Rav Eliezer Sorotzkin Chosen to Fill Fourth Slot of Degel Hatorah for UTJ

The fourth slot of the Degel HaTorah party, placing eighth in the joint list of United Torah Judaism, was decided on tonight by Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, who chose Rav Eliezer Sorotzkin, director of Lev L’Achim in Israel. Rav Sorotzkin will replace Mayor Yaakov Gutterman of Modi’in Illit and will join Moshe Gafni, Uri Maklev and Yaakov Asher as a Knesset member for UTJ should the party win eight seats in the coming elections.

The decision was made by Rav Shteinman at his home at 5 Rechov Chazon Ish earlier this evening.

Yesterday, a delegation of senior members of Lev L’Achim visited Rav Shteinman’s residence in an attempt to prevent the appointment, stating that his departure from Lev L’Achim would be difficult for the organization to which he is so devoted.

But Rav Shteinman decided otherwise. An insider related that the decision is based on the fact that “Rav Sorotzkin is linked to many audiences, and may attract voters who did not support United Torah Judaism in the last election. This is an accomplished man, who has been devoted to the tzibbur and has shown that he can get things done.”

The 56-year-old Rav Sorotzkin is a grandson of Rav Zalman Sorotzkin zt”l. He is a son-in-law of Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, former chief rabbi of Israel and current chief rabbi of Tel Aviv. He currently serves as a local rov in Netanyah.

As director of Lev L’Achim, Rav Sorotzkin is the nerve center of the organization. He’s been the address for everything related to Lev L’Achim in Eretz Yisroel, from Eilat down south to Tzefas up north and everywhere in between. His official position is menahel klalit, or director, of Lev L’Achim and he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Lev L’Achim, remaining in touch with the 1,100 paid employees of the organization.

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}