Intense Campaign To End Today With Vote for Israel’s Chief Rabbis

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chief-rabbi-candidatesAfter a stormy and emotionally-charged campaign, 150 people have been called to Yerushalayim today to elect the two new chief rabbis of Israel.

Seven candidates – three Ashkenazim and four Sephardim –  are vying for the positions of Ashkenazi and Sephardi chief rabbi, to be voted on by 150 electors, who include rabbonim, dayanim, mayors, two ministers and five Knesset members. Ten of the electors are women.

The history of the Rabbinate dates back to the 1920s, when British Mandate authorities decided the Jews of Palestine should have two religious leaders.

On the Sephardic side, the candidates are Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, rov of Tzefas; Rav Yitzchak Yosef, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Chazon Ovadiah; and Rav Tzion Buaron; and Rav Ratzon Arusi, rov of Kiryat Ono. Rav Yehuda Deri, rov of Beer Sheva, and Rav Eliyahu Abergel, head of the Yerushalayim Bais Din, quit the race for Sephardi chief rabbi on Tuesday.

The Ashkenazi candidates are Rav David Lau, rov of Moddin; Rav David Stav, rov of Shoham; and Rav Yaakov Shapira, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mercaz Harav.

This afternoon, the 150 electors will meet in a Yerushalayim hotel and will be handed two voting cards. The results are expected to be announced this evening by Deputy Religious Services Minister Eli Ben-Dahan.

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}


2 COMMENTS

  1. we gain zero from a ‘good’ candidate (e.g. rav Lau)except to remove the dread of what damage a bad candidate could do to what’s left of Religious practice in the country

    and some traditional ,who like to side with winners,will do a few more mitzvos

  2. I think that its probably time we do not need a chief rabbi anymore and we just continue our daily affairs with trust in Hashem.

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