In one week, Tuesday, 28 Shevat is set for the date of elections for new chief rabbis in the city of Petach Tikvah. Most believe that the new Sephardi chief rabbi will be Rabbi Binyamin Atias, a brother of Housing Minister Ariel Atias. The Ashkenazi rabbi will be Rabbi Michael Levy, affiliated with the dati leumi camp.

However, numerous petitions have already been filed with the High Court of Justice challenging different aspects of the legitimacy of the election.

Kol Chai Radio reports that after consulting with “legal experts” it appears a shul petition claiming it did not receive proper representation on the electing body has a good case. This ‘good case’ is set to be heard the day before the scheduled elections, Monday, 27 Shevat.

At present, that city’s rabbinical election hangs in the balance pending the decision of the nation’s highest [secular] court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)