A Nation Holds its Breath: Jerusalem Prepares to Elect Its Next Chief Rabbis
Jerusalem is abuzz with anticipation as the date for the election of Israel‘s next Chief Rabbis approaches. Next week, 140 influential figures will convene at the Ramada Hotel, their secret ballots poised to shape the future of Israeli religious leadership.
The competition for the prestigious Ashkenazi Chief Rabbinate position is fierce, with five highly regarded rabbis vying for the coveted role: 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.
Rabbi Kalman Bar, a respected figure known for his tireless efforts to elevate the rabbinate’s standing, has garnered significant support, including a resounding endorsement from Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, head of the esteemed Merkaz Rabbi Yeshiva.
"I don’t accept the labels lately," declared Rabbi Shapira, emphasizing the Rabbi Bar’s unifying potential. "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." Highlighting Rabbi Bar’s deep roots in religious Zionism, Shapira continued, "He grew up in the turmoil of the national religious community, he was a rabbi for decades at the Kerem yeshiva in Yavneh and he sent and still sends students to the knees of the Torah of Maran Rabbi Kook ztzel, both orally 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 mind and heart are alike. In the current turmoil, it will unite the fringes, something that is so needed at this time."
While the race for the Ashkenazi position is intensely contested, the competition on the Sephardic side appears to be less heated. Rabbi David Yosef, son of the renowned Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, enjoys strong support and is widely expected to assume the Sephardic Chief Rabbi role. He faces competition from veteran Rabbi Michael Amos and Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu of Safed.
However, a recent letter from Rabbi Eliyahu, director of the central election office, raises issues of undue pressure on election committee members, adding another layer of complexity to this critical election cycle.
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