studies classes. These ’students’ received documents falsely stating they had graduated a five-year program in a yeshiva officially licensed to ordain rabbis. In reality, they completed only a small amount of the actual ordination course requirements.

Rosenthal, Ohana and the other conspirators received millions of shekels for their part in the scheme.

Rosenthal, who headed the scheme and issued and distributed the fraudulent ordination certificates, alone earned NIS 2 million ($575,000) from the scheme.

Former Sefardi Chief Rabbi of Israel Bakshi Doron was also been indicted in the case. His legal proceedings are ongoing.

The state lost approximately NIS 300 million ($86 million) in unearned salaries paid out to the scheme’s “students.”

Comments

[NeverFrum]

Well, my first question would be why the hell does smicha entitle one to a larger paycheck if one's job is not rabbinically oriented? That is the kind if degree that only makes you function on a lower level overall as a human being. I think Israel needs to get its payscales right.

[David]

The chillul Hashem just never ends.

[Jeff]

Chabad has been giving smicha to barely qualified people for years, because the Rebbe thought the ignorant frei yidden would be impressed by shluchim who were addressed as "Rabbi'.

That said, this is delicious. I've arrived at a point at which I genuinely enjoy seeing Orthodoxy take a blow to the chops.

This is the world they keep telling us will prevail through sheer number and the power of "Toyreh".

[dh]

"Chabad has been giving smicha to barely qualified people for years, because the Rebbe thought the ignorant frei yidden would be impressed by shluchim who were addressed as "Rabbi'." Well, it's true. It makes ppl think they are closer to someone who is closer to something that will answer their prayers in the affirmative.

BTW, does anyone know the prayer over the handcuffs?

[S M L]

Bracha for handcuffs: "....It's about time. Amen...."

[jancsibacsi]

dh--"BTW, does anyone know the prayer over the handcuffs?"
Yes it is called a bracha lavatala:))

[shmuel]

One says "shichet lo, lo banav mumam'
(Parshat haazinu)

[Allan]

Thank God they weren't certifying mohels !

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

Other than the paperwork, there was no way of knowing if the rabbis were frauds or not.

[rebitzman - $101 to read my posts]

The Orthodox method basically is that if a rabbi ordains you.......you're a rabbi. I know a half dozen places in the US where for little work (but a lot of coin) a beard and a penis (preferably your own) you too can be an Orthodox rabbi.

[Mee-Samcha?]

"BTW, does anyone know the prayer over the handcuffs?"

Yes, its' "boreh pre ha-cuffin"!

[dh]

Lol!