No job for rabbi as appeal lost Rabbi Yosef Engel loses Bid

EMBATTLED Adelaide Rabbi Yosef Engel has lost his bid to overturn a court's declaration that his contract to act as rabbi had expired.

The Full Court of the Supreme Court yesterday dismissed his appeal against a District Court judge's decision upholding the termination of his contract with the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation.

The fight is far from over with the parties entering into arbitration and referring the case to the Beth Din in London, a Jewish ecclesiastical court. Rabbi Engel's lawyer, Ron Bellman, said the rabbi was feeling "quite comfortable" because his case was going before a Jewish court.

He said Rabbi Engel would be seeking reinstatement and compensation from the congregation.

Congregation lawyer Nicholas Iles said the full court had accepted that Rabbi Engel's contract ended late last year. Mr Iles said he was confident the London Beth Din would not overturn the court's decision.

Rabbi Engel's argument before the state's courts was that his contract should be dealt with under Jewish law. He claims that under Jewish law he is entitled to tenure as the congregation's rabbi.

The dispute between Rabbi Engel and the congregation erupted earlier this year when the congregation sought orders to evict him from the home it provides for its rabbi and a declaration that his contract was terminated.

Rabbi Engel, who came to Adelaide from the U.S. eight years ago, has since moved out of the house near the Glenside synagogue and into a home provided by the congregation at Parkside.

The Sydney Beth Din declared the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation in contempt after it refused to appear to discuss the dispute with Rabbi Engel. The contempt order meant the synagogue lost its orthodox status.

Court orders barring Rabbi Engel from officiating at services called by the congregation or at the Glenside synagogue also remain in force.

The dispute will go before the London Beth Din at a later date.

References:Adelaide No job for rabbi as appeal lost

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