Disqualification of Rabbi Who Sought Appointment Through Secular Courts

Description

Wolf ben R.L. Strauss petitioned secular courts to displace the incumbent Av Beis Din, Rabbi Avraham (son of Rabbi Raphael), from his established rabbinical position in Endingen and Lengnau. The Chasam Sofer rules that Wolf committed two grave violations — appealing to non-Jewish courts (arka'os) and encroaching on an established rabbi's position — and should be disqualified from serving as dayan or moreh tzedek until he fully repents, withdraws the government petition, and restores the status quo. Any legitimate claims must be adjudicated before mutually acceptable Jewish judges.