Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, rav of Efrat, is not quite my cup of tea, but the world, and our religion and people, is made up of all types of people.
Rabbi Riskin is headed for a confrontation with the Rabbanut, and his job might be in jeopardy. The Rabbanut has decided to not automatically extend his term for another 5 years, but are inviting him in for a frontal meeting to discuss his views and how he fits in with the Rabbanut. The idea seems to be a step in pushing him out entirely, due to his liberal views - specifically on matters of conversion.
source: kipa
Whether they should do such a thing or not just because they do not agree with his views, is one thing. If they fire him, this will end up in court and will probably be reversed, and if not it will be at least a long protracted fight.
The thing I noticed is that when the conversion reforms were on the table, specifically to allow any city rabbi to form a beis din and perform a conversion, the Rabbanut fought it claiming that any liberal rabbi will form a beis din and do what he wants, and nobody will be able to stop him.
My question, at the time, was that all these city rabbis are certified and appointed by the Rabbanut, and the Rabbanut knows exactly who they are and what their views are, and has some sort of control over them.
If they are able to do this with a long-serving rabbi like Rav Riskin, it seems I was right and their protests then were for show only. The Rabbanut can take any liberal rabbi they do not like and threaten them, make life difficult for them, and probably ultimately relieve them of their duties. So even under the conversion reform the Rabbanut really retains ultimate power.
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