Yossi Engel with Massada College students in happier timesAccording to a report in the Australian Jews News website here, Rabbi Yossi Engel has "has been reported on nine counts of false pretences and eight counts of deception in relation to funding applications made by a South Australian Jewish school to the state's Ethnic Schools Board." It seems that the police are turning this over to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) office which, from what I understand, will assess the evidence and summons him to appear in court for sentencing.
However you look at it this is an extremely sad state of affairs. This is not a positive thing for frumkeit in Adelaide. The fact that Rabbi Engel has opened up his own shul/centre is causing rifts in this small community of less than 1,000 Jewish people. If it is proven that he broke the law I would suggest that he pay the fine (hopefully he will not have to do any jailtime) and leave Adelaide. He is not doing the cause any favours.
I haven't heard how Avremki Gutnick is going as the new Rabbi but I think he would be a suitable candidate to get things moving again.
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