The state demanded that non-Orthodox rabbis work in their congregations
full-time, while Orthodox rabbis were not required to work a minimum
number of hours, the petitioners said. The state also required a minimum
number of participants at prayer services and activities held by Reform
congregations, while no such demand was made of Orthodox congregations.
The state also placed limitations on the salaries of non-Orthodox
rabbis that did not apply to Orthodox rabbis.
Ha'aretz reports:
…"After seven years of litigation, the state accepted – albeit with clenched teeth – the proposal of this esteemed court and agreed to fund the salaries of non-Orthodox rabbis by way of support tests," the petition states.
"These tests were meant to create a mechanism for employing Orthodox rabbis in a way that non-Orthodox rabbis could receive similar conditions. But rather than properly implementing the ruling, the state has used foot-dragging tactics ... and in the end published tests that blatantly discriminate against non-Orthodox rabbis."
According to the petitioners, funding requests that adhere to the state's criteria were being rejected because the state interpreted the criteria unreasonably.
For example, the state demanded that non-Orthodox rabbis work in their congregations full-time, while Orthodox rabbis were not required to work a minimum number of hours, the petitioners said. The state also required a minimum number of participants at prayer services and activities held by Reform congregations, while no such demand was made of Orthodox congregations. The state also placed limitations on the salaries of non-Orthodox rabbis that did not apply to Orthodox rabbis.
"In light of the state's outrageously unfair and blatantly unreasonable behavior, the petitioners are forced to petition this esteemed court once again so it can make it crystal clear to the state that it must behave equitably and reasonably in the funding of religious services," the petitioners wrote.…