Jerusalem Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Stern Shlita has sent a letter of support to Rabbi Eyal Karim, who is expected to become the next IDF Chief Rabbi but whose path is frozen by a recent High Court of Justice ruling.

In his letter, Rabbi Stern expresses chizuk for Rabbi Karim and expresses confidence in his abilities to serve the IDF proudly as its next Chief Rabbi.

Rabbi Stern adds “As a rav I have always tried not to deal with maters I am not expert in and I hope that others will not attempt to involve themselves in matters other than their professions”, clearly referring to the High Court’s and politicians involving themselves in halachic papers and piskei halacha written by Rabbi Karim.

There is also criticism against Rabbi Karim for allegedly saying during the 2005 expulsion from Gush Katif that if he was serving as Chief IDF Rabbi at the time, he would not have told soldiers to obey orders as the then-IDF Chief Rabbi did.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)