(J. T. A. Mall Service)
The intricate questions of the internal organization of the Jewish communities in Palestine, a matter of long dispute between the ultra-Orthodox and the Zionists, are dealt with in the government ordinance promulgated here. The principle set forth in the ordinance that no more than one community in each town or village is permitted was taken exception to by the ultra-Orthodox in communications to the Colonial Office. The ordinance makes provision for dissenters, imposing the obligation upon the community to satisfy the specific needs of the dissenting groups.
In any place in which not less than 30 members of the Community have their residence a local Community shall be constituted, the ordinance provides. In any place in which less than 30 members of the Community have their residence, such members shall form a local Community if the District Commission, on the application of the General Council (Vaad Leumi) approves of the constitution of a local Community. If the General Council does not apply for the constitution of a local Community in any place in which less than 30 members of the Community have their residence or if the application made by the Council is not approved by the District Commissioner, the members of the Community in that place shall.on the order of the Council, if approved by the District Commissioner, either be attached to the nearest local Community or combine with members of the Community residing in another place or places to form a local Community consisting of not less han 30 members.
There shall not be more than one ocal Community in each town or village, but any section of the Community comprising not less than 30 adults may claim the satisfaction of its religious and cultural needs according to its own principles and the local Community or its Committee, as the case may be, in providing and administering communal services of a religious character, shall take fully into account the needs of such section, and shall apportion that part of the revenue of the local Community which is devoted to religious and cultural purposes between the local Community and any section of the Community in proportion to the number of their members.
The Committee of the local Community shall carry out the instructions of the General Councl (Vaad Leumi) and the decisions of the general meeting of the local Community in matters within the respective competence; be the recognized representative of the Community before the District Administration in matters which are within the competence of the local Community; execute any administrative orders addressed by the Government to the local Community or its Committee; appoint and dismiss any officials of the local Community other than officials of the Rabbinical Office; and supervise the administration of any property or institutions of the local Community.
The Committee shall be entitled on behalf of the local Community to hold movable and immovable property of every description, to enter into contracts, to execute deeds, to sue and be sued, and to appear in arbitration proceedings.
The budget of the local Rabbinical Office or Rabbi, as the case may be, shall be settled jointly by the Rabbinical Office or Rabbi and the Committee of the local Community. It shall be the duty of the Committee of the local Community to provide for the expenditure of the Rabbinical Office or Rabbi in accordance with the budget.
The Court fees received by the Rabbinical Courts of First Instance shall be paid over to the Committee which shall place them in a separate account together with such contributions towards the expenditure of the Rabbinical Office or Rabbi as may be payable by the local Community out of fees charged in respect of ritual slaughter, burial and the baking or sale of unleavened bread.
A Board shall be constituted in each Local Community to control the affairs of ritual killing and matters pertaining thereto. The composition of the Board shall be determined by Regulations to be made jointly by the General Council (Vaad Leumi) and the Rabbinical Council; in case of disagreement between them the matter shall be referred to a Board composed in the manner prescribed in Regulation 9 (1) hereof. The Regulation shall ensure the representation on the Board, in proportion to the number of its members, of any congregation consisting of persons not registered as members of the Community which desires to be represented. Any such congregation may appoint killers who shall slaughter according to its special rites for butchers of eongregaton under the supervision of inspectors of the congregation.
Nothing in this Section shall derogate from the right of any congregation consisting of persons not registered as members of the Community to carry out ritual killing independently of the Board; provided always that any such congregation shall levy fees on the meat killed by its slaughterers at the same rates as prescribed by the Board.
A Burial Board shall be constituted in each local Community. Any congregation or any association of Jews within the Community may form a Burial Society and may acquire land to be used as a cemetery for its members. Every such society may charge a fee for a plot in its burial ground and the burial expenses, provided that the maximum amount of such fees shall be determined by the Committee of the local Community in consultation with the representatives of the Society concerned, according to the ordinance.
Nothing in this Regulation contained shall be held to derogate from the right of any congregation of persons who are not members of the Community to make its own arrangements for burial, subject always to any Regulations issued by the Government or local authority; and no fee shall be payable to the Community on account of such burial.
Subject to the approval of the local Community at the general meeting, it shall be lawful for the Committee of a local Community to arrange with the local Rabbinical Office or the Rabbi for the issue of licenses to bakers or sellers of unleavened bread, and subject to the provisions of Regulation 13 hereof, to charge fees for such licences. The net receipts from such fees, after the deduction of any expenditure incurred in the issue of the licence. shall be applied towards the expenses of the local Rabbinical Office or Rabbi in the manner provided in Regulation 25 hereof.
In the exercise of its powers under this Regulation the Committee shall comply in ritual matters with any Regulations or directions of the Rabbinical Council and in admisistrative matters with any Regulations or directions which may be made or given by the General Council.
Pending the election or appointment of the Rabbinical Council and Rabbinical Offices, the Elected Assembly, the General Council (Vaad Leumi) and Committees of local Communities in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, the functions of those Councils, Offices, Assembly and Committees as prescribed in these Regulations shal be discharged by the Rabbinical Council, Rabbinical Offices, Elected Assembly. General Council (Vaad Leumi) and Committees of local Communities existing at the date hereof; and the powers of such bodies shall not be deemed to be impaired by reason of any changes due to the occurrence of casual vacancies.
The Public Notice concerning the election and powers of the Rabbinical Council dated March 18th, 1921, published in the Official Gazette of April 1st, 1921, is hereby cancelled, the ordinance states.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
