The Jerusalem Rabbinical Elections Board convened on Sunday, and a decision was made as to shuls that will be permitted to cast a ballot in the vote for the next chief rabbis of Yerushalayim. The election committee is made up of members of the Jerusalem city council, City Hall delegates, representatives of the Ministry of Religious Services, and shul representatives.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has been true to his pledge to the dati leumi community, and he has been spearheading a war to diminish the chareidi influence on the outcome of the election, working to ensure the next Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem will be affiliated with the dati leumi and not the chareidi tzibur.

Barkat wants to permit chilonim (non-Orthodox) representation in the shul delegates, those “who do not attend synagogue services daily” as he puts it, since this population is significant and its needs cannot be ignored. The mayor feels with 70% of the city’s population identifying with the Zionist camp, it is imperative that one of the two chief rabbis comes from this camp, to look out for and advance its interests.

The new arrangement he feels better reflects the true demographics of the Jewish population of the capital, and 70% of the delegates will be representative of the general population while 30% will represent the chareidi tzibur.

Chadrei Chareidim reports that Yahadut HaTorah officials in the capital are contemplating a petition to the High Court of Justice over the new arrangement, which they view as unacceptable.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)