Hamburg, Germany – The firing of a community rabbi in Germany because he lacked ordination papers is roiling Hamburg’s Jewish community.
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Dov-Levy Barsilay was fired after community leaders discovered that the Israeli institution that Barsilay claimed had ordained him in 1986 had no such record.
Barsilay, 60, who reportedly had planned to negotiate his retirement pension before being dismissed, called the charges against him a “pack of lies” and accused the community of trying to ruin his reputation. He said that he is considering legal action.
The scandal has shaken and divided Hamburg’s Jewish community, with reports on the scandal in mainstream German media and several former board members of the community arguing for Barsilay’s reinstatement.
“The unjust firing of our very honored rabbi,” wrote two former Jewish community board members in an open letter, “is a scandal for our Jewish community.”
Jewish community president Ruben Herzberg said the community had to act based on the evidence. He declined to give further details.
smecha or not, was he a good rabbi? let him retire and be donw with it.
Please post comments responsibly as all comments are moderated.They should take Harav Shloime Bistritzky who is the Chabad shliach in hamburg wonderful person does lots of good work
if he lied he definately should lose his pension. same with shechita if the meat packing lies to the public about thier hechsher they should lose trust in everyones eyes. even ask rubashkin
Now thats a standered that should be implemented here in Brooklyn! That would weed out the phonies
And who are the Phonies here in willimsburg?
I believe that the position might be paid by Government funds so it is necesary to have proper papers to fill any position.
if he lied he definately should lose his pension. same with shechita if the meat packing lies to the public about thier hechsher they should lose trust in everyones eyes. even ask rubashkin
by jj on 2008-09-12 at 1:26 PM
Can u stop with the rubashkin?
How much jews blood we have to spill?
Don’t forget to ask your local supermarket how much they pay their workers,and ask for a green card before u shop!
What about you cleaning leady? She belong to the union?
Do u pay cash?
Social security?
So stop the Rubashking bashin and look in your own back yard
How Tzadik you are.
rabbi…shmabi
Hey Postville . . . you represent a sentiment expressed here often – that the morality of Agriprocessor’s should be measured by the price of their meat. How about we half your salary and sing praises to your employer? Stupid
I know rabbi Barzilay – he’s a decent person. The community are deep in debt – so that’s how new board is dealing with it – saving now on a rabbi’s pension! He worked for them for 15 years; smicha notwithstanding all this story is outright disgusting. They should have let him retire quietly – it is a standart procedure in these cases; and not defame G-d’s Name publicly in such a mean way. HaShem Yirachem al Am Israel.