On Israel paying rabbis

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To the Editor:

Concerning your article about non-Orthodox rabbis receiving salaries from the state, you should be aware that most Orthodox rabbis in Israel do not receive money from the state. I have been an Orthodox rabbi in Israel for nearly 30 years in a very active congregation and have never received money from the state. My son also is an Orthodox rabbi in Israel and has not received money from the state.

Also you should be aware that most congregations in Israel do not have rabbis and, as far as I know, the congregational rabbis do not receive money from the state. The rabbis who do receive money are those who work for the state, i.e., the city rabbinates.

Rabbi Yosef Leibowitz
Kfar Saba, Israel

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