Rabbi Elazar Ben Azaria Still Hasn’t Updated JDate Profile Pic

“Give the guy a break – he hasn’t updated Twitter at all, and forget about Instagram.”

Yavne, April 26 – The newly installed head of the Sanhedrin has yet to upload a more accurate, up-to-date photo for his profile on a dating site to account for recent changes to his appearance, users are reporting.

Rabbi Elazar Ben Azaria, 18, was selected to replace the ousted Rabban Gamliel at the head of the highest court, but his relative youth raised concerns that his fellow sages would not show the proper degree of reverence. Overnight following the appointment, thirteen rows of white hair appeared in his beard, providing him with a dignified appearance more in keeping with the elder status of his position. However, as of Tuesday morning, J-Date users report, Rabbi Elazar’s profile on the matching site still features his likeness without the white facial hair.

Users also noticed that the profile has, by contrast, been updated to reflect Rabbi Elazar’s new promotion, negating the possibility that he simply has not had time to access the site since the appointment. Experts note, however, that obtaining and uploading a new profile photo is more complicated than merely typing in the title of a new position.

“In the town of Yavne, the current seat of the Sanhedrin, working electrical sockets are notoriously hard to come by,” explained technology consultant Josh Ben-Hananiah. “It’s a prudent move not to use one’s mobile device’s more battery-draining functions, such as the camera, unless one has ready access to a proper outlet. It doesn’t surprise me that Rabbi Elazar Ben Azaria would save a profile image update for later.”

Other observers attributed possible delays in uploading a new photo to administrative concerns. “When he became the head of the court, Rabbi Elazar instituted a much laxer admission policy for people wanting to study with the Sanhedrin scholars,” offered Akiva Ben-Yosef. “We’ve had so many new students coming and going that I’m sure the clerical work alone is taking up much of his time. Give the guy a break – he hasn’t updated Twitter at all, and forget about Instagram. He hasn’t touched that account in months, if ever.”

Still others dismissed concerns that anything unusual was afoot. “Nobody expects you to update your photo in real time to reflect ongoing changes,” insisted a friend of the Rabbi, Shimon Ben-Zoma. “People on all the dating sites use their best photos, and not necessarily the most recent. It’s not as if he’s put up a picture of somebody else The difference between this and deceit is night and day.”

Rabbi Elazar’s wife, who advised him to accept the appointment, was unavailable for comment.