British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 918. Chapter XXII: Community And Religious Affairs: Section 4: Statuary Jewish Community: (b) Financial Arrangement in Palestine

CHAPTER XXII.

(iv) Local Community Committees. (Vaad ha-Qehila). A

Local Community is constituted in any place where not less than thirty adult Jews, who are registered as members of the recognised Jewish community, have their residence. Each such Local Community has a committee which is the recognised representative of the community in its relations with the local affairs of Government. It collects the rates and fees approved by the Elected Assembly and supervises the administration of any property or institution of the Local Community. It establishes Boards to control ritual killing, burials and the baking of unleavened bread. Elections for membership of the committee should take place once a year.

(b) Financial arrangements.

97. The Elected Assembly is required to grant annually a budget to the General Council providing for the expenditure necessary for the discharge of its functions; and to grant such amount as may be required to cover the budget of the Rabbinical Council should there be a deficiency in its separate account of revenue and expenditure. The receipts are made up mainly from contributions from the various local communities. As soon as the budget is passed by the Elected Assembly it is submitted to the High Commissioner for approval and, on approval, becomes operative. At the close of the year the General Council submits to Government an audited statement of its accounts in approved form showing :-

(b) separately, the expenditure on salaries and similar charges, contributions of the Rabbinical Council, donations and grants from Government towards education and health services, and receipts derived from social work undertaken by the General Council; and

(b) separately, the expenditure on salaries and similar charges of the General Council, contributions to the Rabbinical Council and expenditure on education, health services and social work.

98. The Rabbinical Council is required to draw up its budget of expenditure in consultation with the General Council. If these two bodies fail to reach agreement the questions in dispute are referred to an arbitration board consisting of a chairman nominated by the Jewish Agency, two members nominated by the General Council and two by the Rabbinical Council. The rabbinical budget approved by the General Council is operative without further authority.

The Rabbinical Council is authorised to collect fees in respect of the services which it renders in its judicial capacity; but it may

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