Meet David Weissman, a secret source for the Times of Israel last year during the contest to become the next chief rabbi of the United Kingdom. In email exchanges with the Israeli news website, Weissman weighed in on candidates for chief rabbi, including Michael Broyde, a leading Orthodox rabbi and law professor at Emory University.
However, after an exposé by The Jewish Channel earlier this month that Broyde had used a fake persona to correspond with scholarly journals and a competing rabbinic association, Broyde’s reputation has been in a tailspin. He admitted he was behind the fake identity and was suspended from the Rabbinical Council of America and the Beth Din of America. Then The Jewish Channel reported that Broyde might be behind another fake persona, David Keter. Broyde had no comment.
Now the Times of Israel is suggesting Weissman may be yet another fake persona created by Broyde:
A series of email messages promoting Rabbi Michael Broyde’s candidacy for the British chief rabbinate were sent to The Times of Israel last fall from an email address linked to one of his alleged aliases.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.