Jerusalem Prepares to Elect New Ashkenazi Chief Rabbis

The race is on in Jerusalem as 140 electors prepare to convene next week at the Ramada Hotel, tasked with choosing the next generation of Ashkenazi religious leadership. The position of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi has drawn five candidates vying for the prestigious role. Among them are Rabbi Meir Kahana from Petach Tikva, Rabbi Micha Halevi, Rabbi Eliezer Igra, former Acting President of the Supreme Court, Rabbi Kalman Bar of Netanya, and Rabbi Moshe Haim Lau.

While the competition for Chief Rabbi is heated, the race for the position of Sephardic Chief Rabbi is expected to be more subdued. Rabbi David Yosef, son of the prominent Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, is widely anticipated to succeed. He faces competition from veteran Rabbi Michael Amos and Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu of Safed.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, head of the prestigious Merkaz Rabbi Yeshiva, surprised many by announcing his endorsement of Rabbi Kalman Bar for the Chief Rabbinate. In a statement highlighting Rabbi Bar’s dedication and ability to unify diverse factions within the religious community, Rabbi Shapira said, “”I don’t accept the labels lately,” “My friend Rabbi Kalman bar Shalita, a rabbi from Netanya, is working diligently to raise the image of the rabbinate, he is a very worthy candidate for the chief rabbinate. He grew up in the turmoil of the religious-national community, served as a rabbi for decades at Kerem yeshiva in Yavneh and sent and still sends students to the knees of Rabbi Kook’s Torah, verbally and in writing. He is one of Rabbi Uzi Kalkheim’s distinguished students in the manner of Maran Rabbi Kook ztzel, a distinguished scholar whose speech and heart are equal. In the current turmoil, it will unite the fringes, something that is so needed at this time.”

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about potential undue influence in the election process. Recently, Rabbi Eliyahu, director of the central election office, sent an urgent letter to Tzuri Porat, secretary of the electoral committee, and Gil Limon, deputy head of the ombudsman. Rabbi Eliyahu expressed concerns that members of the electoral body were facing pressure regarding their choice of candidate.

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