The Ministry of Finance is promoting a move to close the Rabbinical Court in Safed.
According to a report today (Wednesday) by Robbie Hamershaleg on Channel 2, the court - which serves hundreds of thousands of citizens living in the Galilee and the Golan Heights - is set to close in October, after the holidays.
Due to the move, residents of the north will be forced to travel as far as Tiberias to settle divorce, inheritance, and other matters.
Chief Rabbi David Yosef visited the courthouse a few weeks ago and promised the employees that the place would not be closed. Nevertheless, according to the report, the move is moving forward anyway, and recently, the enforcement workers who were promised the offices even visited the building.
A number of rabbis recently addressed the Chief Rabbi in a letter stating: "The court in Safed has existed continuously for at least 500 years! There is no reason to say that there is no need for this court today; where will litigants from all over the Eastern Galilee and the Finger of Galilee turn?""
The administration of the rabbinical courts said in response to Reshet B: "The administration of the courts continues to do everything in its power to stop the closure of the court. The issue is currently under discussion with the government housing administrator.".
The Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for the public housing administration, presented a different picture, saying: "In light of the courts' request to unify the courts in Safed and Tiberias for the sake of economic and operational efficiency, government housing acted to carry out their request.".
